City of Donalsonville Council Meeting-April 2, 2024 Official Minutes  Mayor Ron. Johnson, Jr. called the Council Meeting to order at 6:001 PMi in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After which Mayor Ron. Johnson, Jr. gave the invocation, then allj joinedi int the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. Councilmembers present for the meeting included) Mayor Ron. Johnson, Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Ed Bond, CP Mitch Blanks, CP Mitzy Moye, CPI Lindsay Register, CP Travis Brooks, and CP Flossie Smith. Staff present were City Manager Jeffrey Hatcher, City Clerk Christina Corvers, Police Chief Kem Pugh, Fire Chief Dean) King, Approval of the Agenda: Mayor Pro" Tem Bond made a motion to approve the Agenda, with CP Blanks seconding. Motion carried. Next was the approval of the minutes from the March 5, 2024, Council Meeting. CP Smith made ai motion to approve the March 5, 2024, Council APPEARANCES: Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Tori Gravlee gave an update ont the Board's recent and upcoming activities toi include the following:  Public Works Superintendent Bert Adams and City. Attorney Chip Stewart.  Meeting Minutes, with CP) Blanks seconding. Motion carried.  Thel Firehouse BBQ Festival was held onl March 15-16, 2024, at thel Donalsonville Fire The 2nd Annual Hop-n-Shop Downtown! held on March 30, 2024, was also a huge success, with downtown businesses noting ani increase in sales and foot traffic. Negotiated the contract withl Hdl, the company handling the hotel/motel tax collections, Next, David Maxwell gave an update on ai recent grant BetterWay has applied for which would provide further funding for the Woolfork Project. Lastly, Mr. Maxwell gave an update ont the new mural that is being painted on the side of the Old) Historic Fire Station.  Department and was al huge success. tooffset monthly management fees.  INTERNAL BUSINESS  INTERNAL BUSINESS: Thel Financial Statements for February 2024 were presented and reviewed with comments made by City Manager Hatcher on the current status, along with  discussion on thet three-month analysis.  OLDBUSINESS  OLDI BUSINESS: Mayor Johnson requested the Ethics Board appointment be tabled, as he is still in the process of soliciting citizens tol be considered to fillt the vacant position. CP Register madea a motion to table the Ethics Board appointment until the May Council Meeting, with CPI Blanks seconding. Motion carried. City Manager Hatcher noted that once the full Ethics Board isi inj place, training options would be available to ensure the board members are prepared for any issue(s) that Next, City Manager Hatcher presented the second reading of the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan] Restatement Ordinance toi include the updated IRS requirements. After some discussion, CP Blanks made ai motion tot tablet the adoption of the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan Restatement Ordinance until the May Council meeting, and to alsoj place the appointment of the Retirement Committee, as required by the City Ordinance, ont the May Council Meeting Agenda. Mayor Pro City Manager Hatcher then discussed the need for a Planning and Zoning Commission to comply witht the City's Ordinances and requested guidance on the number of persons and the appointment process fort the Planning and Zoning Commission. After some discussion, all were ini favor of appointing a five-member board consisting of two staff members and three citizens. CP Smith then made a motion to table until next month's meeting to give time to solicit citizens tol be considered to serve on the board. CPI Moye seconded; motion carried.  may be brought before them in the future.  Tem Bond seconded; motion passed.    NEW BUSINESS  NEW BUSINESS: City Manager Hatcher then recommended to approve the request of the Southwest Georgial Library System to reappoint Nancy Jernigan to the Seminole County Public Library Board for thet term beginning July 1,2024, and ending June 30, 2027. CP Brooks made ai motion to reappoint Nancy Jernigan to the Seminole County Public Library Board for the term beginning. July 1,2024, and ending. June 30, 2027, with CP Smith seconding. Mayor Pro Tem Bond abstained. Next, City Manager Hatcher recommended approval of the request from the GDOT Commissioner for the transfer of Statel Route 91 Alternate from GDOT control to the City of Donalsonville. City Manager Hatcher stated that as small portion oft the north end will be transferred to Seminole County asi iti is outside oft the current City Limits. City Manager Hatcher also stated that the County Commissioners have requested the City consider annexing the rest oft this roadway, as well as, the portion ofOakpost Church Road and the portion of Ash Crossing that all border the current City Limits. Thei request will be officially made once the City and County have agreed to transfer State Route 91 Alternate from GDOT to the City. After some discussion, CP Smith made a motion to approve the request removal of State Route 91 Alternate from GDOT and accepting transfer to the City ofl Donalsonville oft the portion within the City Limits. CP Blanks seconded; motion carried. City Manager Hatcher then stated that he has been reviewing the current Contract for Training and Employment used by the Donalsonville Police Department with Police Chief Pugh and City Attorney Stewart. City Manager Hatcher stated that they have several recommended changes to these documents to bring iti in line with the Mayor and Council's wishes and willj present a revised document to thel Mayor Next, City Manager Hatcher presented the Quit-Claim Deed request from Seminole County Amigos, LLC. on the fencei issue for Tractor Supply. City Manager Hatcher stated that the City has prepareda separate Lease document but Seminole County Amigos, LLC. indicated that the proposed lease would not bea approved by their Attorney. City Manager Hatcher stated that one oft the key questions has centered around aj possible sight line issue at the southeast corner ofa affected property. GDOT has recommended the City designate aj portion of4 4th Street as a One-way Street to eliminate any concern regarding the sight issue. City Manager Hatcher recommended the City approve the Quit Claim) Deed fort the Right of Way between 3rd Street and 4th Street that borders the property. After some discussion, CP Blanks made a motion to approve the Quit-Claim Deed request from Seminole County Amigos, LLC., with CPI Moye seconding. Motion passed. CP Smith then made ai motion to approvea portion of 4th Street (Wiley Avenue tol Knox Avenue) as a One-way Street to eliminate any concern regarding the sight issue. CP Register City