Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

MAY 6, 2003





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

order at 9:00A.M., Tuesday, May 6, 2003, 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 Poydasheff were Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Wayne S. Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H. Hunter, Jr.,

Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh and Nathan Suber. City Manager

Carmen Cavezza, 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: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers was absent, but was officially excused

upon the adoption of Resolution Number 204-03. Councilor Evelyn Woodson was

also absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Tommy Green - Fairview Baptist Church.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from Clubview Elementary School.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the April 29, 2003 Meeting of the Council of the

Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia was submitted and approved upon

the adoption of a motion made by Councilor Allen and seconded by Councilor

Henderson, which carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present

for this meeting.

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TAYLOR COUNTY PROM:



Mayor Poydasheff said he received telephone calls from the O?Reilly Radio

station, different citizens, as well as e-mails as far away as Canada regarding

the incident with Taylor County on Friday and some of their students. He said

he wants the public to understand that while Columbus had no official role, he

personally view this as a very regrettable occurrence.



He said this City subscribes to and practices inclusiveness. He said we

honor the practice and concept of One Columbus, and believe in servant

leadership. He said we believe that no people, whatever their race, ethnicity

or religion should be marginalized. He said this is not a Columbus problem as

such, but said it is a matter for the people of Taylor County to seriously

address.

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CITY OF CHARACTER:



Mr. Ed Wilson, Executive Assistant to the Mayor came forward to announce

the Columbus City of Character word for the month of May. He said with the

involvement of everyone we can make this City of Character label that we have

chosen for ourselves, a fact as well as a name. He said our character word

for the month is one that he thinks everyone will agree that we all feel

challenged with, which is ?patience?.



Mr. Wilson said in the operation of our government, if we show patience

with one another we will have a lot better program going. He said some related

words that are given for us to practice and ponder are ?hope?, ?cheerfulness?

and ?courage?.



City Manager Cavezza pointed out that approximately two years ago, the

City of Columbus was designated as a City of Character by the Georgia Municipal

Association.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



?OLDER AMERICANS MONTH?:



With Ms. Celsa Muniz, Ms. Mary Ann Johnson, Ms. Annette Gibney, Ms. Joy

Hendrix, Ms. Margie Bettis and Ms. Betty Winchester standing at the Council

table, Councilor Suber read Mayor Poydasheff?s proclamation, proclaiming the

month of May 2003 as ?Older Americans Month?, in Columbus, Georgia.



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?NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK?:



With Mr. Peter Bowden, Executive Director of the Convention & Visitors

Bureau, standing at the Council table, Councilor Anthony read Mayor

Poydasheff?s proclamation, proclaiming May 11- 17, 2003 as ?National Tourism

Week?, in Columbus, Georgia.



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?ALS AWARENESS MONTH?:



With Reverend Tommy Green standing at the Council table, Councilor Hunter

read Mayor Poydasheff?s proclamation, proclaiming the month of May 2003, as

?ALS Awareness Month?, in Columbus, Georgia.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH THOSE STUDENTS OF CALVARY CHRISTAIN SCHOOL STANDING AT THE COUNCIL

TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON

AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (190-03) - Commending and congratulating Calvary Christian

School Coach and students for their outstanding performance in the Georgia

Odyssey of the Mind competition. Councilor Henderson moved its adoption.

Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present, standing to cast their affirmative vote.



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NOTE: The City Attorney?s Agenda is continued below.



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PROCLAMATIONS CONTINUED:



?INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH?:



With Mr. Jerry Bierly, President of the Columbus Association of Insurance

& Financial Advisors, standing at the Council table, Councilor McDaniel read

Mayor Poydasheff?s proclamation, proclaiming the month of May 2003 as

?Insurance Awareness Month?, in Columbus, Georgia.



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?OPERATION THANK YOU?:



With Deputy City Manager Isaiah Hugley and several of the committee

members standing at the Council table, Mayor Poydasheff read his proclamation,

proclaiming May 10, 2003 as ?Operation Thanks Day?, in Columbus, Georgia.



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?GEORGIA SCHOOL NURSES APPRECIATION DAY?:



With Ms. Darlene Shirley and several of Muscogee County?s School Nurses

standing at the Council table, Councilor Allen read Mayor Poydasheff?s

proclamation, proclaiming May 7, 2003 as ?Georgia School Nurses Appreciation

Day?, in Columbus, Georgia.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH THOSE NAMED IN THE RESOLUTION STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (191-03) - Commending and congratulating The Gracious

Ladies of Georgia honored upon the organization's 27th Anniversary. Councilor

Turner Pugh moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council present, standing to cast their

affirmative votes.





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WITH MRS. C. E. (JO) MCDANIEL STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY MAYOR POYDASHEFF AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (192-03) - Commending and congratulating Mrs. C. E. (Jo)

McDaniel upon her receipt of the Ruth Schwob Service to Mankind Award at the

27th Anniversary celebration of The Gracious Ladies of Georgia. Councilor

McDaniel moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council present, standing to cast their

affirmative vote.





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WITH MRS. ELLEN CONGER STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR DAVIS AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (193-03) - Commending and congratulating Mrs. Ellen Conger

upon her receipt of the Emily Woodruff Tribute to Service Award at the 27th

Anniversary celebration of The Gracious Ladies of Georgia. Councilor Davis

moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present, standing to cast their affirmative

vote.



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RECOGNITION OF FIRE MEDIC BEN TODD:



With Fire Chief Roy Waters, Deputy Chief David Arrington and Fire medic

Ben Todd standing at the Council table, Mayor Poydasheff expressed his and the

Council?s appreciation and congratulation to Fire medic Ben Todd upon the

receipt of the Mary Beth Bouns Excellence in Trauma Award for his actions on

April 30, 2003.

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NOTE: The City Attorney?s Agenda is continued below.



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PUBLIC AGENDA:



MS. PAMELA FAIR, REPRESENTING SAFE KIDS OF COLUMBUS, RE: CONTEST WINNERS

FOR NATIONAL SAFE KIDS

WEEK:



Ms. Pamela Fair said this week is National Safe Kids? Week and said their

mission is to prevent unintentional injury in children ages 13 and under. She

said for their first annual Poster Contest the School District participated and

they were able to judge the posters and make the winning poster their

billboard. She said the school of the child, with the winning poster, would

have a health and safety fair.



She said she is here this morning with the three winners of the Poster

Contest and would like for them to share with you their art work.



1st Place Winner - Paolo Gilleran - Midland Academy



2nd Place Winner - Niki Rivers - Hannah Academy



3rd Place winner - Jessie Barron - Midland Academy





Mayor Poydasheff said that Councilor Turner Pugh will ask for a resolution

for next week?s Council meeting to honor these three individuals and then asked

Ms. Fair if she could come back on next week, to which she said she would be

glad to come back on next week.



Councilor Turner Pugh also asked that Ms. Fair get together with Greg

Hudgison of CCG-TV and have the drawings of the winners scanned to show on

CCG-TV.



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CORTA:



Ms. Helen Martin, President of the Columbus Regional Tennis Association,

along with Carol Sucliff and Ken Smith, appeared to thank the Mayor and Council

and the City of Columbus for their support of the Cooper Creek Tennis Program.

She said this past weekend they had over 1,020 players that visited Columbus,

Georgia. She said CORTA hosted the Senior District Champions, which are players

that are 50 years old or older. She said there were several teams that were

representing Columbus at the Sectional level and could possibly advance to the

National level.



Ms. Martin said that the Cooper Creek Tennis Center has the best staff

around and said that they worked diligently all weekend long to ensure that we

had a topnotch facility. She said they are proud to be a part of this

facility. She said during this past weekend we had several people who told us

what a great facility we have, and how well maintained it is, and what a great

City and people that we have here in Columbus.



She said that Councilor Hunter is also part of their program and said she

would like to encourage the other Council members to come out and play tennis

with them.



Councilor Hunter said that Ms. Martin has done such an outstanding job

since she has been with CORTA. He said she has been such a blessing to the City

since she has come and agreed to work with CORTA. He said we are also very

fortunate to have Ken Smith with us as well. He said Ms. Martin is correct and

that we have one of the best tennis facilities in the southeast.



Councilor Davis also thanked Ms. Martin and her volunteers for what they

do for the tennis program out there at Cooper Creek.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND ITS CAPTION READ BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS ADVERTISED:



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 0.16 acres of property located at

4831 13th Avenue from a C-3 District to an R-3 District. (8-A-03-Col. Housing

Initiative, Inc.)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Greg Clark of the Columbus Housing Initiative, Inc., was present, but

He did not make a presentation, as there was no one present to oppose this

proposed rezoning ordinance.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING THREE ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY

CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND

READING:





An Ordinance (03-25) - Rezoning approximately 9.59 acres of property

located on the undeveloped portion of 7700 Veterans Parkway from an R-4

District to a C-3 District. (4-CA-03-GML Real Estate, LLC) Councilor McDaniel

moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Davis and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present for this meeting.



An Ordinance (03-26) - Rezoning property located at 1569-A Alta Vista

Drive from an R-1A District to an R-2 District. (6-D-03-Ashton Homes, LLC)

Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council present for this meeting.



An Ordinance (03-27) - Regulating vehicular traffic in Columbus, Georgia

by establishing/amending the parking restrictions along street segments of

Broadway, 1st Avenue and 9th Street. Councilor Allen moved its adoption.

Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by those eight members

of Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS DELAYED FROM THE APRIL 29, 2003

COUNCIL MEETING WAS AGAIN SUBMITTED AND AMENDED BY THE COUNCIL ON FIRST

READING:





An Ordinance - Amending Chapter 17B entitled ?Public Demonstrations? so as

to incorporate the state law definition of a funeral procession; to add a new

Article III that requires a permit application in order to obtain a permit from

the chief of police for picketing, public demonstrations or festivals involving

more than 15 persons on public right-of-way; to require liability insurance for

events having a projected or prior actual attendance of 10,000 persons or more;

and for other purposes.



City Attorney Fay said we have a substitute insurance paragraph that is

attached, which adds in the actual prior attendance of 10,000 persons or more

during the previous 24 months to go along with the language projected

attendance. He said they have also changed in the very last sub-section, the

word ?fifty? to ?fifteen? to be consistent with the beginning of the ordinance

on permits. He then said that we need a motion to amend the ordinance.



Councilor Allen then moved the ordinance be amended. Seconded by Councilor

McDaniel and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present for

this meeting.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked if we had notified all affected potential

parties, to which Mayor Poydasheff said not yet, until the ordinance is

adopted. However, Councilor Turner Pugh said that has not been the practice in

the past. She said when we have an ordinance that will have an impact on

existing organizations and businesses, we always notify them before we adopt

the ordinance, so that if they have any input, they could do so.



City Manager Cavezza said that specifically we have not contacted the

organization, but said we put the notice in the newspaper that is required for

this first reading, and we have been running it on the Government Access

Channel. He said that Councilor Turner Pugh is correct and that we have gone

out of the way in the past to contact various organizations to let them know

and said that we can make that happen this week.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND

INTRODUCED ON FIRST

READING:





An Ordinance - Amending Chapter 19 of the Columbus Code so as to include

the Muscogee Technology Park and surrounding areas in Urban Services District

1. City Attorney Fay said this is a housekeeping measure and then asked if

there were any questions, but there were none.



Councilor Allen said he would like for the staff to create a map showing

the area of the Muscogee Technology Park to show on CCG-TV for the viewing

public to see. City Manager Cavezza said we will run it on CCG-TV.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING FIVE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL UPON THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION

MADE BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALLEN, WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:



A Resolution (194-03) - Authorizing the City Manager to submit an

application and if approved accept $533,861 in grant funding from the Office of

School Readiness for the Department of Parks & Recreation Community Schools

Division to participate in the OSR Summer Lunch Program and subsequent snack

program.



A Resolution (195-03) - Authorizing the acceptance of a deed to Plum Court

and an extension of Candy Lane, located in Section Three, Sugar Mill

Subdivision, on behalf of Columbus, Georgia.



A Resolution (196-03) - Amending Resolution Number 140-02, which

provides for support of the redevelopment of the Robin?s Trace Apartments

(F/K/A Traffic Gardens).



