COCH  ORG  APPROVED MINUTES Cochran City Council Tuesday, March 12,2024 Regular Scheduled Meeting @ 7:00PM  City Auditorium, 102 N. Second Street, Cochran, GA31014  Present: Mayor Billy Yeomans, Mayor Pro-Tem Carla Coley City Attorney: Jim Elliott, City Manager, Richard Newbern  Councilmembers: Keith Anderson, Gary. Ates, Andrew Lemmon, Shane Savant, Lonnie Tedders  I. Call to Order by the Mayor II. Invocation III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Attendance V. Adopt Agenda VI. Approve Minutes VII. Agenda Items  I.  Call to order by Mayor Billy Yeomans @ 7:00PM II. The invocation was given by Councilmember Ates. III. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Savant. IV. The Mayor noted all council members were present.  V. Mayor asked for any corrections, additions, or deletions to the March 12, 2024, agenda. Councilmember Lemmon made the motion to accept the agenda with a second by VI. Mayor asked if additions or corrections were needed for January 9, 2024, meeting minutes. There were none and a motion was made to accept the minutes as presented for the January 9, 2024, meeting by councilmember Anderson with a second by  Councilmember Anderson. Motion passed 6/0.  councilmember Lemmon. The vote was unanimous, motion passed.  Mayor asked if additions or corrections were needed for February 6, 2024, meeting minutes. There were none and a motion was made to accept the minutes as presented for the February 6, 2024, 2024, meeting by councilmember Savant with a second by councilmember Tedders. The vote was  unanimous, motion passed 6/0.    VII. Agenda Items  ITEM #1- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Mr. Newbern asked for Council's consideration ofthe approval ofi matching funds for the 2024 Phase IICDBG Grant due 4-5-2024 ofup to $100,000. This match would bel budgeted over a 2-year period. $50,000 for FY2024/25 and $50,000 for FY 2025/26. Approval is necessary to continue the grant process. Councilmember Anderson made ai motion to approve matching grant funds for FY 2024/25 and FY2 2025/26 ofup to $50,000 a total of$100,000 for the 2024 CDBG grant proposal with a second from Councilmember Ates. Votei in favor: Anderson, Ates, Lemmon, Tedders and against: Coley, Savant.  Motion passed with a vote of4 4/2.  ITEM #2- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Mr. Newbern introduced Matt Fordham of Citizens Bank who explained that this proposal would better secure the City's deposits. Attorney Elliott stated that Ga. law requires the City's funds tol be secured. Councilmember Savant requested, due to the resignation ofTracy Jones, shel be removed from all accounts. Councilmember Savant made the motion to approve the agreement with Citizens Bank as presented with a second by Councilmember Anderson. Motion passed 6/0.  ITEM #3- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Discussion oft the. ARPA funded Roof, Windows, and Doors program criteria continued. Councilmember Coley noted document was improved except for the insurance requirements for contractors. The Mayor recommended that the Council postpone action on this item and discuss at the Council retreat. He also recommended that council members approve all applications for recipients from their districts. All Council members agreed and requested the City Attorney research options fori insurance requirements.  No further action was taken on the item.  ITEM #4- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Council is asked to consider approving an amendment to the procurement ordinance to allow the department heads tol have the authority to approve budgeted line-item purchases without City Manager approval for up to $1,000. The current maximum is $500. This would allow Department heads to make more emergency or immediate need purchases. All purchases would still be subject to the City's purchase order system. Councilmember Tedders made the motion to increase the purchase order limit for. Department head purchases without requiring City Manager approval from $500.00 to $1,000.00 with a second by Councilmember Lemmon. Motion passed. 6/0  ITEM #5 - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider approving the removal ofa worn/overgrown sidewalk section located at the corner of Cherry and 4th St. which has no functional use. Police Chiefs stated he saw no safety issues with the removal. Councilmember Coley made ai motion to approve the removal of the section of sidewalk at the corner of Cherry and 4th St. with a second by Councilmember Tedders. Motion passed. 6/0 Consider submitting a renewal application by May 15, 2024, for the Plan First designation awarded by GA.DCA. The renewal is for a 3-year period. Councilmember Tedders made a motion to apply  ITEM #6- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern    for the 3-year renewal ofthe City's] Plan First designation with a second by Councilmember Savant.  