Minutes City Council Work Session January 3rd, 2023 6:30pm  EOBG  Baldwin Courtroom, 155 Willingham. Avenue, Baldwin, GA; 30511  Mayor Joe Elam, Council Member Theron Ayers, Council Member Stephanie Almagno, Council Member Larry Lewallen, Council Member Alice Venter (via phone) and Council  Member Maarten Venter (via phone). Call Meeting to Order Firefighter ofthe Year Award  Fire ChiefJoe! Roy presented the Firefighter oft the Year Award to Lieutenant  Michael Craig. Promotion ofJohn Taylor  Police Chief Chris. Jones announced Patrolman John Taylor's promotion to  Sergeant. Public. Hearing Old Business New Business  1. SAFER Grant Application  CAO Emily Woodmaster addressed Council and recapped the SAFER Grant, one ofthet two grants the Council agreed the Fire Department should pursue. The SAFER Grant would allow Baldwin Fire Department tol hire four or five additional staff members and assist in paying their salaries over the next five years. Ifthe grant were awarded to Baldwin, the SAFER Grant would: fully fund the first year and gradually taper off as Baldwin works to build the additional Previously 10% percent oft the awarded grant is given to the grant writer, however, there is now a new requirement of an upfront fee of $1,500 for the grant writer. This is a one-time fee until Baldwin receives the grant, not once per application. Ifthe grant is awarded, there will be a $5,000 grant funding fee for the grant writer. Ifapproved by Council, the $1,500 would come from the FY23 budget, and Chief Roy is confident that he can make it work. Woodmaster anticipates that the $5,000 fee will be included in the next budget cycle in a new line from the Fire Department's budget. These two costs total $6,500 are in lieu oft the original 10% given toi the grant writer and willl likely total less than that Woodmaster stated that the SAFER Grant does require the department to be fully staffed currently, because the intention is to support an unanticipated growth in population and therefore an unanticipated need for more staff to cover that  personnel's salaries into their budget.  10% oft the grant.  Work Session Minutes  January 3rd,2023  Page I1    population. Baldwin will need to defend the need for more staffi in the grant application using the population growth pattern from the last five years. Ifthat pattern continues, the current Fire Department staffi is not sustainable. Chief Roy received an emergency call and left the meeting, sO he was not present toa answer additional questions. Council was in agreement to bring this forward to  Monday night's meeting. 2. NGN Connect Account Update  Woodmaster recapped the current agreement Baldwin has with internet provider North Georgia Network, who has provided Baldwin with wireless internet since 2014. It is now time to renew the agreement with NGN. No modifications or changes have been made to the previous agreement, however, in the process of reviewing, Baldwin does have the option make any changes if desired or to eliminate the service altogether. Woodmaster and Mayor Elam met with a NGN representative and received an additional information. NGN has already increased Baldwin's bandwidth from 25 to 50 megabits, and they are working to increase city buildings to 100 once the technology is updated. Woodmaster stated that one of NGN's ultimate goals is providing fiber internet and having the line-of-sight wireless installed on the water tower as a backup. However, there are limitations to what is currently available in the geographical Council was in agreement to bring this forward at Monday's meeting, where an  area.  NGN representative will be present to answer any questions.  Amnouncements  a. City Offices will be closed on January 16th in observation of Martin Luther King, b. Public Works Director Scott Barnhart picked up the administrative vehicle, sO all vehicles in the lease agreement are nowi in the City's possession.  Jr. Day.  Adjournment  Action: A motion was made by Theron Ayer to adjourn the meeting with a second by Maarten Venter. Motion Carried 5-0.  BALDW C  Joe Elam, Mayor  Emily Woodmaster, CAO Zlo  ALDWT  Work Session Minutes  January 3rd, 2023  Pagel 12