MINUTES = CALLED MEETING CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA FEBRUARY 6, 2025 A Called Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Camilla was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 by Mayor Owens. Present at roll call: Councilmember Vereen, Councilman Collins, Councilman Maples, and Councilman Palmer. Absent: Councilman Burley and Councilman Morgan. Clerk Ford and City Attorney LaTonya Nix Wiley (via Zoom) were also present. OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGE Pastor Dr. Joe Thomas gave the invocation and the Mayor and Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CITIZENS AND GUESTS Sign-in Sheet Attached. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Vereen and seconded by Councilman Collins to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed by a 4-0 vote. SPEAKER APPEARANCES None PUBLIC HEARING #3 HOUSE BILL 581 - INTENTTO OPT OUT OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION Mayor Owens commented this is the third and final public hearing for HB581 - - Intent to Opt Out ofl Homestead Exemption. He stated they have a resolution available for adoption should the Council approve to opt out of the homestead exemption, which will be forwarded to the Secretary of State upon adoption. After providing additional information regarding the bill and brief discussion and comments from the Council, the public hearing was opened for citizen comments. There being no citizen comments, the public hearing was closed. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-02-06-1 A motion was made by Councilman Palmer and seconded by Councilman Maples to adopt Resolution No. 2025-02-06-1 for the City of Camilla to opt out of the homestead exemption pursuant to O.C.G.A. $48-5-44.2. Voting in favor of the motion via a roll call vote: Councilmember Vereen and Councilmen Collins, Maples, and Palmer. The motion to adopt the resolution passed by a 4-0 vote. Mayor Owens read the resolution into the record. ADJOURNMENT On motion by Councilman Maples the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 1 BY: ATTEST: F Cwul KELVIN M. OWENS, MAYOR CHERYL FORD, CLERK Page 1 of1 CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA 2 SIGN-IN SHEET DATE: FEb 6 20a5 TIME: 6i30 A.M. P.M. MEETING: A COUNCIL - WORK SESSION OTHER: CAUED SPLAKER NAME ADDRESS NO YES TOPIC OF DISCOSSION 1 Dnwil N. Claek 5606 Ruye Edço Pd - Press 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA RESOLUTION NO. 2025-02-06-1 RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA, TO OPT OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO O.C.G.A. S 48-5-44.2 WHEREAS, Georgia Code O.C.G.A. $ 48-5-44.2, effective January 1, 2025, creates a statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes levied by, for, or on behalf of the state or any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school district in this state; and WHEREAS, more specifically, O.C.G.A. $ 48-5-44.2(i) authorizes the governing authority ofany county, consolidated government, municipality, or school district to opt out of the homestead exemption otherwise granted with respect to such political subdivision through certain procedures and the adoption of a resolution by March 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Camilla desires to opt out of the homestead exemption otherwise granted; and WHEREAS, the City of Camilla, Georgia has complied with the required procedures pursuant to O.C.G.A. S 48-5-44.2(i), including but not limited to, holding at least three public meetings on the intent to opt out and placing the required advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation and on its website as required. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the City of Camilla, Georgia, hereby opts out oft the homestead exemption otherwise granted by O.C.G.A. $ 48-5-44.2. BE IT FORTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective upon its approval by the Mayor and Council of the City of Camilla, Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk of the City Camilla, Georgia is hereby directed to provide a certified copy of this Resolution to the Georgia Secretary of State no later than March 1, 2025. PASSED AND RESOLVED this 6TH day of February, 2025 by Mayor and Council ofthe City of Camilla, Georgia. BY: Kelvin M. Owens, Mayor OF - ATTEST: Doug fon Cheryl SEAL Ford, City Clerk [Seal). S EORGIA