Cityof Thomson McDuffie County, Georgia CITY OF THOMSON CITYCOUNCIL MEETING JULY11, 2024 6:00PM Present: Thomson-McDuffie Government Center Also Present: Chief Dan Carrier, TPD Karen Fioretti, McDuffie Progress 45 Visitors 2Video Reporters Benji Cranford, Mayor Alton Belton, Councilmember Keryl Corley, Councilmember Elaine Johnson, Councilmember John Smalley, Councilmember Scott Whittle, Councilmember John Waller, City Administrator Lucretia Ferguson, City Clerk Jimmy Plunkett, City Attorney At 6:00pm, Mayor Cranford called the regularly scheduled City Council meeting to order and City Attorney Plunkett gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. CITIZEN INPUT: Amy Kiel, the owner of Hogie. Joe's Sports Grill, raised concerns about the two planned food truck Thursday nights with Railroad Street being closed in front of her business. This would remove half of the available parking spaces on her second busiest day oft the week. She suggested the events be moved to Sunday nights, the Knox Shopping Center or even the Government Complex parking areas. Tom Thieman addressed the City/County shared services and what the City pays for them. He first suggested an audit be executed to follow the tax dollars and their use. Mr. Thieman submitted a detailed rendering that Markeita Moss spoke on needing signs on Matthews Street for a deaf resident and a non-verbal child. She also asked that a pothole be repaired and the City look at the runoff from rainwater that causes problems. The motion was made by Councilmember Whittle and seconded by Councilmember Corley to approve the agenda as written. A vote of compared what City and County citizens' taxes covered. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 5-0 in favor was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Meeting, June 13, 2024. A motion was made by Councilmember Corley and seconded by Councilmember Belton to approve the minutes. A vote of! 5-0 in favor was taken. BUSINESS: a. Allsouth Constructors, Inc. Contract Award: Three bids were received for the Augusta Road Water Treatment Plant Improvements project. Allsouth was the low bid at $5,064,907.00. Rehab Construction Company, Inc. was 1 the second low bid at $5,126,786,10. As both amounts are over the budget allocated for the project, Allsouth and Rehab were asked to go back over their bid package and present any modifications and savings to Carter & Sloope Consulting Engineers. Allsouth was able to lower their bid to $4,783,907.00 with a Carter & Sloope approved modification. Iti is the recommendation of C&S and CA Waller that the Council award Allsouth Constructors, Inc. the improvements contract. Councilmember Whittle made the motion to award the contract at the lower bid to Allsouth Constructors, Inc. He was seconded by Councilmember Johnson and a! 5-0 b. Naming Policy and Louis Graziano: CA Waller explained that a movement to rename a portion of National Avenue for Retired Master Sargent Louis Graziano. Only one business or residence is located on the city street. They will be contacted after the support of Council for the renaming is obtained. A motion made by Councilmember Corley and seconded by Councilmember Whittle to approve and support the renaming was achieved bya a 5-0 vote in One Day Alcohol License, Street Closure and Signage Request: The Activities Council of Thomson (ACT) has applied for a one-day license to sell beer at the Kickoff Concert for the Blind' Willie McTell Music Festival to be held on Railroad Street on September 6, 2024. In conjunction with ACT, the Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the concert and asks that Railroad Street from Main Street toi the Cross-Walk at the Depot Annex be closed from 4:00pm to 10:00pm that day, and to be allowed to erect a promotional sign in front oft the Depot from August 1st until September 6th. A motion was made by Councilmember Whittle to approve all three requests and was seconded by Councilmember Johnson. A vote of 4-0 passed the motion with Councilmember Smalley abstaining. d. Award Southern Asphalt, LLC the 2024 LMIG Contract to Resurface 1.51 Miles of Streets: Portions of seven City streets will be resurfaced by using LMIG funds. The City and County put all their resurfacing requirements out for bid as one package and Southern Asphalt, LLC came back as the lowest bid. The City portion came to $369,793.00 which is lower than the estimated $415,150.00 budget. A motion was made by Councilmember Belton and seconded by Councilmember. Johnson to approve Southern Asphalt, LLC for the contract. A vote taken, passed the motion 5-0. vote in favor was taken. favor. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Council Report: Councilmember Whittle spoke on further exploration of Amy Kiel's recommendations concerning food truck placement and not taking away from our local businesses when the trucks are in the City. City Administrator Report: CA Waller spoke on the Lead and Copper Rule that affects every community in the nation with a water system. The Environmental Protection Agency requires them allt tol have an assessment of the water system from its beginning to the foundation of each house. This is due by October 15, 2024. Generally, ifal home was built after 1980, it won't have lead; if built before then, it might have lead. The older the home, the more likely that lead is present in the system. The City will be required to physically determine ifiti is present in the systems leading to 2 'possible or probably homes. Our City insurance, GIRMA, appraised all City property this week to make sure that we are adequately insured. CA Waller reminded all that the Water and Sewer Commission meets next Tuesday, and lastly, the Thomson Police Department, using seized funds, boughta 2019 Ford Explorer with 53,000 miles for a little over $14,000.00. Itisa really good addition to their fleet. Councilmember Belton questioned why the replacement of pipe would stop at the foundation, concerning the Lead and Copper Rule. CA Waller explained that was determined by the Federal Government, and possibly the City would stop at the meter but contract with licensed and bonded professionals to do the replacement from the meter to the foundation. Citizens would not be responsible for the cost of the replacement pipe up to the foundation, but could negotiate a price with these contractors if they choose to pay them beyond the foundation. Mayor Report: Nothing to report. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None Mayor Cranford thanked all in attendance for coming to the Council Meeting. He especially thanked Mr. Graziano for being present and for his service ensuring A motion to adjourn was tendered by Councilmember Corley and seconded by Councilmember Johnson. A vote of5-0 ended the meeting at 6:31pm. that we could be here today. Respectfully ysubmitted, Ct Wfguan Lucretia W. Ferguson, City Clerk Benjamin C. Cranford, Jr., Mayor 3