Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

MARCH 2, 2004











The regularly monthly night meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia

was called to order at 5:30 P.M., Tuesday, March 2, 2004, 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 and Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers

were Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson,

Julius H. Hunter, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn Woodson. City Manager

Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington

and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present. Councilor Nathan

Suber took his seat at the Council table at 5:35 p.m.



ABSENT: Councilor Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Councilor Wayne Anthony.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Poydasheff.



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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



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

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CHARACTER WORD:



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

this month's character word, "patience". He said this is a word that we can

apply in many aspects of our daily lives. He said some related words to ponder

and practice are tolerance, perseverance, endurance and determination.



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ELECTIONS:



Mayor Poydasheff said he committed and promised to Mr. Ed Dubois,

President of the NAACP when he came before the Council on last year talking

about some of the problems that we had with the last election and the voting

machines that he would get together with Ms. Nancy Boren and work with her. He

said he has been working with her and having visited his and other voting

areas, there were no problems reported to him. He said they aired on CCG-TV for

10 days, the rules, regulations and procedures for voting and as Ms. Boren

promised, she has also posted signs in the voting precincts with her telephone

number and the numbers of the Secretary of State in the event there was a

problem. He said the instructions were also there for everyone to see. He said

he found it very responsive and easy to understand.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



"AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH":



With Ms. Sharon Lynn and several other individuals present with her

standing at the Council table, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers read the proclamation of

Mayor Poydasheff, proclaiming the month of March 2004, as "American Red Cross

Month", in Columbus, Georgia.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR HENDERSON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS CALLED

UP AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS, PURSUANT TO A MOTION MADE BY COUNCLIOR

HENDERSON AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WOODSON AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (90-04) - Authorizing the approval of the East Highland

Revitalization Plan. Councilor Henderson then moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this meeting.

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NOTE: The City Manager's Agenda is continued below.



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Mayor Poydasheff said we consistently produce the best in Columbus and

said that Synovus has been rated again in Fortune Magazine as one the top

twenty companies among the Most Admired Companies. He said that he would like

for the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for next week?s Council meeting

commending Synovus and AFLAC for being selected as one of America?s top twenty

most admired companies. He also asked that a resolution be prepared commending

Mr. Kriss Cloninger for being named the best Chief Financial Officer in the

United States by the Institution Investors Magazine.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH MR. RUFUS RIGGS AND MR. RALPH JACKSON, STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE,

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR SUBER ANDADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (91-04) - Commending Mr. Ralph Jackson, Landfill Division

Manager, Mr. Rufus Riggs, Director of Public Services and the Public Services

Department for their years of dedicated service to the Columbus community and

their commitment to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for our citizens.

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

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



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WITH COACH GAYE WELLS AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

VARSITY CHEERLEADING TEAM STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY

COUNCILOR DAVIS AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:







A Resolution (92-04) - Commending Coach Gaye Wells and members of the

Columbus High School Varsity Cheerleading Team upon their Fifth Place finish in

the Georgia High School Association State Cheerleading Championship. Councilor

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

by those nine members of Council present for this meeting.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GIRLS? BASKETBALL:



Councilor Hunter asked that a resolution be prepared for next week's

Council meeting commending the Kendrick High, Columbus High and Carver High

Schools girls? basketball teams for advancing to the semi-finals competition

for the State Championship.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. EDWARD MOORE, REPRESENTING BENNIG HILL/ESQUILINE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD

WATCH GROUP, RE: ORDINANCES CONCERNING DILAPIDATED HOUSES AND

BUSINESSES:





Mr. Edward Moore appeared and said as he walk and ride the streets of

South Columbus he sees decaying building, structures that are still there from

more than 41 years ago when he was attending Spencer High School. He said he

was told by

some members of this City Government that there is something called due process

and said he has done some research on due process. He said it means a regular

administration of the law whereby no citizen can be denied his legal rights.



He said he is here today to ask the Council if they are saying to the

citizens of Columbus South that the careless business owners can use the law of

the land to profit day after day and year after year and get away from it; i.e.

substandard buildings are still standing and nothing are being done about them.



Mr. Moore then asked where is due process for the poor, elderly, and the

children. He said he would return month after month until he sees some of these

buildings come tumbling down like the Berlin Wall.



