CITV OF  Cleveland GEORGIA  Cleveland City Council Called Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 5, 2023-6:30P.M. Cleveland Community Center/Police Department 342 Campbell Street, Cleveland, GA  1. Call to Order  Mayor Turner called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  PRESENT:  Mayor Josh Turner, Council Members Nan Bowen, Jeremy McClure, and C.J. McDonald Also present were City Administrator Kevin Harris, City Attorney Keith Whitaker, and  City Clerk Lisa Ritchie  2. Invocation - Student Ministries Pastor Garrett Kersey, The Bridge Church,  and White County Ministerial Alliance  Pastor Kersey was not in attendance. Dean Dyer, WRWH, gave the invocation. 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Approve Agenda  Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald, and  voted, unanimously, to approve the agenda. CITY ADMINISTRATOR KEVIN HARRIS Mr. Harris discussed the following items:  Status of package store applications and next steps in the process All applications have been reviewed by the City Attorney and Approved applications will be processed through a lottery Applicants whose application/s are denied will have 15 days to appeal the denial to the Alcohol Review Board  are in the process of review by the City Clerk    Information packets (Ordinance regarding Licenses package sales of distilled spirits for consumption off premises, etc.) will Lottery proceedings will take place in or around the week of  be sent to the Alcohol Review Board  October 12 Talon Property  Beginning September 11, a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be open for 30 days for brokerage firms wishing to assist with the sale, either by auction or by a sealed bid process  CITY ATTORNEY KEITH WHITAKER  Mr. Whitaker did not have any items to discuss.  NEW BUSINESS  5. Ratify payment to. JMCM Enterprises LLCfor FEMA ladder truck consulting  fees  Mr. Harris stated that the expense is a result of the ladder truck grant Cleveland received. He said the application process requires the recipient to pay 5% of the Motion by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Bowen, and voted, unanimously, to approve the ratification of the payment, from general funds,  total grant.  to. JMCM Enterprises LLC for the FEMA ladder truck consulting fees.  6. Resignation of Ward 2 Council Member Rebecca Yardley effective August  31,2023  Mayor Turner stated that Ms. Yardley notified the Mayor and Council of her decision Motion by Council Member McDonald,seconded by Council Member Bowen, and  to resign effective August 31, 2023 in a letter dated August 21, 2023.  voted, unanimously, to accept Ms. Yardley's resignation.  7. Resolution 2023-25-Amendment to Board Appointments - Mayor Pro  Tem  Mayor Turner stated that Ms. Yardley's resignation leaves the Mayor Pro Tem Motion by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Bowen, and voted, unanimously, to approve the appointment of Council Member McCluret to  position vacant.  serve as the Mayor Pro Tem for the remainder of the year.    8. Resolution to amend the Resolution and Adoption Agreement with Georgia Municipal Association for Defined Contribution Plan retroactive to. July 1,  2013  Finance Department Director. John Solmon addressed the Mayor and Council Members. He stated that the amendment allows employees to be eligible for the defined contribution plan after a month of employment, effective back to. July 1, 2013. He said it also changes the requirement for the city to pay weekly to once a Mr. Whitaker, having reviewed the agreement, stated that he did not have any Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald, and voted, unanimously, to approve the Resolution amending the previous Resolution and Adoption Agreement with Georgia Municipal Association for Defined  monthly.  concerns with it.  Contribution Plan retroactive to July 1, 2013. 9. Approve Meeting Minutes  August 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes  Motion by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Bowen, and voted, unanimously, to approve the August 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes.  10. Approve Executive Session Minutes  August 7, 2023 Executive Session Minutes  Motion by Council Member Bowen, seconded by Council Member McClure, and voted, unanimously, to approve the August 7,2023 Executive Session Minutes.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS  11. 2024 Employee Benefits Update Ms. Ritchie stated the following:  Human Resources has worked with 5 brokers to identify the best plan None of the brokers were able to identify better options Two brokers are currently working with insurance companies for The City's current provider has scheduled Open Enrollment from A deliberate process including a health fair (October 16 and 17) is being planned to inform employees of their options and to ensure  and provider for employee health benefits  quotes  October 23 to November 10  employee participation    PUBLIC COMMENTS  There were no comments from the public.  Mayor Turner stated that he wishes Ms. Yardley well in her future endeavors and he looks forward to working with Counclmember-tlect Sutton for the benefit of  Cleveland's citizens. ANNOUNCEMENTS  Ms. Ritchie gave the announcements.  Upcoming calendar items: p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce 7:30 a.m. at the Water Authority the Police Department  12. Downtown Development Authority = Thursday, September714, 2023, at3 3:00 13. White County Water Authority Meeting- Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 14. Planning & Zoning Meeting - Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at  EXECUTIVE SESSION  Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald and  voted, unanimously, to enter an Executive Session at 6:52 p.m.  15. Discussion regarding real estate  Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald and voted, unanimously, to adjourn the Executive Session and return to the City Council Council Member McDonald opened the door and invited those waiting to return to Motion by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member McClure and voted, unanimously, to enter into a Letter of Intent for the purchase of property located at 84 East Underwood Street, commonly and formerly referred to as the Ward's Funeral Home property, from Westley G. Parks for the purchase price of $325,000 with said Letter of Intent to include an exclusivity provision, require clear title subject only to standard title exceptions, and include other closing terms considered standard in the industry. Council Member McDonald further moved with Council Member McClure's second for the City to subsequently enter into a binding agreement for the purchase of said property in accordance with the terms in said Letter of Intent and to proceed to closing as soon as reasonably practicable and authorized Mayor Turner to sign the Letter of Intent, the Purchase Agreement, and all necessary closing documents, and the purchase shall be funded through ARPA funds.  Meeting at 7:23 p.m. the regular meeting.    Mr. Harris stated the following about the property:  Ita adjoins Cleveland City Hall and Freedom Park  The purchase is for future city planning and development, with no specific use The property will be beneficial to the growth of the City of Cleveland with a  identified at this time  plethora of possible uses due to its strategic location  EXECUTIVE SESSION  Motion by Council Member Bowen, seconded by Council Member McDonald and  voted, unanimously, to enter an Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. 16. Discussion regarding personnel and pending litigation  Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald and voted, unanimously, to adjourn the Executive Session and return to the City Council Council Member McDonald opened the door to allow citizens to return to the regular  Meeting at 9:14 p.m.  meeting. There were no citizens waiting to return to the meeting.  ADJOURN  Motion by Council Member McClure, seconded by Council Member McDonald and  voted, unanimously, to adjourn the Called Meeting at 9:15 p.m.  sosh   A GoremyMcClure  Josh Turner  Mayor  Council Member Ward3 Mayor Pro Tem  haulore Nan Bowen  eme CJ.McDonald  Council Member Ward1  Council Member Ward4 4  VACANT  Council Member Ward2  Lisa A. Ritchie  TA  City Clerk