Monday, February 5th, 2024
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Council Members Josh Burkhalter, Lamar Watkins, Thomas Gary., Library Manager Rhonda O., and City Attorney Jody Campbell. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Council Member Mike Barfield, City Clerk Irma Robles (due to training), Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet News (emailed draft minutes to Mrs. Angela Gary on 2/8/2024).
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on February 5th, 2024, to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to remove the Executive Session agenda item and approve the February 5th, 2024 Council Meeting Agenda as amended. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions; all were in favor. The agenda was approved.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 8TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: Mayor Nichols advised the city council about a typo in his last name on page two. Council member Lamar Watkins motioned to approve the amended January 8th, 2024, Council Meeting Minutes; Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary seconded. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
Council member Josh Burkhalter joined the meeting at 6:39 pm.
JANUARY 2024 FINANCIALS: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the January 2024 Financial report; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. Financials were approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Proposals for a New Fire Alarm and Camera System at the Nicholson Library: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the proposals submitted by Call Charlie Inc. and authorized the mayor to sign the agreement. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Road Engineering Proposals: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the bid submitted by KCI Engineers and authorize the mayor to sign the bid. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- IT Proposals: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary, following staff recommendation, motioned to approve the proposal submitted by Neatoware and authorize the mayor to sign it. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. Councilman Josh Burkhalter opposed. There were no discussions. The motion carries.
- First Amendment of WastePro Contract and Rates Increase: Council member Lamar Watkins motioned to increase sanitation rates on regular customers from $16.00 to $18.00 and senior customers from $13.00 to $14.00, and extra can for $10 a piece and authorize the mayor to sign the First Amendment of WastePro Contract. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary asked if this contract is valid from now until September 2024 and if this is going to be revised again in September 2024. City Attorney Jody Campbell replied that this contract is automatically renewed with one one-year provision, which basically can be terminated with a 90-day written notice prior to the termination of the term. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Cantrell’s Tax Services – Office Lease Agreement: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the office lease agreement with Cantrell’s Tax Services and authorize the mayor to sign the agreement. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Pyrotecnico Agreement: Mayor Nichols advised the city council about the updated Pyrotecnico agreement, which includes the new show date (July 3rd, 2024).Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Pyrotecnico Fireworks Agreement with the date being July 3rd and authorize the mayor to sign it. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- 2023 Audit Engagement Letter: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Audit Engagement Letter upcoming in 2024 and authorize the mayor to sign it. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- GEMA Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement and Assistance and authorize the mayor to sign it. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary asked if this is supposed to be done every year. City Attorney Jody Campbell confirmed that this must be done every year, but people usually forget about it until it is needed; at the same time, he clarified that there is no expiration standing on the agreement. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Waiver of NEC 230.71(B) (1-4) by special permission until the supply of code-compliant 400A Meter Mains and 400A Meter Sockets: City Attorney Jody Campbell recommended that if an approval motion is made because this is a temporary waiver, the city only approves it as a specific requirement for a period lasting not more than six months. Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve this waiver for a 400A Meter wax for six months and authorize the mayor to sign it. and Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary seconded.
There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: N/A
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: N/A
LIBRARIAN’S REPORT
Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager
Hopefully, everyone received a copy of our February calendar.
Meet our new city employees:
Victoria (Torie) Kubasta and Jessica (Jessie) Norris. They are a great addition to our library team. They are already making a difference in our programming ability. Both ladies are part-time employees.
We hope to go out to our local schools again this fall and start reading to the preschool classes once more. EJES and SJES. With a full staff, we should once again be able to go out into the community and share what our city library can do.
Torie Kubasta has assumed to handle the monthly children’s craft programs. She had her first one in January. The children made Keepsake Snow Globe Craft. Sherri will craft with the children in February, creating Mardi Gras floats.
Jessie Norris will be handling crafting for adults. We will be having health programs for adults along with crafting programs. Jessie’s first Adult Craft Program will be in March.
Through Piedmont Regional Health Services, we will provide Adult Health Programing. Our first program was in January. It was a discussion on diabetes. These were the handouts participants received. These programs are free.
We start chair yoga this month. We will have a class on February 14th and the 28th. If these classes have enough interest, we will continue.
Passports are going well. Torie and Jessie both passed the exam to become passport facility agents. Once they feel comfortable, we will go to walk-in instead of appointments.
The adult book club is still going strong. We have had two new people join. They meet once a month.
Friday, February 9, is National Pizza Day. Italy’s Pizza and Pasta Company, in Commerce, has agreed to give us coupons for a free slice of pizza. Sherri reached out to the restaurant to ask, and they agreed.
With our tech funding, I have bought six new patron computers. Piedmont’s IT tech is working on the installation. With money from my county fund, I bought three new staff computers and monitors, one new scanner, and one new receipt printer.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Steve T. Nichols
-Mayor Nichols and Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary attended the GMA Cities United Summit conference in Atlanta to receive the City of Civility plaque award.
-Mayor Steve told the city council that the retreat on January 30th was very successful. Many things were discussed, and there will be much to accomplish this year.
-Nichols invited the city council to the next Daisy Festival planning meeting on February 8th at 6:30 pm and asked Administrative Assistant Jennifer Vilchis for an update on vendors.
-He reminded everyone of the February Work Session on February 22nd at 6:30 pm.
-Mayor Nichols talked about upcoming legislation for the LMIG Grant increase.
ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to adjourn the February 5th, 2024, Council Meeting; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.-
Announcements:
*Next Work Session– Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 at 6:30 pm.
*Next Council Meeting – Monday, March 4th, 2024 at 6:30 pm.
Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles for website