Minutes City Council Meeting October 15th, 2024 6:30pm  Baldwin Courtroom, 155 Willingham Avenue, Baldwin, GA 30511  Mayor Stephanie Almagno, Council member Erik Keith (via phone), Council member Kerri Davis, Council member Maarten Venter, and Council member. Alice Venter were alli in  attendance. Calll Meeting to Order Invocation and. Pledge live stream.. Consent. Agenda  Mayor. Almagno called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.  Mayor Almagno listed all members present at the meeting for those watching the Facebook  a. Approval of Minutes: Council Meeting 9/23/24 and' Work Session 10/8/24. Action: Ar motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the consent agenda as presented with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0.  Public Comments  Stacey Naddor of113 Lakeview Walk: said that the proposed millage rate shows a 16% increase for Habersham residents and a 53% increase for Banks residents and wanted CAO Emily' Woodmaster explained that while there is one set millage rate fori the whole city, Banks County has the LOST offset that reduces the Banks County millage (which the City is legally required toi follow).Therefore, the Banks County percentage increase or decrease will never match the Habersham percentage whenever the  to understand the difference in numbers.  millage rate is proposed.  Public. Hearings  Millage Rate - Public Hearing 2 of3  Legal Counsel. Jack Samuels introduced the public hearing fort the second oft three Andrea Harper of 501 Willingham Avenue asked if the collections from the increased millage were designated for any specific uses. Almagno and Council member Maarten Venter explained how the collections are utilized to balance the City's budget, and that the Cityi is not immune to the changes in the economy that everyone is experiencing. Costs like staffing, additional personnel, paying utility bills, insurance, and fuel have increased for the City as well, but property taxes account for 25% oft the City's budget, and alternative funding methods are used fori the remaining 75%. Samuels opened the floor for anyone else who wished to address the Council regarding the millage rate. No one came forward. Samuels closed the public hearing at 6:52, pm.  required hearings. Samuels opened the hearing at 6:42 pm.  Council Meeting Minutes  October 15th, 2024  Pagel 11    Reports Old. Business  1. Consideration/Approval of 1st Reading of Water & Sewer Use Ordinance #2024-10152 Woodmaster explained that the current Water and Sewer Use Ordinance has been repeatedly amended over the last 50 years, and the last two years has been spent with City Engineer Fletcher Holliday to determine what was needed to modernize the document and to meet the City's current needs. The overall layout and structure ofthe document was cleaned up in order to ensure the most necessary information relevant to the end user is readily available. The proposed new ordinance has been reduced to 34 pages from the previous 150 and has been reviewed by the Water Group Council member Alice Venter also confirmed with Woodmaster that the new ordinance relieves the burden of the few users who are not connected to the City sewer but are Action: A motion was made by Alice Venteri to approve the first reading oft the Water & Sewer Use Ordinance #2024-10152 as presented with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion  Committee.  currently required to pay for sewer.  Carried 4-0.  2. Consideration/Approa. of LACI Fire Service Mutual. Aid. Agreement Woodmaster reviewed the updated fire service mutual aid agreement with Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute (LACI) discussed at the October work session. The only modification to the agreement is removing the guarantee that the apparatus will be utilized when responding to calls. Council had no further questions or concerns. Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the LACI Fire Service Mutual Aid Agreement and to authorize Chief Royt to execute the agreement as  presented with a second byl Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0. 3. Consideraton/APproa. of Scag Mower- Water Treatment Facility  Woodmaster reviewed the purchase requests discussed at the October work session for replacing 15-year-old mowers at both the Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Both mowers are budgeted fori their respective department but exceed the $5,000 limit and therefore, must be approved by Council. Council had noi further Action: A motion was made by Alice Venter to approve the purchase ofa a Scag Mower fort the Water Treatment Facility as presented with a second by Erik Keith. Motion 4. Consideration/Aproal of Scag Mower - Wastewater Treatment Facility Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the purchase of a Scag Mower for the Wastewater Treatment Facility as presented with a second by Erik Keith.  questions or concerns.  Carried 4-0.  Motion Carried 4-0. Council Meeting Minutes  October 15th, 2024  Page - 12    New. Business  5. Consideraton/Approva. of Award for Banks Co. Road Paving Project Resolution #2024- Woodmaster apologized fori the error on the agenda and explained this resolution is actually for paving Habersham County roads, specifically Batson Street, Davis Drive, and Homer Drive. After the bid opening, iti is recommended that Council award the project to Ryals Brothers out of Clermont, Georgia for $135,022.60. Funding will be split between LMIG (approximately $42,000) and SPLOSTVII (approximately $93,000). Action: A motion was made by Alice Venter to approve Resolution #2024-10153R as presented with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0. 6. Consideration/Approval of Collection System Pump Replacement Request Woodmaster presented a quote from MPE Services for the removal oft the current pump and installation ofar new pump at the Regency lift station for $47,790.00 (includes parts and labor). One pump ati the station was successfully replaced lasty year To fund this project, Woodmaster presented a threefold request fori items #6 and #7 and provided al breakdown of System Connection Fees and the O&M reserve fund. Two years ago, Council authorized $100,000 to be allocated from System Connection Fees to the solids handling building project, which has not been completed at this time. Ift the funds remain where they are currently allocated, neither the Regency repairs nort the raw water pump repairs (item #7) could be completed. Therefore, Woodmaster requested that the $100,000 commitment from System Connection Fees be moved to the O&M fund since the solids handling building will not be completed in the next three months. Within the next quarter, the difference will be replenished. By reallocating these funds, the Regency repairs can be paid for out of 0&M: and the raw water intake pumps from System Connection Fees, therefore funding all three projects with appropriate funds. The first request is for Council to authorize reallocating the money and the second will be to authorize the purchases necessary for the Regency lift Action: A motion was made by Alice Venteri to approve reallocating $100,000 committed from System Connection Fees for the Solids Handling Building and commit funds from the O&M Reserve Fund with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0. Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to authorize the purchase ofa replacement pump att the Regency Lift Station with a cost not to exceed. $47,8001 to be expensed from the O&M Reserve Fund with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-  10153R  Council had noi further questions or concerns.  and iti is now necessary to replace the other.  station and the raw water pumps.  0.  7. Consideration/APprova of Raw' Water Intake Pump Repairs Request  Holliday presented a request for Goforth Williamson to travel to the Baldwin raw' water station, utilize al large crane to pull the raw water intake pumps, and then each pump and motor be rebuilt. Att the end of the process, they will be like new without the cost  Council Meeting Minutes  October 15th, 2024  Page 3    ofab brand-new pump. Without these pumps, water cannot be transported from the Chattahoochee to the watertreatment plant to be ultimately delivered to the end The quoted costs forremoval and repair of each pump are $52,800 and $58,425and are based ont the expected repairs. Holliday said if additional funds beyond tonight's request are needed for the repairs, 0&M funds in the current budget could be utilized. Depending on the amount of necessary work, turnaround is estimated to be 60 days. One pump will be pulled and returned once the work is completed and then the second pump will follow, sO expenses will not be incurred at the same time. At Maarten Venter's inquiry, Holliday estimated al brand-new pump to cost 5175,000-5200,000 per pump. The recent rain events have also exacerbated the issue to the point that Holliday Action: A motion was made by Alice Venter to approve the repair costs for pump #1 and pump #2 ati the Raw' Water Intake with a cost not to exceed $111,225 and to be expensed from System Connection Fees with a second by Erik Keith. Motion Carried 4- 8. onsideraton/Approva. of Serv Pro Agreement for Community Room Repairs Woodmaster presented an agreement from Serv Pro to remediate the mold that has collected in the community room from when the City Hall roof leaked several months ago. Serv Pro detailed everything that they plan to do (including cleaning the HVAC system) and how much it will cost. This Limit of Liability Agreement simply states that while Serv Pro will fully clean and remediate the mold to the best of their ability, there is no way of guaranteeing 100% oft the mold will be removed. The total cost is quoted tol be $2,998.97 and to be expensed from 0&M funds. Repairs to the sheetrock and closet door will be done in-house by Public' Works. Legal counsel has reviewed the Action: A motion was made by Alice Venteri to approve the Serve Pro. Agreement for repairs to the Community Room and to authorize the CAO to execute the agreement  customer.  wishes to be proactive in addressing the issue instead ofr reactive.  0.  agreement and had no concerns.  as presented with a second by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0.  Executive Session Announcements  a. The 7th Annual Baldwin Fall Festival will be on October 19th from 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Baldwin Farmers Market and Downtown City Park. Enjoy live music, local crafters and vendors, a wide variety of food trucks, and a closing fireworks show. As always, admission and all activities are FREE! The Maggie Valley Band and Katie Deal will be b. Join us fori the final 2024 Movie in the Market on October 25th starting at 8:30 pm.. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets andj join us for a FREE night of fun at the Farmers' Market at 110. Airport Road. This month we are showing "Kangaroo Jack." Concessions The City of Baldwin is holding a Fall Amnesty Day on November 7th. Baldwin Public  performing.  will be available, with all proceeds going to Shop with a Hero.  Council Meeting Minutes  October 15th, 2024  Page 14    Works will pick up and dispose of trash that would normally need to be taken to the landfill. We will accept scrap metal, paint cans, furniture, and old appliances. Tires and batteries will not be picked up. All items must be placed at the curb no later than 8:00 am on November 7th. Call City Hall at 706-778-6341 by 4:30 pm on November 4thto d. Mayor Almagno encouraged residents to get out and vote. Voting information for both Habersham and Banks County Baldwin residents is available at City Hall. e. Council member Alice Venter reminded those present oft the initiative to gather supplies to provide aid for the Hurricane Helene victims facing cold weather. Propane, kerosene, and lamp oil are especially needed, and even empty propane tanks can be exchanged for new ones. Donations can be brought to Baldwin Fire Department.  get your name on the list!  Adjournment  Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to adjourn the meeting with a second  by Kerri Davis. Motion Carried 4-0at7:33 pm.  uiabr Stephanie Almagno, Mayor A EnGathercoal, City  10/28/2024 Date. Approved by Council  Clerk  B SEAL DE    GA  Council Meeting Minutes  October 15th, 2024  Page 15