Columbus, Georgia

4





COUNCIL BRIEFING



June 27, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Thursday, June 27, 2002 in the Council Chamber

Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.



PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson , Richard Smith, Nathan Suber,

Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:45 a.m.) Also present were

City Manager Carmen Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay; Director of Finance Kay

Love and Director of Human Resources, Tom Barron.



ABSENT: Councilor Charles McDaniel, Jr.





This meeting was called to order at 8:40 a.m.



ACCESS TO COOPER CREEK ROAD:



Referring to a chart, City Manager Cavezza updated the members of Council on

the construction traffic exiting on to Cooper Creek Road/Veterans Parkway. He

recalled a traffic light was to be installed, but was not put in and the

attempt was to clear the right - -of - way for visibility which he said the

people on the corner agreed to do that. He reported as a result of the

developers coordinating with the Bradley Company; they ( the construction

trucks) can use Blythe Street and exit onto Cooper Creek Road. He said both

residents signed a statement saying they did not object.



As councilors expressed various concerns about this matter, City Manager

Cavezza pointed out that if the red light was installed, the trucks would be

coming out on Cooper Creek Road, but for further consideration, this matter

would be introduced in the today?s Council meeting.





TIRE KING SIGN:



City Manager Cavezza pointed out that Mr. Chapman of Tire King located at the

intersection of Airport Thruway and Veterans Boulevard appealed to the Board of

Zoning Appeals requesting to increase the height of its? sign from 35 to 50

feet. He said Mr. Chapman indicated that because of the location of the

trees on the median, their sign is not visible until you get within 100 feet

of the intersection; the Board of Zoning Appeals turned this case down because

they felt the case did not demonstrate hardship. City Manager then reported

that a copy of this report is available to Council members for their review.

( A copy was not filed with the Clerk?s Office)



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



At this point, City Manager announced there will be an Executive Session to

discuss a Real Estate issue. Mayor Peters raised the question of the order of

the Executive Session; however, the members decided that the order of the

Executive Session would be decided during the Regular Council Meeting.



ANNOUNCEMENTS:





? COLUMBUS FOR KIDS ? A $30,000 grant was approved in April by resolution

for the organization Columbus for Kids but the corrected name is Children?s

Tree House.



? APARTMENTS ON ILLGES ROAD ? The apartments have been purchased and the

new owner will be renovating the property.



? MATILDA LANE APARTMENTS - . This property has been fenced, as a result of

damages from a fire.



? CENTERFOLD ? The building is scheduled to be torn down on Thursday, June 27,

2002.





INFORMATION :



? The Demolition Process - The timelines are down to minimum times.

? Safety Issues - We have the authority by ordinance to take action.





ANNOUNCEMENTS (Cont?d)





? A Georgia Power Luncheon will be held at 12:00 noon today at the River

Club.

? A possible Strategy Session will be July 23, 2002.

? A meeting was held with the representative from Norfolk Southern to

discuss scheduling of trains during peak business hours.

? The State Legislature approved a Power Development Authority. (City

Manager Cavezza requested the Clerk to bring this issue forward

in Council to identify the City?s representative.)



There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:55

a.m.









Gloria A. Carey, Secretary