Manager Hatcher presented thej proposed lease renewal from the United States Postal Service. After some discussion, CP Blanks made ai motion to table the item until City Attorney Stewart and City Manager Hatcher could negotiate contract terms. CP Smith seconded; motion passed. Next, Councilmember Blanks stated that last year, the Mayor and Council's increase in compensation as provided under the City's Charter and current State Law was approved to begin January 1,2024, and then later voted to suspend the increase until. June 1, 2024. CPI Blanks stated that last year he and Councilmember Brooks qualified for re-election based on the approved compensation increase and therefore recommended to go back to. January 1,2024, and begin thei increase inj pay to the Mayor and Council. After some discussion, all were in favor of continuing witht the compensation increase effective June 1,2024, as previously approved during Councilmember Blanks stated that he had received complaints regarding speeding along 7th Street and requested consideration ofi installing speed bumps int the area. CPI Moye also stated that there was as speeding issue inl Mortgagel Hill along 10th Street, 11ths Street, and 12th Street and requested consideration toj place 4-way stops ini that area. After some discussion, all were in favor ofs surveying the area to determine the appropriate solution to reduce speeding along 7th Street andt tol hold al Public Hearing to discuss traffic control in the Mortgage Hill area.  Motion passed.  and Council for review once completed.  seconded; motion carried.  the December 5, 2023, Council Meeting.    Next, Police Chief Pugh requested the Council declare a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and a 20041 Ford Expedition XLT surplus property nol longer needed for municipal purposes and to authorize the disposal oft thej property in ai manner in accordance with state law. After some discussion, CP Smith made a motion to declare a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and a 2004 FordI Expedition XLT surplus property no longer needed for municipal purposes and to authorize the disposal of the property in ai manner in accordance with state law, with CP Register City Manager Hatcher then opened discussion on FY 2024-2025 Budget process and requested dates thel Mayor and Council would be available tol hold a Budget Work Session. After some discussion, all werei ini favor of! holding the Budget Work Session on April 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Lastly, City Manager Hatcher clarified thatt the rumor concerning misappropriation of City funds ist untrue. City Manager Hatcher stated that the City of Donalsonville is audited each year, and further have accounts reviewed every month. There are no missing funds. The City of Donalsonville has multiple procedures inj place to detect any fraud and the rumor regarding the City Manager Hatcher then gave an update on the Communications Department, with review of the eDonalsonville monthly report. City Manager Hatcher stated that USDA continues to review the application for disbursement of funds for the upgrades to eDonalsonville equipment. City Manager Hatcher stated that he was pursuing additional funding for the City-wide Camera Next, Fire Chief King gave an update on thel Fire Department and announced that the department was recently awarded the for grant from Golden Triangle in the amount of $2,000.00. Lastly, Fire Chief King discussed the importance of fire prevention and safety andi reminded everyone to check Police Chief Pugh then gave an update on the Police Department, and reported the newest Cadet Next, Public Works Superintendent Adams stated that hel had nothing new to report on at this  seconding. Motion carried.  misappropriation of funds is completely unfounded.  system replacement.  their smoke alarms regularly.  started the Police Academy on April 1,2 2024.  time.  City Manager Hatcher then gave an update on the following:  (1) Old Firehouse Transfer: The City of Donalsonville declared the Old Firehouse surplus last year and the DDA is ready to complete the transfer oft the building. After some discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Bond made ai motion authorizing the Mayor to sign the Quit-Claim Deed to transfer the Old] Firehouse over tot the DDA. CP Register seconded; motion carried. (2) Farmer'sl Market Property Discussion: As part of the renovation of the City of Donalsonville, the City needs to discuss the use oft the Farmer'sl Market Property. The State of Georgia has given ai final figure forj purchase of the property. It will still require clean-up and site prep beforei it can be used. Walther Farms isi no longer renting the facility. (3) Congressional Designated Spending update: The City has applied for the first of three (4). Joint City/County Work Sessions: There are many items which affect both the City of Donalsonville and Seminole County. It has been suggested that we havej joint Work Sessions periodically with bothl legislative bodies. This would allow us to work together (5) Audio/Livestreaming Meetings: Received a quote for the installation of audio enhancement and the necessary equipment tol broadcastlivestream the Council Meetings in the amount of $23,000.00. Afters some discussion, all werei ini favor of looking at additional optionsquotes  possible CDF lists. The other two are due on April 5th. towards projects that benefit the City and County.  fort thej project.  Next, City Manager Hatcher noted that after reviewing the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan Restatement Ordinance, the deadline to adopt the proposed changes is April 15, 2024 and would need tol be voted upon before the next Council meeting. After further discussion, CP Blanks made ai motion for the appointment of the retirement committee to consist of Councilmember Mitchell Blanks, Councilmember Flossie Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Ed) Bond, Training Captain Brandon Lane, and Assistant Police Chief Barbara Barber, andt to approve the 401(a). Defined Contribution Plan Restatement Ordinance as presented. CP register seconded; motion passed.    Witht therel being no further business to come before thel Mayor and Council, at 7:21 PM, Mayor Pro Teml Bond made ai motion to adjourn, with CP Brooks making as second; and the motion carried.  ADJOURNED  Cityof Donalsonville IT Ron) Johnson, Jr., Mayor  Attest and Certification:  I,Christina Corvers, dol here Attest and Certify that thea above written is a true and correct representation ofthel business and actions conducted during the April 2, 2024 meeting oft the Mayor and Council oft the City ofl Donalsonville.  hsbl Christina Corvers, City Clerk