He then said he has a copy of the City Code as well as violations that he

has personally called into the City of Columbus this year. He said as he walks

daily on his 5-mile walk and see things that are clearly in violation he turns

them in; then after one week later, he calls back to Special Enforcement to get

a status on these things. He said many times nothing has been done. He said he

walks on a daily basis and have seen several pieces of property that are really

in a deplorable state and needs to be taken down. He said he has called these

in to the Public Services and Code Enforcement Department, but still nothing

has been done about these properties and said he would like to know what the

Code says about this matter.



Mr. Moore said on several occasions he was told to let due process work.

He then asked does the citizens of South Columbus have due process and said

from what he understands, they do have due process as well; because they don?t

have to look at those dilapidated buildings.



Mr. Moore spoke for several minutes regarding his and his neighbors concerns

regarding these dilapidated houses and businesses in the Benning Hills' area

and due process. He said he thinks the Code needs to be rewritten, because it

gives too much leeway to sloppy business owners.



After Mr. Moore concluded his presentation, City Manager Cavezza made

several comments as it relates to due process, saying that it is a fact of life

and something that we have to live with. He said the timing that we have with

our process is something that we have gone over with this Council several times

and felt that we have streamlined it. He said if we streamlined it any more, we

would not be giving people due process.



City Manager Cavezza said if Mr. Moore thinks that there are any other

buildings that he feels are in violation of the Code, if he would give his

office those addresses, they would go out and check into those concerns.



Several members of the Council expressed their views regarding this issue,

after which Mr. Moore responded to questions of the Council.

Members of the Council also requested additional information as outlined

below:



Councilor Henderson said once Mr. Moore submits the list of dilapidated

houses and businesses have the staff to take a look at that list and determine

where we are on each of those complaints; which ones were put on the list and

those that were not, etc.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she would like the staff to provide a copy of

that list, as well as the responses to the members of Council.



Councilor Hunter said that whenever a citizen submits something to the

City for us to take a look at, make sure that we give a response back to those

citizens.



Councilor Woodson said she would like to have a status report on the

property located on Plantation Drive.



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ABANDONED VEHICLES:



Councilor Davis said he would like for the City Attorney to do some

research as it relates to abandoned vehicles on right-of-ways and private

property and determine what those requirements are from a legal standpoint,

according to what the ordinance states.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the February 24, 2004 meeting of the Council of the

Columbus Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia were submitted and

approved unanimously upon the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem

Rodgers and seconded by Councilor Allen.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING FOUR RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (93-04) - Authorizing the execution of a Certificate of

Ownership and Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the

2004/2005 L.A.R.P. Program for 94 streets totaling 18.125 +/- miles, Muscogee

County. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



A Resolution (94-04) - Authorizing the City Manager to file an application

With the Corporation for National and Community Service for the Retired and

Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Councilor Woodson moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this vote.



A Resolution (95-04) - Supporting the Renaissance Personal Development

Program?s submission of a grant application to the Georgia Children's & Youth

Coordinating Council for $50,000 for the Juvenile Justice Community

Enrichment/Outreach Program. 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 (96-04) - Supporting the Columbus Department of Fire &

Emergency Medical Services Revised Strategic Plan. Councilor Allen moved the

adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Woodson 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 AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR WOODSON AND ADOPTED

BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (97-04) - Requesting that ADEM publish an additional public

comment period concerning the proposed permit issued to the Continental Carbon

Company facility in newspapers in Phenix City, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia

and hold an additional public hearing after such publication. Councilor Suber

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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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WARNING SIGNALS:



Councilor Davis said he received some telephone calls pertaining to the

sound of our emergency response system of all the different sequences it goes

through and the time that it takes. He said they are concerned about every

week, in succession all that is being sounded and the need for that. He said

if we could look at possibly testing the system every quarter rather than every

week. He said he really didn?t know how to respond to those concerns and said

maybe that is something we can discuss at a Work Session.



City Manager Cavezza said the new system that we have, we can test it on

the computer without ever having to sound it off, but we did that for a few

weeks and received numerous complaints from people wanting to know why the

siren was not alarming. He said they wanted the security of knowing that it

works.



Councilor Davis said the concern is with the sounds, as they are

broadcasted, but they don?t tell you what the signs are. He said maybe we could

discuss that in the future.



