Monday, March 4th, 2024
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Council Members Lamar Watkins, Mike Barfield, Thomas Gary, Library Manager Rhonda O., and City Clerk Irma Robles. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Council Member Josh Burkhalter, City Attorney Jody Campbell (available by phone), Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet News (emailed draft minutes to Mr. Mike Buffington on 3/5/2024).
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on March 4th, 2024, to order at 6:32 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.
APPROVAL OF MARCH 4TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the March 4th, 2024 Council Meeting Agenda. Councilman Mike Barfield seconded. There were no discussions; all were in favor. The agenda was approved.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 5th, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes for February 5th, 2024; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
FEBRUARY 2024 FINANCIALS: Council member Mike Barfield motioned to approve the February 2024 Financial report; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary asked about expense item 52.100 – D&J Plumbing for $21,000.00, and Councilman Mike Barfield had questions about this expense’s approval by the previous Mayor. Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary also asked about expense item 52.1300 for Boydtek. City Clerk Irma Robles will ask Finance Director Glenda Cantrell to change the item from Boydtek to Neatoware. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. Financials were approved.
New Business:
- 2024 Nicholson Scholarship Increase: Councilman Lamar Watkins motioned to increase the 2024 Nicholson Scholarship to $2,000.00. Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary seconded this motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. Motion Approved.
- Fee Schedule Amendment for City Facilities: Councilman Mike Barfield made a motion to approve the proposed city facilities fee schedule as presented, and Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Garyproposed changing Benton Hall Nicholson’s Resident rental fee to $1200.00. Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary and Council members Lamar Watkins and Mike Barfield opposed Councilman Barfield’s motion. The motion failed 3-0.Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary motioned to accept the fee schedule with the exception of Benton Hall Nicholson’s Resident fee of $1,200.00 rather than $1,000.00. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The motion passed.
- Proposals for Community Center Gutters Installation: Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary motioned to approve Ironclad Roofing’s proposal for $4928.00 to install gutters at the Nicholson Community Center. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Purchasing Policy Amendment: Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Ordinance to adopt the City of Nicholson Purchasing Policy as presented, and Councilman Lamar Watkins 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
Passports: 42 in February 2024
February 2024:
ADULTS: Chair Yoga twice. This adult program went over well.
Book Club: Each participant read a different African American non-fiction book
CHILDREN: Great turn out for National Pizza Day. Italy’s Pizza and Pasta Company in Commerce was our sponsor. Sherri Stephens Mardi Gras craft went over well. The floats patrons made went on display in the library for the month of February. Sherri Stephens reads to the daycare every Monday. We have the ongoing Books and Bundts. This company (Nothing bundt cakes) located in Athens has a program for reading and earning a free mini Bundt cake. The Farm Bureau brought educational activity packets for free. Those went quickly.
MARCH 2024:
ADULTS:
Chair Yoga will meet the first Wednesday of each month. The program is free. We are researching another form of exercise class to add to our monthly programming.
Jessica Norris will be debuting an adult craft class this month. They will be creating totes with their initial on it.
Sherri Stephens is hosting a Plant Swap on Saturday, March 16. Even those who don’t have plants to swap may participate. Plants must be healthy and pest free.
The Nicholson Public Library will be hosting the PRLS Managers Meeting on Friday, March 15 in the morning.
CHILDREN:
Victoria Kubasta will be hosting a drop in St. Patrick’s Day Craft on Tuesday, March 12 from 3-5 pm. The participants will be creating a Shamrock Sun Catcher.
We continue to have a make and take craft each month. Our dramatic play area this month switched to Puppet Theater and the Tool Bench.
All:
Be a Good Neighbor: Food Donation started Friday, March 1st and continues through Tuesday, March 19th (Mr. Rogers birthday). Donation boxes are located at the library and city hall.
We are still advertising the Create the Cover for the Daisy Festival Program.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Steve T. Nichols
-Mayor Nichols attended the Newly Elected Official training in Athens last week.
-Mayor Steve and City Clerk Irma Robles attended Hoschton’s Mayors Lunch today.
-Mayor Nichols and City Clerk Irma will attend an informative SPLOST Meeting with Jackson County Manager Kevin Poe tomorrow at 9 am.
-He provided a Daisy Festival update: 53 vendors and $3515.00 ads sold, and he mentioned that the deadline to submit ads is March 27th.
Mr. Nichols reminded everyone about the next Daisy Meeting, which will be held on March 7th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
-He also reminded the city council that the GMA Savannah Conference Registration is on March 27th, 2024, at 10 a.m.
-Mayor Steve mentioned that the next Work Session is on March 28th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., and the next Council Meeting is on April 1st, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
-Mayor Nichols also mentioned that the city hall and library floors were cleaned, and they looked outstanding and professional.
-Councilman Mike Barfield told the city council that someone ran off on the right-hand side of Memorial Dr. and noticed how badly it dropped off. He asked the Public Roads Department to look into this issue.
-Councilman Lamar Watkins asked about Dan’s Food Mart driveway paving issue and mentioned that a pothole must be fixed on Sanford Dr.
-Mayor Steve Nichols told the city council he is meeting with KCI Engineering company next Wednesday, March 6th, at 9 am to go over the roads that need to be paved this year.
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Pro Temp Thomas Gary motioned to adjourn the March 4th, 2024, Council Meeting; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.-
Announcements:
*Next Work Session– Thursday, March 28th, 2024, at 6:30 pm.
*Next Council Meeting – Monday, April 1st, 2024, at 6:30 pm.
______________________________________________________________________________________Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles for website