Pre-Council Briefing
Minutes
October 18, 2005
Present: Mayor Bob Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers. Councilors Nathan
Suber, Glenn Davis, Julius Hunter, Jr., Wayne Anthony, Charles McDaniel, Evelyn
Woodson, Evelyn Turner Pugh and Gary Allen were present. Also present were City
Manager Isaiah Hugley, Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin, City Attorney Clifton
Fay, Assistant City Attorney Jamie Deloach, Chief Administrator Liz Turner, and
Recording Secretary Tameka J. Colbert.
Others Present: Angela Cole, Lynette Gross and Robin Walker.
Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza level of the
Government Center.
Meeting began at 8:38 a.m.
UDO Amendment:
Mayor Bob Poydasheff informed the Council that on first reading there would be
an amendment to the UDO, which would give the City Manager an
opportunity to allow banners on public right-of-way in an enterprise zone or
rehabilitated area for a period not to exceed twelve months. He said there has
been approximately $25,000 raised to provide banners in an effort to enhance
the moral in Columbus South.
Demolition:
City Manager Hugley said the City Attorney has been looking into the demolition
discussed last week on the estate of Ludie and Judie Thomas. He said Mr. And
Ms. Thomas has hired an attorney and filed something in Probate Court on
yesterday, but it is the Council?s decision to proceed or recede with the
case.
Councilor Hunter said the question is whether or not the church has a vivid
interest in the property. City Attorney Fay said the heirs that are listed on
the probate are going to grant the property to the church.
Recreation Center :
City Manager Hugley said a gentleman came forward and requested that the
recreation center be opened on Sunday as opposed to Friday; therefore, there
was a survey completed to observe the outlook of the citizens. He stated the
results of the survey indicated that more citizens desire to keep the
recreation center opened on Fridays as opposed to Sundays.
Greater Columbus Fair:
Ms. Robin Walker came forward and informed the Council that the Greater
Columbus Fair has done tremendously well this year. She said the attendance
was just over 76, 000 producing a net profit of $196,000, which was greater
than the last two years combined. Ms. Walker said for the first time ever, we
did a presale program promoting mega passes and as a result there was $96,000
in presales before the gates opened the first night.
Councilor Suber asked was the increase in revenue due to the fair not being
scheduled equivalent to the time of the Tuskegee/Morehouse football game. Ms.
Walker said she does not think that had anything to do with it, and said we
revamped the entire fair and made a lot of changes including adding new
events. She also said that there has never been a presale program done before.
Board of Tax Assessors:
City Manager Hugley stated the Board of Tax Assessors plan to appoint the
current Administration Division Manager Betty Middleton as interim Chief Tax
Assessor on November 1, 2005.
Tax Abatement:
City Manger Hugley informed the Council that there is a Kellogg?s tax abatement
on the agenda. He said this is a project that the Chamber of Commerce has been
working on; it?s a 5 million dollar capital investment with 32 jobs available.
City Manager Hugley stated the payroll is 2 million eighty thousand dollars a
year. He informed the Council that Kellogg?s would be located in the old
Keebler building and the tax abatement would be on the addition only and not on
the entire plaint.
Continental Carbon:
City Manager Hugely advised the Council that someone listed on the public
agenda would be coming forward to speak at the Council meeting regarding the
lawsuit against Continental Carbon. He said there was an open period to where
individuals could call in and state that they wanted to be a part of the
lawsuit, and 365 people called in. City Manager Hugley said this particular
individual was left out of the lawsuit due to lack of knowledge of the
lawsuit. Councilor Woodson went on to explain that there was a certain group
of people declaring that they had never heard about the lawsuit and as a result
they would like to be added to the lawsuit. Councilor Woodson stated the
attorney said they cannot be added to the current lawsuit, but if they would
like to start a separate lawsuit they could. She said this particular case was
in the news, the media and also discussed at the Council Meetings, and there
were petitions at Baker and the South Columbus Library for individuals to sign
up.
Mileage Reimbursement:
City Manager Hugley informed the Council that the Public Defender has an item
on the agenda regarding mileage reimbursement. He said the City Attorney
obtained the legislation, reviewed it and verified that we don?t have a
choice concerning state employees. City Manager Hugley said the mileage
reimbursement would not change the amount of the Public Defender?s contract
with the City. City Manager Hugley requested that there be an executive
session on potential litigation.
Meeting adjourned at 9:01 A.M.
___________________________
Tameka J. Colbert
Recording Secretary
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