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PIONEER LITTLE LEAGUE:



Councilor Henderson said he received a telephone call from someone

regarding the Little League Fields and said there was a young may who passed

away about a year ago and said they would like for us to consider and submit to

the Board of Honor for their consideration on naming one of the playing fields

at the Complex after this young man. He said there is precedent for that, as

there was another child who passed away years ago and one of the fields is

named for her. He said it is not the Complex, but the field within the Complex,

the Jenny Lee Field over at Pioneer Little League.



He said he would like to offer an oral resolution from the Council asking

them to consider this request. He said if possible they would like to dedicate

it at Opening Day on March 13th. He said there will only be one other meeting

of this Council at which time we could pass a written resolution for

presentation at opening day. He said it would be to rename the B League Field

over at Pioneer Little League in honor of Lamar ?Trey? Pruitt, III.



Councilor Henderson then offered an oral resolution to forward this

request to the Board of Honor that they consider this matter. Seconded by

Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING PURCHASING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (98-04) - Authorizing the execution of a contract with

Elevator

Service Company in the amount of $419,916.00 to provide complete upgrades to

four (4) elevators in the Government Center Tower. Councilor Suber moved its

adoption. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING NINE PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, WITH DETAILED INFORMATION

HAVING BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA PACKET, WERE ALSO SUBMITTED

AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL UPON THE

ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR ALLEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR

WOODSON, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OFCOUNCIL PRESENT FOR

THIS

MEETING:





A Resolution (99-04) - Authorizing the purchase of Industrial/Commercial

Mulching Mower & Repair Parts on an "as needed" basis from Hamilton Equipment &

Quik-Kut for the estimated annual contract value of $32,000 that will be used

by various City departments. The contract term will be for one (1) year, with

the option to renew for two (2) additional (12) twelve-month periods.



A Resolution (100-04) - Authorizing payment to Association County

Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) in the amount of $11,561.38 for 2004 Membership

dues for the Council of Columbus/Muscogee County, Georgia.



A Resolution (101-04) - Authorizing payment to Diebold Election Systems in

the amount of $13,607.07 for software support and coding for the voting

systems, to ensure accurate operation of the voting systems for the November

2003 Special Election.



A Resolution (102-04) - Authorizing the execution of a contract with

Jordan, Jones & Goulding in an amount not to exceed $40,500.00 for streetscape

plans for the Liberty District.



A Resolution (103-04) - Authorizing payment to Mercer Human Resource

Consulting in the amount of $18,944.00 for pension plan consulting services for

General Government and Public Safety pension plans in October 2003 through

December 2003.



A Resolution (104-04) - Authorizing the purchase of lawn maintenance

Equipment on an "as needed" basis from Hamilton Equipment and Outdoor Products

at an estimated annual contract value of $25,000, which will be used by various

City departments. The contract period will be for one year with the option to

renew for two additional twelve-month periods, as well as the contract renewal

being contingent upon the mutual agreement of City and contractor.



A Resolution (105-04) - Authorizing payment to Hughston Sports Medical

Hospital

in the amount of $11,512.00 for inmate medical services.



A Resolution (106-04) - Approving the purchase of furniture for the Tax

Assessors Office from Trendway Corporation/In Care of The Overby Company in the

amount of $52,561.92; Anderson Hickey/In Care of the Overby Company in the

amount of $10,760.00; VIA Incorporated/In Care of The Overby Company in the

amount of $5,469.12; and Superior Furniture/In Care of The Overby Company in

the amount of $1,417.50.







A Resolution (107-04) - Approving the purchase of four (4) IBM x345 Xeon

Servers from Beck and Associates in the amount of $34,597.98 for Lotus Notes

E-Mail and Domino Database computers.



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TAG OFFICE:



Councilor Davis said he would like to know whether or not we have adequate

seating available for those individuals who have hardships or disabilities; for

elderly people who may need a place to rest in the event there is a long line

in the Tag Office.



City Manager Cavezza said there are some seats available if someone has to

sit, but said there is the cueing system as they go through the line. He said

he would check with the Tax Commissioner to see if they have any problems with

that. He said everything is handicapped accessible and said he doesn?t think

there is a need for many seats.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL'S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AS INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL:



(1) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 16, Number 4.



(2) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 16, Number 5.



(3) Memo from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: C.I.R.C.L.E



(4) Memo from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Community Development

Advisory Council.



(5) Memo from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Planning Advisory

Commission.



