City ofGrovetown REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 2024 6:30 p.m.  The regular meeting oft the Grovetown City Council was held on Monday, March 11,2 2024, at 6:30 p.m. ini the Council Chambers. Present were Mayor Gary E.. Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Eric Blair, Councilmember A. Richard Also, present were City Administrator Elaine Matthews, Finance Director/Asst. City Administrator Bradley Smith, IT Manager David Nile, Planning and Community Development Director Ronnie Kurtz, Fire Rescue ChiefWayne Kent, Police Chief. Jamey Kitchens, Utility Services Director Keith Lyons, General Services Director David Carlin, Public Information Officer Jordan Johnson, City Attorney Chris Dube and City Clerk  Bowman and Councilmember Sylvia Martin.  Brian Henderson.  Council conducted a work session to review agenda items at 6:00 p.m.  1.  Call Meeting to Order/Ammouncement of Quorum  Mayor. Jones called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and acknowledged a quorum.  2.  Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance  Councilmember Sylvia Martin gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mayor. Jones welcomed former Columbia County Commissioner Gary Richardson a candidate for Georgia  House ofl Representatives District 125.  3.  Approval of Agenda favor and the motion carried. Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  Councilmember Martin made a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Blair seconded the motion, all in  4.  Approval of the February 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes  Councilmember Bowman made ai motion to approve the February 12, 2024 regular meeting minutes.  Councilmember Martin seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Councimember Bowman- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes  Page 1of7    5.  Approval ofl February 12, 2024 Executive Session Minutes  Councimember Blair made ai motion to approve the February 12, 2024 executive session minutes. Councilmember Martin seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  6.  Committee Chair Reports  Public Safety  Councilmember Blair reported on the Police Department call volume, arrest statistics, citations and warnings issued for the month of February 2024. He mentioned multiple training courses that the Police Department have completed throughout the month of February. Councilmember Blair reported that it is week 5 ofthe citizens police academy, which is a 10-week course. Ifany citizens would like to participate ini the citizens police academy, please reach out to. Asst. Police ChiefRobert Eastman at Grovetown Police Department. Councilmember Blair reported on the Fire Rescue Departments monthly fire and medical calls. He also reported that all Fire Rescue shifts have completed their monthly training and monthly equipment checks.  The remaining report was deferred to Fire Rescue Chief Wayne Kent.  Utility Billing and Utility Services  The report was deferred to Finance Director/Asst. City Administrator Bradley Smith.  Planning and Development  Councilmember Bowman reported on Planning and Community Development February statistics for building inspections, certificates of occupancy, business license and building permits. He also provided Code Enforcement statistics for property maintenance citations, obstruction of the rights-of-way, inoperative vehicles, parking and trash violations for the month ofFebruary 2024. Councilmember Bowman reminded everyone to The remaining report was deferred tol Planning and Community Development Director Ronnie Kurtz.  not place campaign signs in City right-of-ways.  General Services  Councilmember Martin reported on Streets and Sanitation providing their bulk waste and litter pick up statistics for the month ofl February 2024. She also included bulk waste violation tags that were issued and service orders that were performed for February. Councimember. Martin reported on Facility Maintenance and Fleet Maintenance service orders for the month of February. She also provided Leisure and Recreation monthly statistics and reviewed cleaning activities around the City, to include the baseball field utilization for the month. Councilmember Martin announced that the Spring Fest willl be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 11AM to 2PM at Liberty Park. She also mentioned that on Friday, April 26, 2024, the City will host a Food Truck Friday at thel Municipal Court House, and that on November gth and 9th, the City will host a rodeo event.  Administration  The report was deferred to City Administrator Elaine Matthews.  Page 2of7    7.  Financial Statement  Councilmember Martin made a motion to approve the financial statement. Councilmember Bowman seconded  the motion, all in favor and the motion carried. Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes  8.  Service. Awards  City Administrator Elaine Matthews thanked Santino Genova for his 5. years ofs service. and presented him with  aj pin and certificate. She also acknowledged Bill Cull for his 20 years ofservice.  9.  Employee of the Month  City Administrator Elaine Matthews presented Eric Prano with the Employee oft the Month for February and  presented him with a certificate and a small gift for his service and dedication. Recognition of Mr. Dan McGill and Grovetown High School Theatre Group  10.  Councilmember Eric Blair presented al letter ofappreciation and thanked Mr. Dan McGill for his work with the  Grovetown High School Drama Team.  11.  Discussion to Appoint a Recruitment and Retention Committee  Councilmember Eric Blair addressed the Mayor and Council with his concern ofrecruitment and retention of  employees. Hei requested that Mayor. Jones form a Recruitment and Retention Committee. Mayor. Jones appointed the Recruitment and Retention Study Committee as follows:  Councilmember Eric Blair Finance Director/Asst. City Administrator Bradley Smith General Services Director David Carlin Utility Services Director Keith Lyons Discussion on Voting Records  12.  