Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

AUGUST 30, 2005



The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called

to order at 9:05 A.M., Tuesday, August 30, 2005, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Robert S. Poydasheff, Mayor,

presiding.



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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Councilors

R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H.

Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson. City

Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B.

Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present.



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ABSENT: Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh was absent, but was excused upon the

adoption of Resolution Number 416-05.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Mark Magoni ? St. Paul United Methodist Church.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from St. Luke School.



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TROPICAL STORM:



Mayor Poydasheff said our Public Safety personnel are well aware of what?s

going on with Katrina, the tropical storm. He said we have a task force and

have been dealing very closely with Fort Benning in the event that they need

assistance from troops coming in Montgomery. He said Georgia Power has already

sent crews down to assist them. He said we did not need to open up any

shelters; however, if we do get an influx of people coming in and we have to do

it, we are on standby and the Red Cross is with us on that.



Councilor Woodson also pointed out that the Red Cross is in need of blood.

She said there is a shortage of blood in Alabama and said if there is anyone

willing to donate, please make sure that they go to the Red Cross.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



?BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE ORDER OF THE ELKS DAY?:



With Ms. Maynell Conner and Mr. Roy Fabian standing at the Council table,

Councilor McDaniel read the proclamation of Mayor Poydasheff,

proclaiming August 30, 2005 as ?Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks Day?

in Columbus, Georgia.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the August 16, 2005 meeting of the Council of the

Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia was submitted and approved upon

the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and seconded by

Councilor Allen, which carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARING:



THERE WERE NO ZONING HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY?S MEETING.

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CITY ATTORNEY'S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, WAS SUBMITTED AND READ

IN ITS ENTIRETY BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (401-05) ? Expressing opposition to the proposed closure of

West Central Georgia Regional Hospital and urging Governor Perdue and our local

legislative delegation to oppose the same. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved the

adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel.



Councilor Suber asked why was the Georgia Municipal Association

excluded from this resolution, because there are just as many cities as there

are counties and he thinks that Georgia Municipal Association needs to also

support us in this endeavor.



Mayor Poydasheff said he thinks that Councilor Suber is correct and said

if there were no objections, he would ask the City Attorney to add Georgia

Municipal Association and do another resolution. There were no objections

expressed by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers.



The question was then called on the motion to adopt the resolution, which

carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Allen being absent for this vote.



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THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO THOSE

EMPLOYEES WHO RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE SERVICES OF THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED

GOVERNMENT WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY

MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCLOR HENDERSON, WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH

COUNCILOR ALLEN BEING ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE:



A Resolution (402-05) ?Expressing appreciation to Mr. Russell G. Brown

upon his retirement with the Public Services Department after 25 years of

service.



A Resolution (403-05) ?Expressing appreciation to Mr. Willie H. Griffis,

Jr., upon his retirement with the CPD/Investigative Services Department after

31 years of service.



A Resolution (404-05) ? Expressing appreciation to Mr. George L. Lawson,

upon his retirement with the CPD/Investigative Services Department after 30

years of service.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF

THOSE FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WHO RECENTLY

PASSED AWAY WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY

MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCLOR SUBER, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH COUNCILOR ALLEN

BEING ABSENT FOR THIS

VOTE:



A Resolution (405-05) ?Conveying condolences to the family of

Mr. Henry A. Harris, former employee with the Columbus Fire Department, who

passed away on August 2, 2005.



A Resolution (406-05) ? Conveying condolences to the family of

Mr. Harvey F. Brown, former employee with the Public Services Department, who

passed away on July 22, 2005.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. VAL MCGOWAN, RE: DRAINAGE MATTERS:



City Manager Hugley said Mr. McGowan is not present here today. He said he

has had a conversation with Mr. McGowan and are scheduled to meet with him this

afternoon, along with City staff to address his concerns.



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LUNCHEON:



Mayor Poydasheff said he would like to remind the Council that there will

be a luncheon on today, and Atmos Energy will be sponsoring it at 12:30 p.m.,

at the Marriott Hotel.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS DELAYED FROM THE AUGUST 16TH COUNCIL

MEETING WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (407-05) ? Authorizing the execution of the Amended and

Restated Hockey Agreement between the City of Columbus and QB, L.L.C., a

Georgia limited liability company. Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of

the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those

eight members of Council present and voting, with Councilor Allen abstaining.



