COCH  ORGI MINUTES Cochran City Council Tuesday, January 9,2024 Regular Scheduled Meeting @ 7:00PM  City Auditorium, 102.NSecond. Street, Cochran, GA 31014  Present: Mayor Billy Yeomans, Mayor Pro Tem Carla Coley  Councilmembers: Keith Anderson, Gary Ates, Andrew Lemmon, Shane Savant, Lonnie Tedders  City Attorney: Jim Elliott  Call to order by Mayor Billy Yeomans @ 7:00PM The invocation was given by Mayor Yeomans The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Ates.  Mayor asked for any corrections, additions, or deletions to the January 9, 2024, agenda. Councilmember Ates made the motion to add one (1) item to the agenda = Item# 3A - Presentation on Black History Month Activities with a second by Councilmember Coley Motion passed. 6/0. Councilmember Ates made the motion to accept the agenda with changes and a second by Mayor asked if there were any corrections or questions to the December 12, 2023, minutes. Councilmember Lemmon made the motion to approve the 12/12/23 minutes with Councilmember  Councilmember Lemmon. Motion passed 6/0  Anderson seconding. Motion passed 6/0  I. Call to Order by the Mayor II. Invocation III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Attendance V. Adopt Agenda VI. Agenda Items    VI.Agenda Items  ITEM #1- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Swearing in of three City Council Members. City Clerk, Tracy B. Jones, swore in each newly elected Councilmembers, Lonnie Tedders (District 2 Post 2) and Shane Savant (District 3 Post 2). Also, she swore in reelected District 1 Post 2 Councilmember Gary Ates. ITEM #2- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Election of Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Yeomans open nominations for the 2024 Pro Tem. Mayor Yeomans opened the nominations @ 7:15pm for the 2024 Mayor Pro Tem. Councilmember Ates made the nomination of Councilmember Coley. Mayor repeated the nomination ofCouncilmember Coley. No further nominations were made. Mayor declared nominations closed at' 7:16pm. Mayor  asked for all in favor oft the nomination. 6/0. Motion passed. ITEM #3- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider adopting a Budget Calendar for 2024. A brief presentation by the City Manager was given. He we over the 2024 budget calendar as presented. The Council discussed moving the February 13th meeting to February 6 due to an advertising requirement for the referendum regarding the SPLOST Intergovernmental Agreement. County Commissioner's call fora a referendum must be advertised in the paper prior to the actual call. Therefore, it has tol be placed in the paper by February 12. Regular City Council Meeting is on February 13, 2024.Council will need to approve the SPLOST prior to the meeting. Councilmember Ates made the motion to approve the 2024 budget calendar with changes and to change the date to: next council meeting to Tuesday, February 6, 2024 and a second  was made by Councilmember Coley. Motion passed 6/0. ITEM #3A- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider Black History Month activities presented by Steven Rahe -Steven Rahe made al brief presentation to Council for a Black History Month activity to be conducting behind the Police Department. Mr. Rahe asked the Council to approve the event to take place on February 24,2024. Councilmember Ates made ai motion to approve the event to take place on February 24,2024 with a  second by Councilmember Coley. Motion passed 6/0. ITEM #4- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Presentation by Rhonda Gilbert from Gilbert and Associates on CDBG and CHIP housing program. Rhonda Gilbert from Gilbert and Associates gave the council a presentation ofthe CDBG and CHIP  Grants.  ITEM #5- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider a Resolution of support for the City's $700,000 federal grant application awaiting Congressional budget approval. Councilmember Ates made the motion to approve the resolution of support for the City's $700,000 federal grant application with a second by Councilmember  Lemmon. Motion passed 6/0    ITEM #6- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider approving Grant Review Committee's recommendation on hiring a grants administrator. Councilmember Savant made the motion to approve the Grant Review Committee's recommendation ofG & A with a second by Councilmember Ates. Yes-5 Savant, Lemmon, Ates,  Anderson, Tedders, No -1- -Coley.  ITEM #7- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider rescinding the City Council's approval ofthe 2023 CDBG special condition requirement fora Language Access Plan (L.A.P.) and consider a re-vote: for L.A.P. A revote was in order for the L.A.P. This program cannot be voted on by two Councilmembers due to they have a relationship connections with a few oft thej participants. DCA is requesting the two not to have a vote. A motion had to bei made to rescind the motion from the prior meeting. Councilmember coley mad the motion to rescind the motion with a second by Councimember Savant. Motion passed 4/0.Councilmember Savant made the motion to approve the L.A.P. for the 2023 CDBG program with a second by Councilmember Coley. Motion  passed 4/0.  ITEM #8- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider adoption of2023 CDBG Housing Policies and Procedures. Councilmember Coley made the motion to adopt the 2023 CDBG Housing Policies and Procedures with a second by Councilmember Tedders. Anderson and Ates sustained/did not vote. Motion passed 4/0.  ITEM #9- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider award ofl BidtoL&LUlilities, Inc. from Dublin, GA to replace an approx, 1,000 1.f. of water line on the segment ofLewis Street between 4th and 6th Streets. L &L was the only bid received for this project. Skip Layton, City Engineer stated he did not see the project costing as much as the bid was for. Councilmember Coley made the motion to approve the bid for L&L  Utilities with a second by Councilmember Lemmon. Motion passed 6/0. ITEM #10- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern with as second by Councilmember Lemmon. Motion passed 6/0.  Consider approving LMIG project listing for the 2024 Ga. DOT LMIG Road resurfacing application. Councilmember Ates made the motion to approve the LMIG project listing for 2024  City Manager  Chamber of Commerce meeting DOTTrail from by pass to ash street  GRANT pending- Walking Traill/ playground at' Willie Basby Park Planning Commission attending the GAZA work shop.  City Attorney - Update on the package sales City Clerk = Actively planning City retreat    Council Discussion Items:  District 1  Anderson Welcomed new Councilmembers Savant and Tedders tot the Council.  Ates- Thanked District one for their support. Praised Police/Fire/PW during significate weather. Welcomed the  two new Councilmembers, Savan tand' Tedders.  District2 Coley -None District3 council. Lemmon - NONE Mayor Comments  Tedders- - Looking forward to working with everyone.  Savant - Thanked everyone for their support during the election. Looking forward to working with all the  Facts about the gas at the Recreation Department - He stated the City Manager was approached about a gas bill from Mid-State Energy at the Recreation Department. The city manager consulted with the Mayor about the bill. Mayor called Wayne James at MSE concerning the bill. He was told the bill was an overdue amount from 2021.Thel bill was sent to the Bleckley County Recreation Department. The City provides other utilities to the Recreation Department but they do not supply gas. That is billed strictly through MSE. The City Manager suggested the Recreation Department pay thel bill. Mayor talked to Wayne James, and the bill was paid Decebenber 27, 2023 by the Recreation Department. The City was unaware oft the account with Mid State Energy. The gas was cut off due to non-payment but was turned back on  after payment was made. Ouestions about Betty Malcom sewer Encouraged everyone to stay safe.  Public Comments (Please note that every individual who signs up to speak prior to the meeting will be givena  total of3 minutes to address the Mayor and Council.)  Rufus Veal -1 164S 2nd Street - Addressed concerns about city taxes and charges for water/city bills. Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Ates, with a second by Councilmember Anderson.  Motion passed. 6/0. Meeting adjourned at 9:16PM  A DRR  Ce SEAL RAN  JuleD. Rechg, Interim City Clerk