(6) Memo from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Board of Zoning Appeals.



(7) Copy of a Certificate of Need Application for Morningside Assisted

Living Facilities of Columbus, 7100 South Stadium Drive, Columbus, Georgia

31909 to request a bed increase from 42 to 50 beds.



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CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a letter from Civic Center Director,

Mr. Dale Hester, advising that Mr. Arthur Thomason and Mr. Terry Hattaway have

resigned from the Civic Center Advisory Board.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved the letters be received with regrets and

thanked them for their services rendered. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

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



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HOSPITAL AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a letter from Mr. Kenneth Henson,

Jr., submitting the appointments of the Hospital Authority and are as follows:

Mr. Robert Kelly to succeed himself, Mr. Harvey Phelps to succeed himself, Ms.

Susan Beck to replace Ms. Donzy O?Dell and Ms. Mac Turgeon to replace Mr. James

Webster.



She then advised that Council must confirmed these appointments. Mayor

Pro Tem Rodgers so moved. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present for this meeting.



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CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS,

WHICH WERE OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:



Building Contractors Examining Board, February 5, 2004.

C.I.R.C.L.E., January 13, 2004.

Golf Course Authority, January 27, 2004.

Health, Board of, January 28, 2004.

Housing Authority, January 21, 2004.

Personnel Review Board, February 18, 2004.

Risk Mgt Accident Prev./Risk Analyst Liaison Com., Feb. 18, 2004.

Tax Assessors, Nos. 6 & 7.

Uptown Fa?ade, January 20, 2004.

Water Commissioners, January 12, 2004.



Councilor Allen made a motion to receive these minutes. Seconded by

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.

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BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



BUILDING AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Donald Gates was

nominated on last week to succeed himself for another term of office on the

Building Authority of Columbus and advises that he may now be confirmed. Mayor

Pro Tem Rodgers so moved. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present for this meeting.



Clerk of Council Washington said we still need someone to succeed Mr.

Dennis Luby, but there was no nomination.



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CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington advised that Councilor Turner Pugh is working

on a nominee for her Council District Four representative.



She then asked Councilor Davis if he has spoken with Mr. Wetzel, which

Councilor Davis replied that Mr. Wetzel would like to continue to serve on this

board. Councilor Woodson then moved he be confirmed for another term of office.

Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those nine members of

Council present for this meeting.



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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington again pointed out we still need someone to

succeed Ms. Mary Mills on the Cooperative Extension Advisory Board. Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers then nominated Ms. Mary Ann Morris for this position.



Clerk of Council Washington said she would bring this back on next week

for the Council's confirmation.



PERSONNEL REVIEW BOARD:



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

alternate seat of Mr. David Edwards, Alternate member.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers pointed out that another gentleman was appointed to

this seat; however, when he proceeded to administer the oath of office, it was

determined that the gentleman had moved from his residence here in Muscogee to

Harris County. He said he was then advised that he could not serve on this

board. Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that was Mr. Devin Wylie.



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WEST CENTRAL GA REGIONAL MH/DD/AD BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Ms. Debra Garab has resigned

her position on the board and that Council needs to nominate someone for this

seat, but there were no nominations.

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PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION:



City Manager Cavezza said we are going to postpone the nominations for the

two positions on the Planning Advisory Commission. He said he would ask

everyone to get his or her nominees in on next week.



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EMPLOYEES PAY INCREASES:



Councilor Suber said he has been told by a number of citizens in this

community that certain individuals employed with the City are saying that he is

the one that is holding up pay increases for certain individuals. He said he

just wants to make it clear that he has not voted against any pay increases

that he is aware of for any of our employees. He said he never has and probably

never will. He said he just wants to say to those employees who are saying

that, he has supported all of the pay increases. He said if the employees want

to take to the streets to convince the citizens to support a pay increase by

raising their taxes, he is for it. He said if the citizens want to tax

themselves more to pay for more increases, he supports it.



Mayor Poydasheff said for the record, the budget is being worked on and

said we are not into that area yet. He said all the meetings of the budget

session are open to the public and said we have not had any discussions at this

junction on pay raises or anything else in that regard.

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

Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone who was not listed on the Public

Agenda, but had an issue to bring before the Council, they could be heard at

this time. No one came forward to be heard.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by

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

present for this meeting, with the time being 6:45 p.m.



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Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia