Cityof Thomson McDuffie County, Georgia CITY OF THOMSON CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 11, 2024  6:00PM Present:  Thomson-McDuffie Government Center Also Present: Karen Fioretti, McDuffie Progress 9Interested Citizens Not Present: Benji Cranford, Mayor  Alton Belton, Councilmember Keryl Corley, Councilmember Elaine Johnson, Councilmember John Smalley, Councilmember Scott Whittle, Councilmember John Waller, City Administrator Lucretia Ferguson, City Clerk Jimmy Plunkett, City Attorney  At6:00pm, Mayor Pro-Tem Corley called the regularly scheduled City Council meeting to order and City Attorney Plunkett gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. Mayor Cranford was unable to attend the Council Meeting, sO Mayor Pro- Tem Corley ran the meeting (leaving four councilmembers to vote on any  actions). CITIZEN INPUT: None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  The motion was made by Councilmember Johnson and seconded by Councilmember Whittle to approve the agenda as written. A vote of  4-0i in favor was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  a. Council Meeting, March. 14, 2024. A motion was made by Councilmember Belton and seconded by Councilmember Johnson to approve the minutes. A b. Called Council Meeting, April 1, 2024. Ar motion was made by Councilmember Belton and seconded by Councilmember Whittle to approve the minutes as  vote of 4-0 in favor was taken.  written. A vote of 4-0 in favor was taken.  BUSINESS:  a. Spirits License Application = Rimpy's at 520 Old Washington Road: An application by Thomson Liquor, LLC (Rimpy's Liquor) was received with all qualifications met. The current license holder will terminate their license oncet this pplicationsapproves. The Staff Recommendation by. Jason Smith, Community Development Director, is for the liquor license to be approved. Ar motion was made by Councilmember Johnson and seconded by Councilmember Whittle to approve the license. A vote of 3-0 was taken in b. Planning Commission Appointment: Penny Lowe currently serves on the Planning Commission for the City and her term is expiring. The Staff Report  favor, with Councilmember Smalley abstaining.  1    by Jason Smith, Community Development Director, recommends Ms. Lowe be appointed for another four-year term. A motion to approve the appointment from 2024-2027 was made by Councilmember Belton and seconded by Councilmember Whittle. A4 4-0 vote in favor of the motion was Special Event Permit Request - Diabetes Awareness Walk, September 28: A Special Event Permit has been requested by Ronnie Sallywhite for September 28, 2024. The walk would begin at 115 Pine Lane then follow Martin Luther King, Jr. Street to the Advance Auto store and return on the same path. This would require a partial closing of these two streets from 7:30 to 10:00am. A motion was made by Councilmember Belton to approve the permit and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. A vote of 4-Oapproved the motion. d. Resolution 03-2024: GEFA Loan LSLI2022022: This 50% principal forgiveness loan does not have to be approved until September, 2024. CA Waller asked that the resolution be temporarily tabled until it is determined if the loan is actually needed in the replacement, as federally mandated, of any possible lead pipe or fittings within the water system. Neithera motion nor vote was required to table the resolution. This issue will be revisited in a few months. e. Resolution 04-2024: GMEBS Agreement: The Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) administers the City's Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. As state and federal regulations governing such plans are changed, the agreement between the City and GMEBS must be updated. A motion made by Councilmember Belton and seconded by Councilmember Johnson to  taken.  approve the new agreement was passed witha4-Ovote.  DISCUSSION ITEMS:  Council Concerns: Mayor Pro-Tem Corley expressed concern over several streets in the City having been cut thru but not yet resurfaced. CA Waller explained that the majority of cuts have been repaired and several more are to be paved with the City Administrator Report: CA Waller spoke on the City Animal Ordinance that has been in question recently. The ordinance is good but the problem comes with enforcement. Neither the City nor the County have an Animal Control Officer. Ifa nuisance dog's owner cannot be identified then hopefully it can be trapped, preferably by use of one of the Animal Shelter's traps, and the animal can be taken tot the Shelter. Ifthe owner is identified, Code Enforcement can give themawarning and advise them of their responsibilities. If they cannot or will not control their animal, a citation will be issued and the owner will have to appear at Municipal Having no other business before the Council, a motion to adjourn was tendered by Councilmember Whittle and seconded by Councilmember Johnson. A vote of 4-0  LMIG street resurfacing that will start soon.  Court and face a fine.  ended the meeting at 6:15pm. Respectulysubmitted, ClutW.tog Qhson Lucretia W. Ferguson, CityClerks  Behjamin C. Cranford, Jr., Mayor