A Resolution (197-03) - Authorizing the abandonment of a portion of an

existing thirty-foot storm sewer easement as shown on the Plat for Lot 21,

Block ?F?, Section Seventeen, Sweetwater Village to George C. Woodruff

Company.



A Resolution (198-03) - Authorizing the City Manager to submit an

application and if approved accept a grant of $99,600 from the FY-2003

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; whereby these funds will be used to

purchase seven (7) portable radios and a ACC-1000 Communications System for the

Columbus Fire Department and amend the multi-governmental fund by a like

amount.

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THE FOLLOWING THREE PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS HAVING BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER CAVEZZA AND

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

COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALLEN , WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:



A Resolution (199-03) - Authorizing the purchase of plumbing supplies

from West Georgia Plumbing Supply, on an ?as needed? basis for the estimated

annual contract value of $93,685.99.



A Resolution (200-03) - Authorizing the purchase and installation of roll

carpet on an ?as needed? basis from Huckaby Brothers Floor Covering, Inc., for

the estimated annual contract value of $15,000.00; and rescind Resolution

Number 79-02, which awarded the contract for roll carpet to Norman & Storey

Floor Covering.



A Resolution (201-03) - Authorizing the execution of a construction

contract with Lott Sheet Metal Contractors, Inc., in the amount of

$51,797.00 for the procurement of roofing services at the Columbus Stockade.



A Resolution (202-03) - Authorizing the purchase of a telephone system

upgrade from BellSouth/BSFS, in the amount of $18,370.00 per month for a

five-year lease contract; and renew the current contract with BellSouth for the

next 10 year period to guarantee the current rate for the BellSouth Multi-serve

phone system.



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UPCOMING EVENTS:



City Manager Cavezza highlighted some upcoming events for the month of May

2003, which are outlined below.



Budget Review Committee Meeting ? Immediately following the Council

meeting today.



May 7, 2003- Mayor?s Annual Wellness Walk, at the Civic Center.



May 8, 2003- Hospitality Annual Awards Banquet, at the Trade Center at 6:00

p.m.



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EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS:



Councilor Hunter asked if we were preparing something to air on CCG-TV

regarding the emergency warning sirens, to which Mayor Poydasheff said we are.

He said he spoke with Fire Chief Waters this morning, and said he and City

Manager Cavezza are working on it, and some of the things will be ready this

afternoon. He said they are improving that and it will certainly get out to the

public.



Councilor Turner Pugh asked if we could also get that on the local

television stations for those individuals who might not have cable and access

to the local Government Access Channel.



City Manager Cavezza said that they will do that and said they also need

to do a better job of educating the public. He said prior to this new siren, we

had one simple way of doing it and everybody knew something was wrong when it

went off, but you didn?t know when it was all clear or you didn?t know what was

happening. He said now we have a more sophisticated system, and said we will do

a better job of educating the public on what these mean. He said the fact that

you get an audible report before hand has made it a little more confusing,

because sometimes you can?t hear it in your home. He said we will work through

that to make sure it is clear.



Councilor Davis said one of the things that is really important is somehow

we need to find a way to distinguish between the different sounds, because for

so long, we have been use to that one sound. He said when it went off the other

night, he thought a tornado had touched down somewhere. He said he doesn?t know

how that can be done.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL:



(1) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 15, Numbers 12.



(2) Memorandum from GMA, Re: Update on GMA?s Outreach Efforts.



(3) Report from the Department of Audits and Accounts for the statewide

equalized 100% digest for school tax purposes from the Sales Ratio Study for

calendar year 2002.



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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY

CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (203-03) Approving a Special Exception Use to allow a day

care center at 322 ? 25th Avenue. Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded

by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present for this meeting.



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MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the Medical Center Hospital

Authority has reappointed Mr. Ken Crooks and Dr. Kenneth Goldman for another

term of office on the Medical Center Hospital Authority and advised that they

need to be confirmed by the Council. Councilor Turner Pugh so moved. Seconded

by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present for this meeting.



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BUILDING CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a letter from Ms. Stella Shulman

resigning from her position on the Building Contractors Examining Board, due to

her appointment to the Development Authority. Councilor Allen moved that the

letter be received. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously

by those eight members of Council present for this meeting.



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COMMUNITY DEVEELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a memorandum from Ms. Lynette Gross,

Community Reinvestment, requesting that the seat of Ms. Connie Parrish on the

Community Development Advisory Council be declared vacant. Councilor Henderson

so moved. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those

eight 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:



Board of Tax Assessors, Number 16.

Elections & Registrations, Board of, March 6, 2003.

West Central GA Regional MH/DD/AD, February 11, 2003.

Zoning Appeals, Board of, April 2, 2003.



Councilor Allen made a motion that these minutes be received. Seconded by

Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ADD ON RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (204-03) - Excusing Councilor John J. Rodgers from the

May 6, 2003 Council Meeting. Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded by

Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present for this meeting.



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BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Chuck Hecht was recently

appointed to succeed Mr. Charlie Fortson on the Community Development Advisory

Council, but is now advising that he will be unable to accept his appointment;

so, therefore, we need to nominate someone else for this position.



She further pointed out that Mr. Homer Kuhl?s term of office expired some

time ago and that we are waiting for a nominee from Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers, for

someone to represent Council District Five.



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CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Jim Walker has

relinquished his seat on the Civic Center Advisory Board and that we need a

representative from Council District Three for someone to replace him.



Councilor Hunter said he is working on finding a replacement.



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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Ms. Ollie Johnson does not

wish to be reappointed to the Cooperative Extension Advisory Board; therefore,

the Council will need to nominate someone for this position. There were no

nominations.



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Mayor Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone present in the audience

who was not listed on the Public Agenda, but had an issue to bring before the

Council, they could be heard at this time.



An unidentified gentleman appeared and made comments regarding the ALS

disease. He also made comments as it relates to the budget and the 2% raise

that the Council is proposing for City employees. He said he agrees with

Councilor McDaniel in his statement that he doesn?t think this is a fair

percentage.



He said he has looked into this matter for about nine months now, and said

he believes in fairness and would like to see fairness as it relates to this.

He said he has interviewed some officers in the Fire Department and they told

him that last year, the Chief was the only one who got a raise. He said he

doesn?t think that is fair.



Mayor Poydasheff pointed out to the gentleman that what we did on last

year, was to give a $500.00 bonus and an extra paid holiday, and paid all the

medical expenses for all City employees.



He said he would suggest to the gentleman that because the budget has not

been adopted, he would ask him to sit down with the Chairperson of the Budget

Review Committee, Councilor Turner Pugh and discuss this issue.



The gentleman spoke several more minutes in expressing his views regarding

the proposed pay raises for the City employees, after which Mayor Poydasheff

and City Manager Cavezza further reiterated that there were no raises given to

City employees on last year. City Manager Cavezza said if someone got promoted,

then maybe they received a raise.



The gentleman said it is his understanding that new people start off in

the Fire Department at a higher level than some of the older ones that have

been there for a long time, the better trained and experienced people, and he

doesn?t think that is fair. He said we spend a lot of money in this City on

bells and whistles. He said we have the best tennis courts, softball fields and

the longest riverwalk, which floods oftentimes. He said we needed some of these

things, but said he thinks that now we need to start looking at people.

He said he thinks that the older workers should get some catch up pay, and said

he would suggest that they get a 3% raise. He said he would also suggest that

no one who makes over $30,000 should not get any kind of pay raise.



After the gentleman concluded his thoughts, Mayor Poydasheff and several

members of the Council then responded to several of those concerns of the

gentleman.



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Mr. Billy Watson, former City Councilor and City employee, said he is the

current President of the Retired City Employees Association and said he would

like to express a concern of the Association. He said on last year, Mercer

Consulting firm was hired to compare the City?s benefits with other cities, and

said what they compared was going to be pension and insurance and wasn?t going

to compare pay. He said from his 30 years of working for the City when they

came down, they were told about their benefits in which they were very good. He

said we had a good pension plan and good insurance, and part of it was the

supplemental policy, whereby after you reached age 65, the City would normally

pay for the supplemental policy.



Mr. Watson said a few years ago, there was a plan put out that in four

years, would have reduced it and put the entire burden on the retirees to pay

the supplemental policy. He said he thinks that plan was abandoned on last

year.