Councilor Allen said he would like to state for the record that the

Council had allowed him to be excused from voting on this matter when this

matter was first brought before the Council two weeks ago. He said he just

wanted to state that he did not vote.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (408-05) ? Authorizing the execution of a lease agreement

with Main Street Baseball LLC (South Georgia Catfish) for the period of

November 1, 2005 through September 30, 2008. Councilor Woodson moved the

adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present for this meeting.



A Resolution (409-05) ? Authorizing the acceptance of a portion of Kendall

Creek Drive and Daniels Court located in Section One of Phase One, Kendall

Creek on behalf of Columbus, Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved the adoption

of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those

nine members of Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING SIX PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, WITH DETAILED INFORMATION HAVING

BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA PACKET, WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED

BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A

SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WOODSON,

WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:__



A Resolution (410-05) ? Authorizing the execution of a contract with QORE

Property Sciences, Inc., and GEC, Inc., for Geotechnical Environmental Testing

Services on an ?as needed basis? for the Engineering Department for soil and

construction material testing for the development or design of various

construction projects. These services consist of providing the City with the

necessary personnel, equipment and laboratory testing for the

geotechnical-environmental areas of soil, concrete, asphalt, aggregates, brick,

block, mortar and soil-cement.



Services include, but are not limited to, the following: soil sampling,

sample preparation, testing for strength of concrete cylinders, gravity and

absorption of coarse aggregates, asphalt mix verification, compaction testing,

design of base and pavement sections, asphalt mixes, and asbestos surveys to

determine if the threshold amounts (as set forth by ASHARA and/or NESHAP

Asbestos Regulations) are exceeded, etc. The firm shall provide all Engineering

reports that require a Professional Engineer or Geologist?s review and comments

shall be made available to the City via e-mail, letter or fax, within seven (7)

days from the completion of the test procedures.



The term of this contract shall be for three years, with the option to

renew for two (2) additional twelve-month periods. Contract renewal will be

contingent upon the mutual agreement of the City and the Contractor.



A Resolution (411-05) ? Authorizing payment to Five Star Credit Union on

behalf of Terrance Hamilton in the amount of $15,425.00. The claim resulted

from an accident with a Fire/EMS vehicle and a private owned vehicle.



A Resolution (412-05) ? Authorizing payment to the Georgia Municipal

Association (GMA) in the amount of $30,982.77 for 2005 ? 2006

membership dues for the City of Columbus, Georgia. GMA is a voluntary,

non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, education, employee

benefit and technical consulting services to its members.



A Resolution (413-05) ? Authorizing the purchase of a swipe card

vending machine, from GFI Genfare (Elk Grove Village, IL), in the amount of

$74,241.00. The equipment will enable passengers to purchase bus fare without

having exact change. The swipe card vending machine must be compatible with

the existing CentsABill swipe cards and farebox system, both of which are

manufactured by GFI Genfare.



A Resolution (414-05) ? Authorizing payment to Onyx Acceptance Corp

in the amount of $15,625.00 for property damage. The claim resulted from an

accident involving a METRA bus and a privately owned vehicle.



A Resolution (415-05) ? Authorizing the purchase of a hydraulic

excavator from Tractor & Equipment Company (Columbus, GA), in the amount of

$208,697.00. The hydraulic excavator is a replacement unit, and will be used

by the Public Services Department at closed landfills and new landfills for new

phase development and EPD compliance pertaining to daily cover.



On September 21, 2004 Council approved the purchase of a hydraulic

excavator from Tractor & Equipment Company, per Resolution No. 298-04, Bid

No.05-0017. The bid specifications required vendors to submit a bid price for

future purchases during the FY06 Budget year. The vendor submitted a bid price

of $208,697.00, per unit, for future FY06 purchases; and has provided written

confirmation to honor the bid price.



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CHEROKEE AVENUE:



City Manager Hugley said that on last evening, there was a public meeting

down at St. Elmo School regarding Cherokee Avenue and there were more than 50

residents in attendance. He said they presented to them three options, which

includes:



(1) Leave Cherokee Avenue between Garrard Street and Camille Drive, which is a

four-lane roadway, that just under one mile stretch.



(2) Leave it at 4-lane and install 132 feet of guardrails at a cost of $150,000

with some shrubbery.



(3) Convert Cherokee Avenue between Garrard Street and Camille Drive to three

lanes that would have two travel lanes and center turn lane, with a pedestrian

bicycle lane.



He said the responses that they received from those in attendance were mixed;

however, he thinks the majority leans towards a three-lane roadway. He said

they have received comments in and said he would like to encourage those who

are watching that if they have some concerns and would like to participate in

the discussion as it relates to Cherokee Avenue, to please email him this week.



City Manager Hugley said that he anticipate that he will bring a

recommendation back to the Mayor and Council on next week during the September

6th Council meeting. He said he would like to hear from other individuals this

week. He said they will take the information that they received on yesterday

and discuss it with the staff; then come up with a

recommendation to bring back to the Council.



He said if they convert to three-lanes, they anticipate that it will only

be for a temporary basis for a period of one year and the cost would be

approximately $25,000 to make that happen.



Councilor Allen said he has had a constituent to pose a question to him,

as well as have had a parent of a Columbus High School student who has

expressed some concern about this particular matter. He said he has brought

this issue up before.



He said it is the easterly route of Cherokee Avenue, going away from town

on Cherokee Avenue as you get down to the intersection of Camille, and go

around the curb, there is a yield sign there. He said he doesn?t see any reason

for this yield sign to be there. He said he personally almost rear-ended

someone who stopped and yielded. He said there is a stop sign on the left and a

yield sign on the right and said if there is thru traffic, there is no reason

to yield. He said he would like to ask City Manager Hugley to ask the Traffic

Engineer to give some consideration to removing that yield sign and put a slow

sign. (Referral #1)



Councilor McDaniel said that on last night, Traffic Engineer Ron Hamlett

had a good idea about the intersection where Camille comes into Cherokee

Avenue, square it up where it would come right into road at Edgewood

Road/Cherokee Avenue and put in a stop sign there and take out the yield sign,

to make it a free flow into Edgewood Road. He said we could possibly adopt an

ordinance to prohibit a left turn at that street. He said he thinks that we can

do a lot with that, but said the main thing is slowing the traffic down.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL'S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND DELAYED BY THE COUNCIL:__







Application of April Ducote to temporarily close the parking spaces on

southwest and southeast curbs of Broadway (south of the garage), 900 block of

Broadway (parking garage will remain open), on September 8, through October 27,

2005, the parking spaces at 2:00 p.m. and the street from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30

p.m., in connection with ?Concert Series pedestrian safety?.



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Bernie Quick has asked

that this application be withdrawn from today?s meeting. She said it could

possibly come back at a later date.



THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY

CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE

COUNCIL:__





Application of the Columbus BID (Business Improvement District) to

temporarily close the 900 and 1000 block of Broadway, on Saturday, October 29,

2005, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for the 900 block and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

for the 1000 block, in connection with ?Children Trick or Treating Area?.



Councilor Allen moved approval of the application. Seconded by Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present

for this meeting.



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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:







Airport Commission, July 27, 2005.

Board of Tax Assessors, No. 32-05.

Board of Tax Assessors, No. 33-05.

Budget Review Committee, May 3, 2005.

Budget Review Committee, May 10, 2005.

Council Briefing, March 1, 2005.

Council Briefing, March 8, 2005.

Golf Authority, July 26, 2005.

Honor, Board of, August 4, 2005.

Housing Authority, July 20, 2005.

Public Safety Advisory Commission, June 2, 2005.

Public Safety Advisory Commission, July 7, 2005.

Water Commissioners, Board of, July 11, 2005.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers made a motion that the minutes be received. Seconded

by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA WAS SUBMITTED AND

EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (417-05) - Excusing Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh

from the August 30, 2005 Council Meeting. Councilor McDaniel moved the

adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present for the meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING NEW ZONING PETITION, RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL APPROVAL BY

THE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION AND APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING DIVISION WAS

SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND AN ORDINACNE AND PUBLIC HEARING

WAS CALLED FOR BY COUNCILOR

MCDANIEL:



Petition submitted by Jordan Electric Company, Inc. to rezone 1.67 acres

of property located at 4923 Warm Springs Road from SFR2 (Single Family

Residential 2) district to GC (General Commercial) zoning district.

(45-A-05-Jordan Electric Company, Inc.)



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WOODRUFF ZONING PETITION:



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said on last week, the Woodruff petition was

asked for by a Councilor; understandably to be held at a night Council meeting.

He said unfortunately the night meeting puts that petition in the same arena

with another petition, and at this point there is a recommendation of denial.

He said typically we have not forced a petition out of its normal course

without at least consulting with the petitioner and that did not happen on last

week.



He said while the petitioner feels very strongly that he wants his

petition heard on the basis of the merits of his petition and his petition

only. He said we took it out of the normal course of events and said in order

to uncouple him, it would require him now to wait 60 days for his petition to

be heard. He said he would request that the Council consider this action that

this go into the normal course and that it be held independently and not held

necessarily in conjunction with the night meeting where the Kimbrough petition

is going to be held.



Mayor Poydasheff said he thinks that point is very well-taken and said he

thinks that everyone should have their arguments for their petitions heard on

their own merits.



Councilor Hunter said the reason he asked for the night meeting was

because of the fact that what?s going on there is that you have a situation

that has already been conveyed, that its basically terrible out there on that

end of St. Mary?s Road. He said for a number of people who live out there, they

wished that there was a moratorium on development, but there is not going to

be, so before there is further development, they want to be heard.



He said having a night meeting would give them a chance to be heard. He

said whatever development occurs on that end of St. Mary?s Road, all is going

to be said and done. He said because of the fact that it?s going to be so final

it seems that we possibly could, in this particular situation, give way to the

citizens who want to express their concerns. He said the thing that he fears is

that years from now, we will have situations where we will have citizens coming

down to this Council; new citizens to that development, coming down with

concerns asking why was this developed this way or why do we have these

problems.



Councilor Hunter said before we rush into a development, he thinks it

behooves us; in a timely manner, to go ahead and peruse it and give everyone

who has a stake in that, a chance to have his or her say. He said he asked for

the night meeting because he thought it would provide the best chance for those

citizens to do that. He said most of the citizens who live out there are

working people and they don?t have the opportunity to come down and give voice

before us. He said they watch the Council meetings, but they do that by

watching our replays. He said as far as taking off from work most of them don?t

have the luxury of doing that.



He said because of these developments that are proposed on St. Mary?s Road

and because of what it?s going to mean, he asked that we take our time before

we approve any type of development, to allow those citizens to have a voice.



Mayor Poydasheff said there would be a night meeting on that petition in

October. He said the points that the citizens will be bringing up would

resonate with the Council on any other thing that goes on; so, uncoupling this

won?t matter.



Councilor Hunter then asked when is this public hearing going to be held

on this petition. City Manager Hugley said he would have to call Mr. Rick Jones

to come forward to respond to those questions.



Councilor Suber said he believes that we have those rezonings mixed up, he

thinks the one that is supposed to be coming up fairly quickly is the Woodruff

petition and not the Kimbrough petition. He said we sent the Kimbrough petition

back to the Planning Advisory Commission.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this matter.



City Manager Hugely said Mr. Jones is making a telephone call to confirm

when will these two petitions be coming forth before the Council.

While the Mayor and Council were awaiting an answer from Mr. Jones, Clerk of

Council Washington continued with the presentation of her agenda.



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BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that she has contacted the Young

Professionals Organization, as well as some other individuals with the hopes of

getting some assistance in getting a nominee for Councilor Woodson?s District

for someone to replace Mr. Gerardo Ricci ? District 7. Councilor Woodson said

she might have a possible nominee on next week.





C.I.R.C.L.E:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mrs. Tonya Douglass has

resigned from her position on C.I.R.C.L.E. She pointed out that this is the

Council?s appointment and they would need to appoint someone.



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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Mr. Fernando

Verdree and Mr. Arthur Smith were nominated to succeed themselves for another

term of office and that they may now be confirmed. Councilor Henderson so

moved. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously. (See below for

Councilor Suber?s request to add his affirmative vote to this item))



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KEEP COLUMBUS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that we still need someone to fill

the position of Jan Pease on the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission that

expired in June. She said when we submitted the nominees earlier in June we

inadvertently left off Ms. Pamela Feagle, but pointed out that she is eligible

to succeed herself.



Councilor Henderson then nominated Ms. Feagle for another term of office.



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PLANNING ADVISIORY COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Mr. Michael

Eddings and Mrs. Chris Henson were nominated to succeed themselves for a second

term of office and that they may now be confirmed. Councilor Allen so moved.

Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those nine members

of Council present for this meeting.



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YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington said we need a nominee for the Youth Advisory

Council for the 2005-2006 School year, for Council Districts 2, 3, 8 & 10.

She also pointed out that Councilor Suber is nominating Ms. Celeste Walker as

his District One representative and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers is nominating Ms.

Terrianna Sharpe for his District 5 representative and they may both be

confirmed.



Councilor Allen so moved. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried

unanimously by those nine members of Council now present at the time and

voting.