Councilmember Eric Blairaddressed Mayor and Council concerning the individual voting records of each councilmember on items presented to the Council. He expressed citizens' concerns about referencing and City Administrator Elaine Matthews responded to Councilmember Blair and let him know going forward that the minutes will have the voting record on the minutes, recorded by vote of each individual council member.  indexing the voting records ofe each councilmember.  Page 3of7    13.  Discussion to Establish a Monthly Recognition of Military Veterans in the Community Councilmember A. Richard Bowman addressed Mayor and Council with his idea ofhonoring local Vietnam Veterans on ai monthly basis. He has spoken with the Grovetown Veteran's Affairs and they are willing to  assist.  14.  Discussion to Increase the Salaries for Elected Officials  City Administrator Elaine Matthews discussed with Mayor and Council increasing the salaries for elected officials. She informed them that this increase would not take effect until January 1, 2026. Her recommendation  was to double the present salaries since they have not been raised in several years.  15.  Announcement of New Ethics Board Members  City Clerk Brian Henderson announced to Mayor and Council the current list ofindividuals appointed to the  Ethics Board: Severo Medina. Jr. Missy Johnson Patti Balfour Robert Len Newman Vincent Kandian Kristie Linn Jolane Williams Jacques Hampton  16.  Mayor and Council Public Announcements  Councilmember Martin informed Mayor and Council that at the. April 2024 Council meeting she will provide a  report on rough trash from the Rough Trash Study Committee.  17. 18. 19. 19A.  Citizens Comments (None) General Business: Old (None) General Business: New  Recommend Approval to Enter Into a Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement between Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and the City of Grovetown Councilmember Blair made ai motion to enter into a Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance. Agreement between Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and the City ofGrovetown.  Councilmember Bowman seconded the motion, all ini favor and the motion carried.  Page 4 of7    Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes  19B.  Recommend Approval of an Alcoholic Beverage License (beer & wine and distilled spirits, eating establishment, on premises consumption) for El Gringo Mexican Grill, LLC located at 313 E. Robinson Councilmember Blair made a motion to approve the alcoholic beverage license (beer & wine and distilled spirits, eating establishment, on premises consumption) for El Gringo Mexican Grill, LLCI located at 313 Robinson Ave. Councilmember Martin seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Ave.  Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  19C.  DacusionAppaintment of an Associate Judge for Municipal Court  Councilmember Martin made a motion to appoint Rodney Quesenberry as the. Associate Judge for the Municipal Court. The appointment will be effective on the day following current. Associate Judge Grady Blanchard being appointed/sworn in as the Superior Court Judge ofColumbia County by Governor Brian Kemp. Councilmember Blair seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  19D.  Recommend Adoption of Resolution 2024-03-01, Resolution to Declare Items as Surplus Property Councilmember Blair made ai motion to adopt Resolution 2024-03-01, resolution to declare items as surplus property. Councilmember Martin seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councimember Bowman- voted yes  19E.  Recommend Approval to Create a New Position for an. Events Planner and New Job Description, Grade Councilmember Bowman made ai motion to approve and create ai new position for an Events Planner and new job description, grade 14. Councilmember Martin seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  14.  Councilmember Bowman- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes  Page 5 of7    19F.  Recommend Approval to Create a New Position for a Landscape Technician and New. Job Description, Councilmember Martin made a motion to approve and create ai new position for al Landscape Technician and newj job description, grade 14. Councilmember Blair seconded the motion, all in favor and the motion carried.  Grade 14.  Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  20.  Director's Reports  City Administrator Elaine Matthews and Directors briefed Council on recent activities oft their respective  Departments. Below is the information she presented:  Katherine St. left turn signal- both sides are up and running.  Please let the City Administrator/City Clerk know ifyou plan to attend the GMA annual conference in GMC meeting today to discuss the Grovetown Depot- time line, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Jennifer Hayes from U.S Representative Rick Allens office will be at City Hall Tuesday, March 12, Interviews for Administrative Assistant will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Interviews for UB Clerk will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Rough Trash Committee meeting on March 18, 2024. Security Benefits (457K) Rep Charles Rothermil will be here on March 19, 2024. Quality Customer Service training on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Interviews for HR Tech on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Spring Fest Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Liberty Park from llam to 2pm. Planning al Downtown Jam on April 26, 2024 from 5pm-8pm. Planning al Rodeo for November gth and gth, 2024.  Savannah, GA.  2024 from 10am to 12pm.  Closed half day on Thursday, March 28, 2024 and Closed (Good). Friday, March 29, 2024.  21.  Adjourn  Councilmember Blairi made ai motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:161 p.m. Councilmember Martin seconded the  motion, all in favor and the motion carried. Councilmember Blair- voted yes Councilmember Martin- voted yes Councilmember Bowman- voted yes  (signatures onj following page)  Page 6 of7     Mats  WR Eric Blair, Mayor Pro-Tem h Richard A. Bowman,  Gary E. es Mayor Mllus Sylvia/artin, Councilmember Dtle fnctk Ceretta Smith, Councilmember 7  - Councilmember  City Clerk  Page 7 of7