He said according to Finance Director Love, they have over 100 people that

is not making enough with their pension to pay their insurance, and are

having to submit a check each month. He said we have some people that are

hurting.



Mr. Watson said he understands that there is a 1% pay increase for

retirees and a 5% increase for their monthly (inaudible), and said they are

very appreciative of this; however, they would like more and if there is any

way that the Council can help them with that, they would appreciate it.



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Mr. Paul Therrien, 6115 Charing Drive appeared and said after the troops

came home from serving in the Gulf war, he thought it would be a good idea, if

we had a parade down Victory Drive; because not everyone have access to Fort

Benning and the monuments that are out there. He said he thinks it would be

fitting that the City of Columbus pay tribute to the soldiers that have served

our Country and defended our freedom, and have a parade for them and salute

them in a proper way down Victory Drive.



Mayor Poydasheff said we agree with Mr. Therrien and said we are working

on that. He said he has discussed that with the City Manager and said we have

the Chairman, Mr. John Mitchell of the Military Affairs Committee of the

Chamber of Commerce working with Mrs. V. A. Hollman and they are working on

that in conjunction with Fort Benning.



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BUDGET:



Councilor Henderson said he would like to reiterate an offer that has been

made by the Mayor and Budget Review Chairperson Councilor Turner Pugh, saying

that the budget sessions are open to the public and encouraged everyone to

attend those sessions. He said he agrees with the gentleman, who stated that it

is a good time for us to start focusing on the human element as opposed to the

bricks and mortar. He said anyone who plans on coming up and addressing aspects

on the budget that they need to attend the budget sessions and get the entire

picture, to see what we deal with.



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Councilor Allen then made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Councilor

Turner Pugh.



Prior to the Council adjourning its meeting, Councilor Hunter said he just

wants to echo the Mayor?s initial comments at the beginning of this meeting

concerning the affair that happened this past weekend in Columbus with the

Taylor County prom. He said he thinks it is important that the Mayor did

distance Columbus from the event that was in question. He said the reason he

thinks it is important, he go back to last year when that County had the

integrated prom here at the Sheraton Airport. He said at the time that they had

that, he received a number of telephone calls from back in Columbus, Ohio,

where he grew up and Dayton, Ohio, where he was born and where his mother still

lives, in connection with that.



He said the reason they did that was because it made National headlines.

He said the bylines in the newspapers in Dayton and Columbus, Ohio said

Columbus, Georgia. He said on the National television when ABC and the other

networks were carrying it, the reporters were reporting from Columbus, Georgia,

and they had presumed that this was a Columbus High School. He said he had to

of course explain to each caller that this was a County some distance away and

this was not happening in Columbus. He said again this year we are faced with

this connection to Columbus.



Councilor Hunter said the question is why would they bring it to Columbus,

and said perhaps this points out the fact of something that we have always been

saying, is that in this new Century, Columbus is the regional hub. He said this

is Taylor County and there is nothing we can do to keep them out, but said the

one thing that we can do, is to try to persuade our business people here in

Columbus, not to allow that to happen.



Councilor Suber said in defense of the location where this particular

event was held, he doesn?t know if the owner of the business knew what was

actually happening. He said when you have so many different businesses, one

might fall under the cover; however, he doesn?t think that this individual

should be ridiculed per se, because he thinks it was a mistake that someone let

it happen, and we can?t kill this particular business, because it is used

throughout the community by a lot of people.



Councilor Hunter said his comments were not to kill this particular

business, but said you try to learn something from every happening and said the

lesson that can be learned here is that you have to understand that we are

going to get business from outside of the community and you really need to know

who you are doing business with.



Mayor Poydasheff said he and City Manager Cavezza did meet when they found

out about this late afternoon on Friday. He said that type of situation in

Columbus just doesn?t exist. He said that has been buried for years and we are

a good community. He said as Councilor Hunter said, people should not confuse

this regional hub, this third largest City in Georgia with what goes on the

outside.



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

Poydasheff then called the question on Councilor Allen?s earlier motion for

adjournment, which was Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council present for this meeting, with

the time being 10:30 A.M.



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Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia