City Council Minutes September 10, 2018 Regular Session

MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry D. Roseberry, Mayor; and Councilmembers: George Holt; Jim Windham; Mike Ready; and Jeff Wearing, David Eady. Councilmember Sarah Davis was not present.

OTHERS PRESENT: Matt Pepper, City Manager; Dave Harvey, Chief; Lauran Willis, City Clerk; Scottie Croy, Hoyt Oliver, Cheryl Ready, Patsy Burke, Judy Greer, Peggy Madden, Art Vinson, Daryl and Teresa Welch, Nita Carson, Laura Gafnea, Communication Director with Oxford College. Donna Williams, Tim Williams

The meeting was called to order by the Hon. Jerry D. Roseberry, Mayor

Invocation was delivered by Hoyt Oliver
Pledge of Allegiance – All

Motion was made by Windham, seconded by Ready to accept the Agenda for the September 10, 2018 Mayor and Council Meeting. The motion passed 6/0. Attachment A

Consent Agenda
Approved 6/0. Attachment B

Mayors Report
Mayor Roseberry presented City Clerk Lauran Willis with her certificate from the University of Georgia for completion of the Clerks Masters Education Management Development Program.
Tim Williams from 229 E. Soule Street addressed Council regarding parking his dump truck in his yard. His request to Council is to consider allowing him to continue parking his truck in his yard. He has done so for over 35 years, stating that he is only 240 feet from the city limit. Mayor Roseberry said the city will research this and get back with him.

Planning Commission Recommendations/Petitions
None

Citizens Concern
None

ECG Pole Attachment Services Contract with Charter Communications -
Charter Communications has expressed interest in updating our 1983 Pole Attachment Agreement to the Statewide Model Agreement. City Manager Matt Pepper said the agreement was most recently executed in Covington and is in place in eight other cities. Updating agreements is included in our Pole Attachment Service with ECG. ECG recommends that Council agree to the updated terms of the contract with Charter Communications.
A motion was made by Holt, seconded by Ready to adopt the new Pole Attachment Agreement with Charter Communications. Motion was approved 6/0.  Attachment C

ECG Pole Attachment Service Contract with MCImetro Access -
City Manager Matt Pepper said that like the situation with Charter Communications, ECG has been working with MCImetro Access to sign a Statewide Pole Attachment Agreement. ECG recommends that Council agree to the updated terms of the contract with MCImetro Access.
A motion was made by Windham, seconded by Eady to adopt the new Pole Attachment Agreement with MCImetro. The motion passed 6/0.   Attachment D   

107 W. Clark Street Renovation Project
Mayor Roseberry said that earlier today we broke ground for the renovation of the Yarborough House. Committee Chair Jeff Wearing said that the post for the front porch have been secured. In addition, the contractor plans to start on the removal of the electrical panel from the garage to the house and then they will be removing the breezeway. Mayor Roseberry gave recognition for the previous committee members who worked on the project, and said we will post their report on the website. 

Mosquito Spray Discussion-
Mayor Roseberry lead a discussion regarding the city using environmentally-friendly alternatives to spray for mosquitos. Roseberry said that City Manager Matt Pepper and Utility Superintendent Jody Reid have researched and found that we can change to a product that is more ecofriendly.  Pepper said that according to their research there will still be some degree of hazardous chemical. Windham requested they combine their research with what CDC recommends, and Eady asked that we explore releasing a flyer to the citizens requesting participation in keeping yards clear of standing water.  In addition, Roseberry presented an example of a bat house that had been discussed at a prior meeting and suggested the city purchase ten of them and place them in various areas around the city such as in the parks and along the trails.
A motion was made by Windham, seconded by Wearing to approve the purchase of 10 bat houses, five with a fancy roof at $50 each and five with a regular roof at $40 each.  The motion passed 6/0.  

Service Delivery Strategy-
Mayor Roseberry gave an update on the Service Delivery Strategy being considered by the county and cities. Roseberry said they are in discussion with the county regarding water and jail services and he and other Mayors are asking for more input. Some have questions and concerns on how they determine what they are going to build as well as how the 911 service is being billed to the cities.  They have until October 31 to get it approved.

Request from Covington to Redraw City Boundaries –

City Manager Matt Pepper said The City of Covington recently approached Council with the idea that, with consent from the property owners of tax parcels C062-001A (Cousins Community Center), C062-001 (Newton County School Board), and C03909993-005 (Friendship Lodge), the two cities request that the state legislators redraw the city boundaries to make these three parcels 100% return to Oxford.  Mayor Roseberry said the county wants the city to take over the section and annex it into the City of Oxford. After discussion it was suggested that City Manager Matt Pepper negotiate with Covington on the utilities and propose to the Covington the redrawing of the boundaries along Geiger Street East to Carlton Trail and North to Moore Street.  Attachment E   

Invoice Approval     

INVOICES OVER $1,000.00 

A motion was made by Holt, seconded by Wearing, to approve invoices. The motion was passed 6/0.

A motion was made by Windham, seconded by Wearing to adjourn the regular session at 7:45 PM. The motion passed 6/0.

A motion was made by Windham, seconded by Ready to enter an executive session at 7:50 PM. Motion passed 6/0.

Council discussed several real-estate matters.  

There being no further business, a motion was made by Wearing, seconded by Eady to adjourn the executive meeting at 8:25 PM. The motion passed 6/0.

Respectfully Submitted;