MEETING MINUTES - - REGULAR SESSION B5 - a SIS - 3 a 2 DATE TIME FACILTAIOR : #i 5 33 S RE 0/14/2024 4:30pm Vickie Nail bi 3 M e - 4 :: a INS AITENDANCE: * APPROVAE OF MINUTES A - - - E Vickie Nail-Mayor, Donald Prestage The mayor asks for a motion from the (Mayor Pro Tem), Carolyn Blackshear, Council if there are no corrections Verdie Williams, Lindsay Bennett needed for the minutes from September. (ABSENT), Gina Sheridan, Duann Davis, Motion by: Carolyn Blackshear and Nivea Jackson 2nd by: Verdie Williams Motion: Carries unanimously Ss - ZOOM CAL-DAVENPORE AND ASSOCIATES 4:30PM The Mayor and Council met with Davenport and Associates who are the City's financial advisors via Zoom call. The team is explaining. to the Mayor and Council the requirements for securing interim financing for the USDA loan application process to be complete. Loan is not set to begin until after 2026 completions are complete. An RFP will be submitted to banks to help complete interim financing. RFP is a financial explanation of terms, amounts, and application of securing the interim financing. The RFP will close on October 18th. Further updates on submissions, bond resolutions and any adoptions will occur-af the scheduled meeting on October 24!h at 5:00pm. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING The scheduled Regular City council meeting was called to order at 5:00pm. The same members of Council aforementioned are in attendance. The Prayer was offered by Mayor Nail and the pledge was done in unison. The mayor welcomed everyone and spoke to the presiding audience concerning the recent Hurricane Helene aftermath. Nail noted that citizens were helping citizens, neighbors were coming together, and agencies such as the County, Forestry, Red Cross, and FEMA. were all working togetherto help the citizens. E E DEPARIMENT UPDATES - Police Dept-Acting Chief J. Snell, Asst Chief Snell is appointed as acting Chief Snell after the resignation of Chief Neesmith. Cadets are in the academy (Rozier and Chandler) and are bofh due to be complete by January 2025, Fire Dept.-Stats provided by Donald Prestage Rec Dept-Carolyn Blackshear named new members, and the park received $5k from a Cannoochee EMC grant. Water/Sewer/Sireet/lanes-Rodney Deloach- Stats Provided,. Special thanks given for the hard work. a ENEW BUSINESS - 2024 Lighted Christmas Parade-Chistmas Parade will be December 14th, lineup will be at 4pm, step off at 6pm. Dusty West from the Jr. Board: is in charge of the parade activities. Donald Prestage makes a motion to approve the lighted Christmas Parade. Motion by: Donald Prestage 2nd by: Verdie Williams Motion: Carries unanimously November Tax Sale- The tax sale has been postponed due fo Hurricane Helene. The city was closed and unable to receive payments for 5 days. The mayor wants citizens to bei able to concentrate on cleaning up from the storms. Sale is postponed until January. November meeting Schedule- The date for the next month's regular meeting will be Monday November 11, 2024 (Veteran's Day). The council has agreed to move the meeting to Tuesday November 12, 2024, to have the regularly scheduled meeting. E OLD BUSENESS 5 Water Rates- The Mayor and Council have received advisement from the financial advisement team and USDA. Rates will need to increase to sustain the life of the loan. The rate. increase will affect customers on October 29th and is due to an increase in sewage bills by $3.97 and will increase yearly in. October. Carolyn Blackshear makes motion to increase the rates. Motion by: C. Blackshear 2nd by: Donald Prestage Motion: Carries unanimously The mayor announced that two upcoming businesses have sufficed the application process and will receive alcohol permits respective to the application. - E EXECUVESESSION ARA R Donald Prestage makes a motion to go to the Executive Session to discuss Real Estate and Personnel at 6:01pm 2nd by: Carolyn Blackshear The Council returns from Executive Session at 6:19pm The Mayor announces that the city intends to sell 0.09 of an acre on Church St to Carmen Collins. No Personnel action taken. Meeting is adjourned at 6:21pm OLD BUSINESS PA The Mayor is informing the attendees and Council that the Nov. 5th tax sale was postponed until March 2025. Collections have beèn aggressive and are working. New: tax bills are, out and will also be delinquent in January. Don Powell gave the Council updates on the dilapidation list. Three homes were demolished at the recommendation of the City. Powell is continuing efforts with respect to storm damage cleanup. The list of homes that will be receiving notice of different violafions is growing. The biggest concern is unnumbered homes and debris ridden homes. The Mayor is reconsidering initiating the Blight Tax. Attorney Davis was able to shed light on how this works. The initigtion is to encourage homeowners to clean up, rent, or sell property. If fined, properly owners could endure a 25% tax (on total cost of property) for a property left empty. Owners with renfal space would be forced to keep the property In good working condition for rental income. This is in hopés of bringing viable businesses.to the City. Councilman Prestage suggests that a letter be drafted by the City Attorney warning citizens they are in violation. He also requests citizens be notified by local newspaper that an impending fine would be pending for residences that were cited for not having proper address markings on them. Prestage reminds. Council that citizens were reminded in the: Spring to mark homes. Council had discussion about the importance of numbering homes and ways to enforce the ordinance. Donald Prestage makes a motion to go forward the Attorney letter and have the building inspector enforce the ordinançe. The motion dies on the floor for lack of second. It was printed on water bills. During the storm, and monthly to offer water/sewer services, homes were difficult to recognize because they were not properly marked. Duann Davis will draft letters and notifications will be put at City Hall for citizens to get properly notified. If residenfs do not comply with lettering/ numbering their homes, a fine will ensue. Counciwoman Blackshear makes a motion to curate the doorhangers and ensure compliance of the ordinance. Motion by: Carolyn Blackshear 2nd by: Verdie Williams Motion: Carries, Donald Prestage opposes 34 A Fire Dept-Jimmy Brown gives the report. Handout available. Councilwoman V. Williams asks the Fire Chief to get estimates to provide fire extinguishers in all of the City's building. Police Dept-Asst Chief Snell gave the report and a handout is available. Donald Prestage gave the report for Water/Sewer. Handout is available. Carolyn Blackshear- Gave report for Surrency and Recreation Dept. Don Powell gave a report for the Building Inspector. R" A ANNOUNCEMENTS: CA A AsS Meeting adjourns at 6:23p B. $SSVEAN 70 S 157 2 P : NEXT MEETING : a - A December 2nd. -Planning December 9th Regular Session 1/ A Pk Naz 2loks