Monday, September 9th, 2024
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary, Council Members Josh Burkhalter, Lamar Watkins, Mike Barfield, Library Manager Rhonda O., City Attorney Jody Campbell, and City Clerk Irma Robles. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Public Works Director Doyle Samples and Mainstreet Newspaper (Draft minutes emailed to Mr. Mike Buffington on 9/11/2024).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilman Josh Burkhalter led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: The Council Meeting Agenda for September 9th, 2024, was approved, with Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioning for approval and Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconding. There were no discussions, and all were in favor. The agenda was approved.
APPROVAL OF JULY 1ST, 2024, COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes for July 1st, 2024; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
JULY 2024 FINANCIALS: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the July 2024 Financials. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary asked about item number 57.300.02 Fireworks Festival for $850.00 was for, and City Clerk Irma Robles responded that she would get back to the mayor and council by email next Wednesday after verifying this expense with Finance Director Glenda Cantrell. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The financials were approved.
- Purchase of New Lawn Mower – Quotes: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the purchase of a new lawn mower and accept the quote from Swinehearts for $14,239.20. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Commercial Lease Agreement – Commerce School of Dance: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Commercial Lease Agreement with Commerce School of Dance as presented. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary asked if the presented lease agreement was the last and correct version, and City Clerk Irma Robles confirmed that it is the corrected version and that the co-signer’s name, Heather Bridges, has been added. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The agreement was approved.
- Nicholson Special Public Events Policy: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to move forward with the policy and procedure from the material handed at the last work session for the leasing of the Nicholson City parks and facilities.. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded the motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The policy was approved.
- GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan – Ordinance & Agreement: Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to approve the presented GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan – Ordinance & Agreement. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded this motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- Proclamation: Georgia Reads Day – September 30th, 2024: Mayor Steve Nichols read the Georgia Reads Day Proclamation. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary motioned to proclaim September 30th, 2024, as Georgia Reads Day. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary asked if the library had received any promotional material for this proclamation. City Clerk Irma Robles and Librarian Rhonda O. replied that neither the city nor the library had received any material. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: N/A
LIBRARIAN’S REPORT
Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager
- August was a quiet month with the Nicholson Library Summer Reading Program over and school starting. However, they had several programs worth noting:
- The Library Manager has started with Piedmont’s Rolling Library (PuRL) to visit SJES. Today was the second visit. The students all have Play Cards based on their lunch numbers that work as their digital library cards. She brings books from the library to fill out what the rolling library has.
- Along with PuRL, Library Manager Rhonda O. visited SJES on their Family Night in August.
- On the first visit in August, the Library saw 222 students. Family night, it was over 250. Today, Nicholson Library saw 285 students. The Library Manager was there from around 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM. The SJES staff and students seem to be enjoying the opportunity.
- This month, the library has the adult book club on September 19th and a pirate craft for the children on the 19th.
- Nicholson Library looks forward to our annual Halloween program in October. Rhonda O. and PuRL will be at the EJHS Fall Festival in October. They have already started planning for our Santa visit in December!
- Tomorrow, September 10, the library has its Home School Resource Fair from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Benton Hall. Since the happenings in Barrow County last week, this event has been shared all over Facebook. If you have a chance, please stop by and check it out.
- Library Manager Rhonda O. mentioned a grant opportunity she and Library Assistant Sherri Stephens will work on. Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Gary offered any assistance from the city that the library might need.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Steve T. Nichols
Mayor Steve Nichols mentioned that he and City Clerk Irma Robles are getting ready and scheduling a Ribbon-Cutting for Commerce School of Dance in Nicholson, Georgia. Once a date is scheduled, the city will invite everyone to the ribbon-cutting of this new business in town.
Mayor Steve Nichols announced that the September 2024 Work Session will be held on September 26th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: N/A
ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to adjourn the September 9th, 2024, Council Meeting. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.-
Announcements:
*Next Work Session– Thursday, September 26th, 2024, at 6:30 pm.
*Next Council Meeting – Monday, October 7th, 2024, at 6:30 pm.
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Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles