MINUTES
COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
REGULAR SESSION
MARCH 14, 2006
The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called
to order at 9:02 A.M., Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 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 Robert S. Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem John
J. Rodgers were Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H. Hunter,
Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., and Nathan Suber. 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: Councilors Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn
Woodson were absent, but were excused upon the adoption of Resolution Numbers
101-06, 102-06, 103-06, 104-06, respectively.
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INVOCATION: Offered by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers.
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from the Academic Success Center.
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PROCLAMATIONS:
?HAMS DAY?:
With Dr. Burch Cameron and several other individuals, standing at the
Council table, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers read the proclamation of Mayor Poydasheff,
proclaiming March 14, 2006 as ?HAM?S Day? in Columbus, Georgia.
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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:
WITH THE COACHES AND MEMBERS OF THE COLUMBUS HIGH BLUE DEVILS WRESTLING
TEAM STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL: ___________________
A Resolution (91-06) Commending and congratulating the Columbus
High Blue Devils Wrestling Team upon recently winning the Class AAA Dual State
Wrestling Championship. Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of the
resolution. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those six
members of Council present for this meeting standing to cast their affirmative
vote.
Councilor Hunter pointed out that the Coach was recently inducted into the
Wrestling Hall of Fame. He said that we need to do a resolution for him.
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
Mayor Poydasheff said he noticed that the President of the Chamber of
Commerce and the key leader of Economic Development, Ms. Becca Hardin is
present in the Council Chambers this morning and said he would like them to
come forward and make a statement as it relates to the announcement that was
made on last night. He said he knows that all of the Council members are not
present this morning, but said he wants the Council to see these two wonderful
people, as well as the community to see them.
He said he wants to thank the Council, because without the Council
supporting him in their efforts for economic development, public/private
partnership, in his opinion, wouldn?t work. He said every Council member fully
supports and is committed to what you?ll are doing; and said they proved it
some years back when Mayor Peters was Mayor and we were interested in doing
more than just talking about supporting you. He said we dedicated .25 mills to
economic development.
Mayor Poydasheff said one of the results of this great success that we
have had is with the Chamber of Commerce bringing in Kia in West Point.
He said Columbus is going to benefit from that new business coming to our
region. He said he is proud of the work that Mr. Gaymon and Ms. Hardin have
done to assist in getting this industry to our region.
Mr. Mike Gaymon, President of the Chamber of Commerce said many years ago
when they went to Charlotte, NC. they went there to study what they had done in
their regional economic development efforts, called the Carolinas Partnership.
He said a few years later, we created the Valley Partnership and this Council
led the effort understanding that it is a region, and not just a geographical
area that sometimes we get concerned with.
He said Kia is locating in Columbus. He said when they met with the
officials from Kia, they said they are happy to consider Columbus and said they
consider this region, with Columbus being the major City. He said they don?t
necessarily look at some of the geographical boundaries that some people might;
but said they are coming to a region, which is 600,000 plus people. He said we
are going to have a lot of benefits from that, as we expect to have some of the
people live here, and a tremendous impact from sales of building materials from
supplier and etc. He said it is all because of a regional effort that we think
that Kia located where they did. He said they wanted to be on an Interstate and
close to Alabama, because of the suppliers with the Hyundai Plant. He said
there are some things beyond our control; where we can?t help where we are
geographically located; but said the State leaders will tell you that one of
the biggest selling points that they used, was the Columbus area; meaning this
City and its leadership and what we are going to be able to do. He said he
would like to thank the Mayor and the Council for their support, because we are
truly saying that it is about the region. He said as one part of our region
grows and develops, Columbus is going to benefit directly and indirectly as
well.
Mr. Gaymon said Ms. Becca Hardin is one of the best leaders in the United
States and we are proud to have her leading our economic development efforts.
He said he has asked her to tell the Council about the new development, as
there has been a lot of different numbers that have been quoted about jobs and
capital investment, and etc. He said she has been working with them from the
very beginning and maybe she can respond to questions, if there are any, after
she makes some comments.
Ms. Becca Hardin said she would like to thank the Mayor for his
involvement in this project, because many people don?t know of all the behind
the scenes work that he does. She said she wants to publicly acknowledge him
and thank him for his support of their efforts. She said they don?t do economic
development projects in a vacuum; but they have to have strong leadership and
support. She said she wants the community to know that we have a Mayor who
supports your efforts and our efforts and has been the nucleus to a lot of the
developments that we have been able to bring here to Columbus.
She said as you?ll know, we have had a great 2005 and this new
announcement really gets us kicked off into 2006 with a bang. She said the
announcement is just the beginning and now the work really begins. She said on
this afternoon, they are going to be traveling to Atlanta to meet with the
Governor and attend his formal press conference announcing this project.
Ms. Hardin said they feel very, very fortunate to be a part of the team
that met with the Kia executives and helped recruit them into our region. She
said not only are we looking at a $1.2 billion project in West Point, which
will be annexed into the City limits and 2,500 jobs; but as part of the
agreement that the State of Georgia made with the Kia executive team, there
will be 5 tier one supplier companies to locate in the State as well. She said
these are just in time suppliers that have to be within a 30 ? 45 mile radius
and said we are right in there.
She said her, Mr. Gaymon and members of their team will be traveling to
Korea within the next two months meeting with these companies and said we could
be looking at as many as 3,000 more jobs, just with the supplier network. She
said they would be out there representing you, the Council, our city, region
and look forward to bringing in some of the supplier business as well.
Mr. Gaymon said he would like to point out that your staff is very much an
important part of what they do. He said City Manager Hugley is involved with
them in every project that they are working on. He said City Manager Hugley
made a great choice in bringing Deputy City Manager David Arrington on board.
He said they are part of the team, and said it is a team effort; there is no
one entity that is out front doing it all. He said they depend on your staff to
help us, because there are a lot of issues that comes up in working with these
projects and said you need to have someone that can jump in and make things
happen. He said they are always there and always respond, and responds in a
very professional manner; which they greatly appreciate, because it?s that
great public/private partnership that a lot of cities envy.
Mayor Poydasheff said that every member of this Council, this team that
has been together for years has never deviated from their support of economic
development. He said he is proud to be a part of this Council.
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MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Minutes of the February 21, 2006 Council Meeting of
the Council of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia were submitted
and approved upon the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and
seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those six members of
Council present for this meeting.
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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:
THE FOLLOWING FOUR ZONING ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS
READ BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON EACH AS ADVERTISED:
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An Ordinance - Rezoning property located at 1347 Warm Springs Road from an
LMI (Light Manufacturing/Industrial) District to a GC (General Commercial)
District. (8-A-06-Jones)
PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:
Mr. Jones, the petitioner 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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An Ordinance - Rezoning property located at 2116 & 2126 Warm Springs Road
from a NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District to a GC (General Commercial)
District. (9-A-06-Planning Department)
PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:
Representatives of the Planning Division were present, but they did not
make a presentation, as there was no one present to oppose this proposed
rezoning ordinance.
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An Ordinance - Rezoning property located at 4002, 4012, 4014 and 4016
2nd Avenue & 4005 3rd Avenue from an RMF1 (Residential Multi-Family 1) District
to an RO (Residential Office) District. (10-A-06-Perez)
PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:
Mr. Perez, the petitioner 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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An Ordinance -Rezoning property located at 4026 2nd Avenue from an RMF1
(Residential Multi-Family 1) District to an RO (Residential Office) District.
(11-CA-06-Perez)
PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:
Mr. Perez, the petitioner was present, but he did not make a presentation,
as there was no one present to oppose this proposed rezoning ordinance.
City Attorney Fay pointed out these ordinances would be voted on at next
week?s Council meeting.
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CITY ATTORNEY'S AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED BY CITY
ATTORNEY FAY AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND AT HIS REQUEST, THE FIRST
READING OF THIS ORDINANCE WAS CONTINUED FOR ONE WEEK:
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An Ordinance - Amending the budgets for the Fiscal Year 2006 beginning
July 1, 2005 and ending June 30, 2006, for certain funds of the Consolidated
Government of Columbus, Georgia, appropriating amounts shown in each fund for
personnel actions and various other activities.
City Manager Hugley said during this time of year, we normally bring the
mid-year budget adjustments. He said, as you know, we adopted a budget for July
1, 2005 ? June 30, 2006 in the amount of $184.8 million. He said during the
month of November, we came back with a carry-over budget; those projects that
were started in the previous fiscal year, but were not completed. He said we
normally carry those things over into the new fiscal year; therefore, we came
to you in November with a revised budget as a result of carry-overs that took
the budget to $187.6 million; and of, course when we do that, the amount of the
prior year?s budget is reduced by that amount.
He said now we come before you with a mid-year adjustment, which involves
a few things. He said this budget would go from $187.6 million as a result of
the carry-overs to $189 million, which is a 0.78% increase. He said $1.2
million of that increase is a request from the Civic Center, due to an
increased number of events that they are bringing in. He said it?s hard to
project during the budget process exactly what events would come after the new
budget is adopted, and they have had a number of new events to present
themselves as an opportunity and they would like to precede forward with those
events; therefore, they are asking for a mid-year adjustment of $1.2 million.
City Manager Hugley said if those events don?t materialize, then, of,
course, if there are no revenues, there will be no expenses. He said with
Metra, the cost of diesel fuel has increased and we have some monies there for
them. He said there are some other expenses, which he has spoken with some of
the Council members individually about. He said we have $139,000 in expenses
and have some donations that come to $139,000 or so.
He said in the monies that they are asking for in the mid-year adjustment, they
are showing $30,000 for demolitions. He said on last year, they budgeted for
demolitions, but we are short on monies to proceed with the demolitions that
are on the table today.
City Manager Hugley said we need a mid-year adjustment that would allow
the $30,000 to get them through the end of this fiscal year with demolitions.
He said he knows that there have been some questions about the demolition money
and with all the Council members not being present here today, and after having
an earlier conversation with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers; he would like to continue
this ordinance on first reading.
Mayor Poydasheff said he would need a motion to continue the first reading
on this ordinance.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said because several councilors are not present on
today, he would like to ask that we continue first reading for one week and so
moved. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those six
members of Council present for this meeting.
City Manager Hugley said if there are any citizens who want to be heard on
this matter, they could be heard at this time.
Mayor Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone who wanted to be heard on
this matter, they could be heard at this time. There was no one who wanted to
address this issue.
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THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND
DELAYED BY THE COUNCIL, AT THE REQUEST OF THEIR SPONSOR, COUNCLOR SUBER:
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A Resolution - Commending and congratulating AFLAC, Inc. upon recently
giving one million dollars to the Presidential Commission working on a National
Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
A Resolution - Commending and congratulating Robert L. Wright, a Board
Member of AFLAC, Inc., upon serving as Chairman of the Presidential Commission
for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Councilor Suber said we would try to have them here at one of meetings
within the next month.
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PUBLIC AGENDA:
MR. MIKE NOLAN, REPRESENTING THE COLUMBUS
SENIORS SOFTBALL, RE: TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THE
MAYOR & COUNCIL: ________________________________________
Mr. Mike Nolan said Mr. Ed Cook was not able to be here on today and he is
here on his behalf. He said the Columbus Seniors Softball would be having
their opening day on April 10, 2006. He said on last year, they had six teams
and are now expanding to eight teams. He said members of their teams range in
age from 55 to 78 years old. He said they would like to extend an invitation
for the Mayor and Council to attend their opening ceremonies, which will be
held at Tillis Recreation Center beginning at
7:00 p.m.
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MR. NEAL J. CALLAHAN, RE: SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER
OF 13TH STREET/CEDAR AVENUE: _
Mr. Neal J. Callahan, who requested to be listed on today?s agenda called
late yesterday afternoon and cancelled his scheduled appearance before the
Council today.
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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING FOUR RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED
AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED
BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE
MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR ALLEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MCDANIEL, WHICH
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:
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A Resolution (92-06) ? Authorizing the submission of an application, and
if approved, accept a grant for $50,000 from the Georgia Department of Human
Resources to provide family connection activities in order to improve child
health including reduced incidences of teenage pregnancy, child abuse, neglect
and other risk factors.
A Resolution (93-06) ? Authorizing the submission of an application, and
if approved, accept a grant in the amount of $79,000 from the Georgia
Abstinence Education Program of the Child and Youth Coordinating Council for an
abstinence education program for teens.
A Resolution (94-06) ? Authorizing the submission of an application, and
if approved, accepts a grant in the amount of $12,300 from the United States
Tennis Association (UTSA) Foundation for a tennis and health awareness program.
A Resolution (95-06) ? Authorizing the submission of an application, and
if approved, accept a grant for $100,000 from the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources to provide signage and trash receptacles along the Columbus Multi-Use
Bikeway and Pedestrian Trail.
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THE FOLLOWING FIVE PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, HAVING BEEN SUBMITTED WITH THE
CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY
AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY
COUNCLOR MCDANIEL AND SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS, WHICH CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:
_ __
A Resolution (96-06) ? Authorizing the purchase of seventeen (17)
Crown Victoria pursuit vehicles and accessories; and one (1) non-pursuit Crown
Victoria, from Freeway Ford (Columbus, GA) in the amount of $379,048.96. The
vehicles are replacement units for the Police Department and Sheriff's Office.
The Police Department will receive fifteen (15) vehicles, including the
non-pursuit vehicle; the Sheriff?s Office will receive three (3) vehicles.
A Resolution (97-06) ? Authorizing payment to Columbus Fire and Safety
(Columbus, GA) in the amount of $15,405.80 for emergency repair and
maintenance/inspection services required for the fire alarm system, sprinkler
system and smoke detectors at the Jail. In November, following an inspection at
the Jail by the State Fire Marshal and the Justice Department at the Jail, the
City was mandated to do the following: (1) Inspect and tag the automatic
sprinkler system, (2) Repair the ground fault in the fire alarm system, (3)
Perform routine maintenance and testing of the fire alarm system; and, relocate
some existing smoke detectors and install new pull stations and smoke detectors
in various locations throughout the jail. Due to the mandate from the State
Fire Marshal, the Justice Department, and the need to perform the required
repairs expeditiously, the City Manager approved this procurement as an
emergency on December 5, 2005. Columbus Fire and Safety were chosen to provide
the service because they are the City?s contracted vendor to maintain fire
extinguishers.
A Resolution (98-06) ? Authorizing the purchase of a 16-foot flat bed
truck with lift tailgate from Jay Pontiac Buick GMC in the amount of
$30,027.87. Traffic Engineering Division will use this replacement sign truck
to transport work materials, tools and traffic signs to and from job sites.
A Resolution (99-06) ? Authorizing the purchase of three (3) agriculture
tractors from Melson Tractor in the amount of $77,821.84. Park Services and
Right-of-Way Maintenance will use these replacement tractors to cut grass on
City right-of-ways and athletic fields and parks.
A Resolution (100-06) ? Authorizing the purchase of fifteen (15) cardiac
defibrillator/monitors with accessories from Medtronic Emergency Response
Systems (Redmond, WA) in the amount of $250,608.55. The Fire/EMS Department
currently has Medtronic?s defibrillator/monitors in service. However, the
Department was advised that the current equipment will no longer be offered for
sale nor will maintenance be provided for the equipment. Consequently,
Medtronic?s offered a $1,000 trade-in allowance for each of the current units
being replaced.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Joint Property Committee Meeting with the Muscogee County School Board,
March 14th, 1:00 p.m. Ground Floor Conference Room
Joint Growth Development Committee Meeting with the Muscogee County School
Board, March 21st, 1:00 p.m., Ground Floor Conference Room
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
Councilor Suber said he attended the School Board meeting on last evening
and said the would like to commend the School Board, as stated by his school
board representative, Ms. Pat Hugley Green, for doing what was right for the
community in agreeing to build a new Rigdon Road Elementary School. He said
they had monies set aside for renovations for the school, but didn?t have the
funding set aside for a new school; however, they were able to find that money.
He said he would like to commend Mr. Fife Whiteside for finding the possible
resolution to that issue, in that he is the one who proposed taking money from
an Information Technology budget and adding it for the building of a new Rigdon
Road Elementary School.
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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:
CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING THREE ITEMS AS
INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR & COUNCIL: _____
(1) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Building Authority of
Columbus.
(2) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Community Development
Advisory Council.
(3) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Zoning Appeals, Board of.
(4) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: The naming of Oxbow Creek
Golf Course in memory of Howard Pitts.
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THE FOLLOWING FIVE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF
COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A
SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM
RODGERS, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR
THIS MEETING: _____________________
A Resolution (101-06) ? Excusing Councilor Wayne Anthony from
the March 14, 2006 Council Meeting.
A Resolution (102-06) ? Councilor Glenn Davis from the March 14,
2006 Council Meeting.
A Resolution (103-06) ? Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh from the
March 14, 2006 Council Meeting.
A Resolution (104-06) ? Excusing Councilor Evelyn Woodson from the
March 14, 2006 Council Meeting.
A Resolution (105-06) ? Receiving and approving the report of the
Finance Director of those alcoholic beverage licenses that were
approved and/or denied during the month of February 2006.
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CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARD,
WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:
____ ____________________________
Board of Tax Assessors, No. 08-06.
Councilor Allen made a motion that these minutes be received. Seconded by
Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those six members of Council present
for this meeting.
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THE FOLLOWING NEW ZONING PETITION RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY BOTH THE
PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING DIVISON WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF
COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND AN ORDINANCE AND PUBLIC HEARING WAS CALLED FOR BY
COUNCILOR MCDANIEL: _____________________________________
Petition submitted by Mike Patterson to rezone approximately 0.40 acre of
property located at 2939 Christine Road from SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2)
to SFR3 (Single Family Residential 3).
(13-A-06-Patterson)
BOARD APPOINTMENTS:
BUILDING CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD:
Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the term of office of
Mr. Allen Wright on the Building Contractors Examining Board expired at the end
of last year and that he is not eligible to succeed himself. She said the
Council must nominate someone to fill this expired term and the individual who
is appointed must be a licensed building contractor.
She said she is still working with the Homebuilders Association and they
are working on a recommendation for a licensed female contractor.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:
Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers has his
nominee for someone to succeed Mr. James S. Wilson, who is Council District
Five?s representative on the Community Development Advisory Council that
resigned his position on this board to serve on another board.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then nominated Mr. Homer Kuhl to succeed Mr.
James S. Wilson. Councilor Henderson so moved Mr. Kuhl be confirmed. Seconded
by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those six members of Council
present for this meeting.
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With there being no other business to come before this Council, Mayor
Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone who had an issue to bring before the
Council, they could be heard at this time. There was no one who indicated that
they wanted to be heard.
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With there being no one wanting to address the Council, Mayor Poydasheff
then entertained a motion for adjournment. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers so moved.
Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those six members of
Council present, with the time being 9:34 a.m.
Tiny B. Washington, CMC
Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
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