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PUBLIC HEARING:



City Manager Hugley said he would like to remind the public that there is

a hearing tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., at Columbus Technical College on the

proposed 3% educational sales tax. He said he would encourage those citizens

who are interested in being a part of that hearing to come out to the meeting.

He said members of the State Legislative Delegation, representatives from

Atlanta; Speaker of the House, as well as the Majority Leader will be present

at that meeting.



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Councilor Woodson said she had submitted a request to the Traffic

Engineer about doing some work on Victory Drive, in front of I-185 and near

Spencer High School. She said Spencer High School now has a drop off point for

parents and said that when people are going through the back, it?s the same way

that they exit in and out; which is really dangerous.



She said she heard in the news that there was a proposal of looking at the

road and what?s going on with Fort Benning and the increase of troops coming in

and all of the development. She said she would like to have that area of

Spencer High School to possibly add that as part of that discussion. She said

the picture that was shown on the news this morning is located right in front

of the area that she is talking about. She then asked City Manager Hugley to

look into that and to determine exactly what they are proposing in that area.



City Manager Hugley said he would have the staff to get her a response to

that, but he thinks that she is referring to the I-185 Victory Drive

Inter-change that will be dealt with as part of the recent announcement for

transportation dollars.



Councilor Woodson said that is going to be really dangerous and there is

an accident waiting to happen. She said whomever the contact person is for

Fort Benning, she thinks that they need to get with Spencer High School to look

at the changes that they have done.



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REZONING ISSUES:



Councilor Henderson said he just wants to remind the citizens that

although the public hearing is an excellent opportunity to make your issues

known, in his opinion, one of the best ways to communicate their feelings to

the zoning authority, which is this Council, is to call them. He said he

welcomes telephone calls, because it allows them an opportunity to try to get

to the heart of what the issues are. He said he certainly understands and

agrees with Councilor Hunter that night meetings provide the greatest

opportunity.



He said he would like to know when would be the first opportunity for the

Woodruff zoning petition because it may end up with the second reading being on

a consent agenda, which may not be appropriate for that agenda. He said that

would mean that the vote would be on the night meeting while the other petition

will be heard.



Mr. Rick Jones, Director of the Transportation Planning Division said in

response to the Council?s concerns regarding the rezoning, said right now the

Kimbrough?s petition is scheduled to go to the Planning Advisory Commission on

next Wednesday, September 7th and tentatively it will be heard on that first

meeting in October, (October 4th) along with the Woodruff rezoning petition.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said that is what the petitioner, Mr. Woodruff was

objecting to, being heard at that same time. He said we know that the original

recommendation of the PAC on that other petition was denial. He said the

petitioner just respectfully request that it be uncoupled. He then asked what

would be the normal course, if the Woodruff petition were advertised for public

hearing.



Mr. Jones said if the normal course was followed, the public hearing could

possibly have been heard within the next couple of weeks; which possibly would

have been the second week of September.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said the petitioner?s request was to have the matter

heard according to its normal course and then so moved. Seconded by Councilor

Henderson.



Councilor Suber then asked what was the normal course.



Mr. Jones said once the Council calls for the ordinance, they then run the

advertisement for that particular zoning case that Friday afterwards. He said

in this particular case, it would be run this Friday and said we would have to

wait 15 days by the State law to count those out and then we can have the first

reading. He said whatever 15 days is from Friday that is when they can have the

public hearing.



Mayor Poydasheff said that would be around the third week in September.

Mr. Jones then said if that is the Council?s desire, they could still do that.



Mayor Poydasheff then called the question on the above motion, which

carried by a vote of 8 ?1, with Councilor Hunter voting no and all other eight

members of Council present voting yes.



Mayor Poydasheff said with that vote taken; now we will follow the

standard procedure on this particular rezoning matter.





VOTE ON ITEMS:



Councilor Suber said on all those votes that were taken while he was away

from the Council table, he would ask that his affirmative vote be added to

those items.



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With there being no other business to come before the Council, Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers then asked if there was anyone who had an issue to bring before the

Council, they can be heard at this time.



Mr. Bill Madison, 974 Overlook Drive said he comes here this morning to

ask for the Council?s support in establishing a goal with the Mayor?s

leadership out front. He said he wants to ask that the goal becomes the Mayor,

Mayor Pro Tem and the Council. He said that is, to look at St. Mary?s Road,

Forrest Road and Buena Vista Road. He said it appears as one listening to the

calls that are coming into the office of the NAACP about these issues, is why

we need to have some attention focused on

St. Mary?s Road. He said why is it that Whittlesey Road is getting all the

attention at the Council meeting and then on St. Mary?s Road, when we leave

work and try to get home in the evenings; between the Interstate going east

towards Fort Benning and most of the traffic is trying to make a left turn.