All were in favor, motion passed 6/0.  ITEM #7- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider the approval ofa replating oft the Peyton Williams property at 142 Thompson St. to support the pending L&WCF Grant for the Willie. Basby Park. The Grant requires the property submitted for funding tol be dedicated 100% as a public park for outdoor use. Replating would separate the Peyton Williams building and front parking lot as 1 parcel and the Willie Basby Park and side parking lot as a parcel. Councilmember Savant made the motion to replat the parcel at 142 Thompson St. as Peyton Williams Learning Center as 1 parcel and Willie Basby Park as 1 parcel. A  second was made by Councilmember Anderson. Motion passed 6/0. ITEM #8- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Councilmember Anderson. Motion passed 6/0. ITEM #9- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider approving bidding for 2 new. Police Department vehicles. Councilmember Lemmon made the motion to approve bidding for 2 new vehicles for the Police Department with a second made by  Consider approval oft the GDOT agreement for funding oft the: runway apron project at the Cochran Municipal Airport. Airport Manager Jim Washburn addressed Council. Questions were raised concerning the total liability of the City for this project. Council asked for Mr. Washburn to research the City's total liability and present to Council at the City Retreat. Action on the item was deferred to the City Council retreat. All Council members agreed. No action was taken on this item.  ITEM # 10- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern  Consider approving an updated adoption agreement for the City GMA-GMEBS pension program. The agreement allows the program to take advantage ofr recent favorable IRS requirements. The City Attorney stated that approving the amendment keeps the program within the IRS guidelines. Council member Tedders made ai motion to accept the amendment to the pension program as recommended by  GMA-GMEBS with a second by Council member Coley. Motion passed 6/0.  City Manager  Clean Up Day - 4-20-24. GICH Retreat 4-15-17, 2024. Chamber Banquet 3-23-24. City Retreat begins 3-14-2024 at 8am Update on Budget Calendar progression.  City Attorney. - No Comment City Clerk-I No Comment  Mayor = Be safe, look out for each other. school of aviation. Councilmember Coley agreed.  Requested the Councilmember Coley be the "go-between" for the City Council and the airport and    Thank you to Tracy Jones for the job she did as City Clerk and wish her success inl her future endeavors. Remember our next Council meeting on April 9, 2024, work session at 6pm and regular meeting 7pm.  God bless her and her family. Council Discussion Items: District1 Anderson-NA Ates = NA District2 Coley- - NA Tedders -NA District3 Savant-NA Lemmon -NA  Public Comments (Please note that every individual who signs up to speak prior tot the meeting will be given a Bthel King - 123 S: Fifth St. Thanked Councilmember Tedders for his participation ini the district 1 cleanup Next, she introduced several ladies from District 1 that asked the Mayor to step forward to: receive an appreciation plague for his service to the community. Mayor thanked the ladies and stated it was his pleasure to serve his God, Trishia Gardner- - 183 Ash St. Representing thel Dre-Day Foundation. Reminder ofthe 3-23-24 Community Clean-up Day and the Dre-Day Festival scheduled for. June 1,2024. Location to be announced. Daryl Smith - 1331 Fairfield Dr. Complimented former City Clerk, Tracy Jones for her service to the community. Would like to request more streetlights for certain areas int the community. He was asked to speak with City Lisa Blackshear- -1 1751 MLK Every time she goes to City Hall thel Police show up? Constant issues with sewer. She pays. her utility bills every month andi is entitled tol her issues being addressed and not tol be disrespected.  total of31 minutes to address the. Mayor and Council.)  day.  family, and community.  Manager, Richard Newbern, to identify areas of concern.  This ended public comments.  Mayor asked if Council needed to goi into Executive session. Mr. Newbern stated yes for aj personnel issue. Councilmember Anderson made ai motion to goi into executive session with a second by Councilmember  Coley. Motion passed 6/0. @ 8:21pm. Executive session for personnel issues. Councilmember Tedders @ 8:38pm.  Councilmember Coley made thei motion to go back into back to regular session with a second by    Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Coley, with a second by Councilmember Tedders.  Motion passed. 6/0. Meeting adjourned at 8:46PM  hsk Julie D. Peche, Interim City Clerk  )  OCHRAN,