Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

January 4, 2005



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors Wayne Anthony,

Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr.,

Evelyn Turner Pugh (arrived at 5:18 p.m.), Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson.

Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, Interim City Manager Isaiah

Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop, Clerk of

Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: Councilor R. Gary Allen was absent.



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This meeting was called to order at 5:12 p.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.





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Garbage Cans:

Interim City Manager Hugley reported that the Public Services Department would

be moving forward with enforcing the ordinance that pertains to the size of the

garbage cans. He recalled that the ordinance refers to a minimum garbage can

of 15 gallons and a maximum of 32 gallons. He made reference to a few calls

that have been received regarding the size of garbage cans. He explained that

for the last three or four weeks, we have been placing stickers on oversized

garbage cans to let the citizens know that at the beginning of the year, we

would no longer pick up those oversized can.



Interim City Manager Hugley then presented the legal 32-gallon garbage cans, as

well as, the 60 and 90 gallons can. He explained possible injury that could

happen to the inmates in lifting the oversized cans. He recommended the

enforcement of the 32-gallon garbage cans that would begin on Monday, January

10, 2005.



Councilor Henderson suggested the use of garbage bags inside the oversized

garbage cans to prevent the inmates from having to pick up the garbage cans.

Public Services Director Rufus Riggs emphasized the need to have a consistent

standard to enforce. City Manager Hugley then proposed, on a trial basis, the

use of larger receptacles with the bags inside to allow the administration to

see if it is working. He said we would come back to the Council with the

results of the trial period prior to April 1st. He said that we have visited

the stores that sell the larger receptacles and have asked them to put notices

in the area to let the citizens know.



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Traffic Accident:

Mayor Poydasheff called attention to the car accident where the four-year old

girl was hit by a car, the Council asked him to turn this over to the Georgia

Bureau of Investigations (GBI). In conversations with the GBI, he said that he

was informed that it was turned over to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), because

the GSP is the organization that investigates accidents. He advised that a

thorough report was completed by the GSP with a copy also being sent to the

District Attorney. He then presented an investigative summary report that

indicates that the proper procedures were taken. He added that the Police

Department handled the investigation and no one connected to the Sheriff?s

Department. (A copy of this report was filed and is hereby made a part of the

record.) He named some of the officials from the Police Department that were

involved with the investigation. He made reference to there being ?probable

cause? for requesting the blood alcohol testing or breathalyzer. He reported

that the ?individual was clean?. In response to a question of Councilor Suber,

Mayor Poydasheff advised that this information is public



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Atmos Energy Franchise Agreement:

City Manager Hugley called attention to an item on the City Attorney?s Agenda

regarding Atmos Energy. He advised that we went through the Georgia Municipal

Association (GMA) to negotiate the franchise agreement with Atmos Energy, but

it calls for the franchise fee board from 3% to 4% for five years and for the

remaining ten years it would go to 5% on that franchise agreement. In response

to a question from Councilor Suber regarding any other changes or differences

in the current agreement versus the new one, City Attorney Fay explained that

the 3% right now is going to be effective April 1st in the new agreement.



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Georgia Public Defender?s Standard Council:

Interim City Manager Hugley advised that the contract for the Georgia Public

Defender?s Standard Council. He briefly explained that the new public

defender?s system that went into effect on January 1st. He pointed out that

Mr. Bob Watkins is the new Circuit Public Defender and would be providing

public defenders for Superior Court and Juvenile Court. He added that the city

would continue providing public defender service for State Court and Recorder?s

Court; the Magistrate and Municipal Court would use the Public Defender System

as well as. He advised that the contract for the Public Defender?s Office is

for $478,000. and we are required to continue to put that money in there as we

have done previously in past budget years. He said that in Recorder?s Court

the system would take effect January 10th. He advised that we are increasing

the number of hours for the public defenders at Recorder?s Court to ensure

coverage on a full-time basis.



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Pawn Brokers Reporting Software:

Councilor Henderson asked about the concerns that were raised by some of the

Pawn Brokers regarding the reporting software, at which time, City Manager

Hugley said that he has communicated with Lt. Slouchik and he believes the

issue is resolved. He pointed out that we are purchasing the software through

IT and they are already paying the $50.00 per year and the fee would go to

$150.00.



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Roofing:

City Manager Hugley pointed out the five buildings that need new roofs. He

said that we had $248,000. budgeted for new roofs. He explained that there has

been a rise in cost and the bids came in at $351,273.00; therefore, we are

taking the additional money from the general fund contingency and CIP

contingency for the additional $103,000. He pointed out that there is a

thirty-year warranty on the roofs. He then responded to questions regarding

the material to be used.



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Recorder?s Court Judge:

Councilor Suber asked for some clarification regarding the Recorder?s Court

Judge in relation to the Environmental Court Judge. City Attorney Fay said

that we are going to fill the one vacant Recorder?s Court Judge?s position.



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There being no further business to discuss and with the dialogue being

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.







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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council