Mr. Madison said when they leave the reservation, they are trying to go

out St. Mary?s Road to get home, and if you turn left on Northstar, Wickham

Drive or McCartha Drive, you are blocking traffic. He said if you turn left

anywhere off of St. Mary?s Road, other than at the entrance of St. Mary?s Road

from the Interstate, you will be blocking traffic. He said these citizens have

a right to get home in a timely manner like anyone else, but more importantly;

they have a right to be free from accidents. He said there are too many

accidents on St. Mary?s Road, which many of them are not reported because they

are such minor damage. He said St. Mary?s Road is not going to have less

traffic in the future, and then asked the Council members to go and sit and

watch St. Mary?s Road in the evenings. He said that highway is long overdue.



He also made comments about Forrest Road. He said when you leave Edgewood

School, all of that traffic converges and it is backed up bumper to bumper. He

said this is unfair to the residents who live out beyond Floyd Road and Buena

Vista Road. He said we have turned churches around so that they don?t face the

highway anymore because the road is coming. He said he is asking this Council

to be fair, to do justice and do the right thing for the people in the South

Columbus area. He said he is asking you to put some more emphasis on it, talk

about it and do something about the traffic problems. He said they are looking

for civil rights violations in the way roads are looked at right now in

Columbus, Georgia and said he would ask the Council to please consider that.



After Mr. Madison concluded his remarks, the Mayor and Council then

responded to those concerns expressed by Mr. Madison.



Mayor Poydasheff said we recently discussed St. Mary?s Road on last week

and the week prior to that. He said today we also talked about some of those

concerns expressed by Councilor Hunter as it relates to St. Mary?s Road. He

said we talked about some of the concerns that were addressed by Councilor

Turner Pugh on some of the other roads that you mentioned. He said the

innuendos that the Council doesn?t care, is wrong. He said the Council does

care and we are working on that and we can give you an update on the TIP

(Transportation Improvement Plan), the concerns with development and everything

that has been stated here openly and consistently.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he couldn?t believe that there is anyone in

Columbus, Georgia that doesn?t know the history of Forrest Road. He said that

project is gone and it is at the request of the citizens because of the

residential properties that were going to have to be taken on both sections of

the projects.



He said, as you are aware we get some of our funding from the State of

Georgia and said they have a cookie cutter approach to the way they build

highways. He said their plan to build Forrest Road was a 5-lane divided highway

with a concrete median and taking something like 166 residential properties in

the process. He said the people of that area saw what the alternative was, and

chose not to do that project at all. He said that is the result of probably at

least 12 ? 15 public hearings, at which many of those people were present. He

said he can understand the frustration, but said an alternative was presented

and in the absence of funding locally, we are depending on the State. He said

if there is anything to be done, it is going to have to be done in-house when

we have the funding.



Mr. Madison said he begs of this Council to hear him. He said we either

make excuses or make money. He said everyone along Forrest Road who has

property; they want the best price that they can get. He said even though their

property is only worth $72,540 on a fair appraisal, they want $176,000 and we

understand that. He said they are going to raise fuss until it happens. He said

when this particular project, St. Mary?s Road, Forrest Road; when it becomes a

goal of this City, it will move to the front of the line no matter what the

State or Federal Government says, and this is how the Council gets in touch

with the other people. He said he hears so much of these excuses of why things

are not being done when people are having accidents and they need to clear it

up.



Councilor Suber said from Nassau Circle all the way up to Schatulga Road,

those citizens were in an uproar when this decision was made, but the Council

had already approved the design. He said these citizens were at a meeting first

at the Edgewood Baptist Church and secondly, at Forrest Road Elementary School

where they said they were totally opposed to the widening of Forrest Road from

that point on. He said we also had meetings at Edgewood for citizens from

Morris Road and Edgewood Road, all the way to Floyd Road, who said they were

opposed to having their property taken with a four-lane highway. He said he

could assure you that this matter has been discussed a number of times.



He said he is telling you what the people have said what they didn?t want

and said he has supported them on that. He said what they did was black topped

the street versus widening it.



*** *** ***



With there being no other business to come before this Council, Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Suber and

carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for this meeting,

with the time being 9:55 A.M.







Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia