June 1st, 2026 Council Meeting MINUTES

city clerk Minutes

Nicholson Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, June 1st, 2026

6:30 P.M. Community Center

Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield, Council Member Thomas Gary, Josh Burkhalter, Lamar Watkins, City Attorney Jody Campbell, Finance Director Glenda Cantrell, Public Works Director Doyle Samples, Library Manager Rhonda O., and City Clerk Irma Robles. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Mainstreet Newspaper Representative Betsy Allen (Draft minutes emailed to Angela Gary on 6/2/2026).

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on June 1st, 2026, to order at 6:30 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.

APPROVAL OF JUNE 1ST, 2026, COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the Agenda for June 1st, 2026, as presented. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no discussions, and all were in favor. The agenda was approved.

APPROVAL OF MAY 4TH, 2026, COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes on May 4th, 2026. Councilman Thomas Gary seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.

APRIL 2026 FINANCIALS: Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield motioned to approve the April 2026 Financials as submitted. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded the motion. Councilman Thomas Gary inquired about item number 53.1001. Finance Director Glenda Cantrell responded that it is General Supplies and Materials for $4,554.30, not $18.74, which is the line item above for Reimbursement of Supplies. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved.  April 2026 Financials were approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Rezoning Application: Applicant, Joseph Olson, and owner, Olson Investments, LLC, 368 Whitehill Lane, Commerce, Georgia 30529, have submitted a request to rezone +/-1.68 acres located at 5044 Highway 441 South, also known as Map & Parcel # N01 004A. The request is for rezoning from the current TC (Town Center) District to the HB (Highway Business) District: Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the rezoning request as presented, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield seconded, and all were in favor. There were no discussions. Motion was approved.
  • Applicant, Claud Garrett, Winder, Georgia 30680 and owner, Paul Wang, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043 have submitted a conditional use request for an office warehouse to be located on US Highway 441 South also known as Map & Parcel #’s 013 022 and 013 022F. The property is +/31.45 acres and is currently zoned HB (Highway Business) District. City Attorney Jody Campbell stated that the applicant has withdrawn the conditional request for parcel 013 022F, meaning the conditional use request would apply only to the 25-acre parcel. Additionally, City Attorney Jody Campbell presented a document that combines all 11 conditions from the Bureau Veritas Staff, Planning Commission, and the applicant himself for parcel 013-022. He mentioned that this document was sent to the applicant for review, that the applicant requested a few changes, and that the applicant brought hard copies to the city council. Changes requested are underlined and constitute modifications to the eleven proposed conditions. City Attorney Jody Campbell opened the floor for any questions or discussion from the city council regarding these conditions and modifications before any motions are made. He mentioned that if there are none, the city council is welcome to make any motion. Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the conditional use application to Claude Garrett to allow an office warehouse on parcel number 013 022, with the eleven conditions contained in the document titled “Proposed conditions on zoning parcel 013-022,” (the supporting document is included as an attachment to these minutes) with the exception of condition number 5, which shall be replaced by the applicant’s proposal wording for condition number 5. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded. There were no further discussions, and all were in favor. Motion was approved.
  • 2026 Scholarship Applications: Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield made a motion to split the scholarship amount for $2,000.00 into the two applicants, Kailey Sosby and Jimmy Guzman, this year, and to increase the scholarship amount from $2,000.00 to $2,500.00 next year, with the stipulation that a $2,000.00 Scholarship goes to a non-city limits resident and $2,500.00 to a Nicholson city limits resident. Councilman Thomas Gary added that this year, both applicants are within the Nicholson School District but outside of the city limits. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded. Councilman Thomas Gary opposed. 3-1. Motion was approved.
  • 2026-2027 GIRMA Quote Proposal, COI, Auto ID & Invoice Delivery: Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the GIRMA quote. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded; there was no discussion, and all were in favor. Motion was approved.
  • Tree Removal at Lakeview Dr & Benton Center – Quotes: Mayor Nichols presented the three quotes. Councilman Josh Burkhalter moved to approve the Ascend Tree quote for $ 8,700.00, as he has used them personally in the past and they did a great job. Mayor Nichols asked Public Works Director Doyle Samples if the city has used Ascend Tree Care before, and Doyle responded that he doesn’t think so. Council member Thomas Gary seconded the motion. Councilman Thomas Gary asked how quickly this would be done, and Public Works Director Doyle Samples responded that he didn’t know, but he thought it should be quick. Councilman Josh Burkhalter asked when the paving would start, and Mayor Nichols responded that it would begin once the curbing is completed, which should be by this week. Councilman Thomas Gary added that Lakeview Drive must have the curbing done before paving. Council Member Mike Barfield asked whether there are three different bids and whether this is something the mayor could approve without the council. City Attorney Jody Campbell responded no. Councilman Lamar Watkins opposed. 3-1. Motion was approved.
  • John Deere Boom Mower – Quotes: Mayor Nichols presented the quote from Sourcewell, which is a state agency for bid contractors, for $240,011.77 and noted that it would come from the SPLOST account. Councilman Lamar Watkins asked if the city could table this agenda item, since he spoke with Jeff Bridges, who said that John Deere tractors are no longer good. Mayor Nichols responded that the same department, Wayne Pittman, told Public Works Director Doyle to buy a John Deere tractor. Mayor Nichols re-sponded that if the city council tables it, someone has to go out and solicit more prices and make sure these are from state-approved contractors, because if these are not state contrac-tors, the city would have to follow the purchasing policy and request sealed bids, a process that would take around 6 months, during which the services would be suspended and not provided to the citizens. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield added that he doesn’t understand why they are being asked to spend a quarter of a million dollars on something they don’t know anything about, or why the city needs it. The mayor explained the purposes of this tractor and the services that the city provides with it. Councilman Thomas Gary added lia-bility as a justification for purchasing this equipment, citing operational issues involving employees and lawsuits. Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins moved to table it for the June 23rd, 2026, work session. Mike seconded. No further discussions. 2 opposed. The mayor broke the tie to vote against tabling it. Motion failed. The mayor added that if the city chooses not to proceed with this purchase, an alternative piece of equipment would be delivered within 6 or 8 months. He added that, with these quotes, the equipment is ready to be delivered within 6 weeks, and he asked that we keep in mind that summer and the cutting-grass seasons are here, and be prepared to answer your constituents. Councilman Thomas Gary asked about the difference between the two bids, and the mayor responded that the Alamo 6105e with a samurai boom mower 22’ for $197,104.09; everyone has said to stay away from it because of the size of our streets, which reach too far over, into the ditches, and to get the industrial one, the Alamo Industrial JD6M105 for $240,011.77 since it’s an industrial tractor and it will meet the city needs. Councilman Thomas moved to accept the quote for the Alamo Industrial JD6M105 with the 18’ mower in the amount of $240,011.77. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded, and there were no further discussions. 2 opposed. The mayor voted in favor. 3-2. Motion passes. The purchase was approved.
  • Renovations to Library – not to exceed $35,000.00: Mayor Nichols mentioned that the library needs an upgrade by removing approximately 75 yard carpet, frame office walls approximately 12×14, install door 3ftx6ft 8 inches, metal studs with sheet rock walls, relocate and upgrade lighting, paint new office walls to match existing wall color, install 75 + yards carpet with rubber base, clean up dumpster, install new low E glass in all frosted windows and install 2 store front doors with panic hardware. Mayor Nichols presented four quotes to renovate the library: the first from Corr Enterprises for $23,000.00, the second from Walter Barnett Construction for $ 25,460.00, the third from Ironclad Roofing for $31,086.00, and the fourth from Buckhorn Construction LLC for $33,048.00. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield asked where Corr Enterprise is located. Mayor Nichols answered that they are located off Sanford Drive here in Nicholson, and they worked on the meeting room columns recently, and the city had no issues. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield made a motion to accept Corr Enterprises’ bid, and Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. No further questions or discussions. 2 opposed. Mayor Nichols broke the tie and voted in favor. 3-2. Motion passes. Renovations for the library were approved.

OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: N/A

LIBRARIAN REPORT

Library Manager Rhonda O’Keeffe

  1. The library’s first event, The East Tennessee Dinosaur Adventure, was a hit. They had 205 attendees.
  2. Nicholson Library has been handing out lunches since Tuesday, May 26. Library Manager Rhonda O. has already re-ordered food. They handed out 140 lunches that week.
  3. The mural has been painted in the children’s section of the library. Everyone loves it!
  4. The library has signed up 107 children for Summer Reading.
  5. The Library Manager has already been contacted by SJES about events at their school for the 26-27 school year.
  6. Rhonda O. has given everyone a calendar of our events for the summer.
  7. The events this week are:

Tuesday, June 2 at 10:30 AM: Cricket Mobile Petting Zoo on the library’s front lawn.

Thursday, June 4, at 10:30 AM: Touch-A-Truck in the parking lot.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Mayor Steve T. Nichols

1. Mayor Steve provided an update on Broad St curbing, and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barfield mentioned that they have done a good job, and it’s functional. Public Works Director Doyle Samples will add rocks to improve its appearance.

2. Mayor Nichols mentioned that the Jackson County Mayor’s luncheon was today here in Nicholson. The biggest discussion was about HB33, which would eliminate property taxes and place more burden on local governments to determine how they will continue to provide services. City Attorney Jody Campbell added that there is a provision in the law to create LHOST (Local Homestead Option Sales Tax), but to participate and be eligible for LHOST, cities must have assessed a mileage rate above 0, which casts local governments as the bad people. He added that LHOST is not guaranteed, as it must be approved by referendum. He advised that this city would have to make these unprecedented decisions and increase its mileage rate over the next 4 or 5 months, which has never been done before, due to mandates from the General Assembly.

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: N/A

Announcements: 

      *Next Work Session– Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026, at 6:30 pm

            *Next Council Meeting – TBD – Monday, July 6th, 2026, at 6:30 pm

ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to adjourn the June 1st, 2026, Council Meeting. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded the motion, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

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Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles for Website

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