COCA MINUTES Cochran City Council May 11,2021 Regular Scheduled Meeting @ 7PM City. Auditorium, 102. N Second Street, Cochran, GA 31014 Present: Mayor Billy Yeomans, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Ates Councilmembers: Carla Coley, Keith Anderson, Jimmy Jones, Andrew Lemmon, Absent: Rufus Veal Call to order by Mayor Billy Yeomans @ 7:02PM The invocation was given by Mayor Pro Tem Ates followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Coley. Mayor called for a motion to approve the May 11,2021; agenda as presented. seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 Mayor Pro Tem Ates made the motion to accept the agenda as presented with Councilmember Lemmon Mayor called for ai motion to approve the minutes from April 13,2021. Mayor Pro Tem Ates made the motion to accept 4/13/21 minutes with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 Call to Order by the Mayor II. Invocation III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Attendance V. Adopt Agenda VI. Agenda Items ITEM# 1 - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern June 8, 2021, Meeting with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. ITEM #2 - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Employee oft the Month. This item was moved to. June 8 meeting. Mayor Yeomans called for a motion to move this item to the June 8 Meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Ates made the motion to move this item to Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 Recognition ofLeola Fussell, Bill Davis, and James Collins for their service on the City of Cochran Zoning Committee. Mayor Yeomans presented a certificate to Leola Fussell and Bill Davis for their time served and dedication to the Zoning Board. ITEM #3- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Proclamation- National Hospitals Week. Mayor Yeomans read the proclamation for National Hospital Week and presented it to John Green and John Rowland with the Bleckley Memorial Hospital ITEM #4-1 Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern the proclamation for Professional Municipal Clerks week. Administration items update. Mayor Yeomans. Proclamation - 52nd Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week May 2- May 8. Mayor Yeomans read ITEM #5- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern The City Attorney stated the following statement needed to be read and become part of the City's 1. The 150th Birthday/Anniversary committee was established to monitor, schedule items, see, received and spend the donations and take responsibility for celebrating this historic event for the City of Cochran. At the conclusion of this celebration the members oft the committee were thanked for a job well done and for the many hours donated to our community to make this event successful. During an audit by the City's accountants, it was pointed out that we had $26,755.00 still in this account. It was recommended that the money be spent, and the account closed. I, Mayor, Billy Yeomans, sent emails to seventeen (17) committee members. From the last email addresses that wel had the following response: 8 emails replied to and 4 in-person responses. After discussions with these committee members by email's and inj person and over the telephone, it was decided that this money would be utilized on City Auditorium repairs. The first 2 projects will be replacing the windows and ceiling tiles int eh City auditorium., We felt that the upgrading the City Auditorium would benefits all the citizens of Cochran and Bleckley County and make it something we all can be proud of. Mayor Yeomans stated every penny will be spent on the. Auditorium and receipts will be kept showing how the money was spent in case any question arises in the future. All the emails and official minutes: responses will be put on a thumb drive and placed in the: safe at City Hall. Mayor Yeomans stated he had a few items to go over 2. Elected Officials taking oath of office 3. Truck Stop at the bypass 4. Facebook post 5. Twenty First Century Partnership Representatives Dan Rhodes and. Jamie Davis gave presentation on the student program and the dual enrollment progress within the school system. ITEM # 6- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Public Hearing- Amendment to the Urban Redevelopment Plan Public Hearing called to order @ 7:37PM This Public hearing is to provide any interested parties with an opportunity to express their views or concerns in accordance with the appropriate section oft the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The City of Cochran is proposing to amend the City's Urban Redevelopment Plan to include an approximate seven (7) acre site on Daisy Adams Road. The site is the location ofa proposed fifty (50) unit apartment complex to be developed by Low Country Housing Communities, LLC. The proposed apartment complex will be named HavenWood Garden II and will be located to the immediate northeast ofHavenwood Gardens I which is presently being constructed. Low Country Housing Communities, LLC plans to apply for Federal tax credits thru the GA DCA LIHTC program to help finance This Public Hearing was announced in the Times Journal Post and on the City's social media page. Mayor called for ai motion to approve the proposed amendment to the Urban Redevelopment Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Ates made the motion to approve the amendment to the Urban Redevelopment Plan with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 construction oft the apartment complex. Public Hearing closed @ 7:40PM. Mayor called for any public input for or against- NONE ITEM #7- Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Resolution to authorize filing of a 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. Council was asked to approve the Resolution to file the CDBG application. This grant would be for up to $750,000.00. The City will focus on submitting a CDBG application for housing rehabilitation assistance for homeowners in the Robertson Crescent /Sixth Street area. Councilmember Jones made the motion to approve the resolution to file the 2021 CDBG grant application with Councilmember Anderson seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 ITEM #8 - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Consider approval of a DAC Bond Services Contract. The Council was asked to approve an agreement with Digital Assurance Certification LLC tol help promote the City'sm marketing ofit's 2014 sewer bonds and to maintain the City's annual bond reporting and compliance requirements. Councimember Jones made the motion to approve the contract with DAC, LLC tol help promote marketing for sewer bonds with Mayor Pro Tem. Ates seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 ITEM #9. - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Consider approval ofa contract with the City of] Hawkinsville for the operation and maintenance of the City Natural Gas system. Mayor explained the Council was asked to approve the contract with the City of] Hawkinsville sO that Hawkinsville will handle the operation and maintenance ofthe city's gas system for a cost of$11,00 per month or $132,000 per. year. Cochran will have to perform the annual Public Awareness Program and its compliance requirements. No services will be changed ori interrupted with this change. Mayor Pro Tem Ates made the motion to approve the contract with Hawkinsville for the operational and maintenance of the City Natural Gas with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 ITEM #10. - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Consider re-opening Willie Basby Park basketball courts. Council is asked to authorize the reopening ofthe Willie Basby basketball courts at the Peyton Williams Center. Signs will be posted along with sanitizing stations. The City worked with Dr. Thomas Craft for guidelines for the reopening. Mayor Pro Tem made the motion to reopening the courts and coordinate with the Cochran Bleckley Recreation Department to open at the same time with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 ITEM #11 - Presented by City Manager, Richard Newbern Consider reappointment ofDaphne. Jones to the Library Board. Mayor called for ai motion. Motion was made by Councilmember Lemmon to reappoint Daphne Jones to the Library Board with Councilmember Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all voting in favor. 5-0 City Manager Updates: Clean Up day Middle Georgia Energy Commission resume responsibility from Jointly Owned OFTC will move from the Peyton Williams Center Move to location on Beech Street Plan 1stJoint Comp Plan update Comp Plan update Update of Budget Proposal Council Discussion Items: District 1 (Anderson- None/ Ates- None) keep Cochran clean District 3 (Jones- None /Lemmon- None)-. District 2 (Veal/Coley)- Coley-Murals starting to be painted/Encouraged people to clean up and Mayor asked ifCouncil needed to go into to Executive session.. Anderson stated yes. Executive Session @ 8:38pm. voting in favor. 5-0 with all voting in favor. 5-0 Ates made motion to go into executive session with Jones seconding the motion. Motion passed with all Ates made the motion to go back in to regular session with Coley seconding the motion. Motion passed Mayor Pro TemAtes made the motion to adjourn with Councilmember Lempgeranhnapber motion. Motion passed ywith all voting in favor. 5-08 8:54pm Egn EAL) Tracy City Clerk COCHR