MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA FEBRUARY 10, 2025 The regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council ofthe City of Camilla was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025 by Mayor Owens in The Honorable Mary Jo Haywood Council Chambers. Mayor Owens commented on the speaker appearance portion of the meeting and encouraged everyone participating to do SO with dignity and respect. Present at roll call: Councilmember Vereen, Councilman Burley (via phone - out ofjurisdiction- joined meeting in person at 6:30 p.m.), Councilman Morgan, Councilman Collins, Councilman Maples, and Councilman Palmer. City Attorney LaTonya Nix Wiley (via Zoom), Clerk Ford, and Public Works Supt./Asst. City Manager Luke White were also present. OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGE Pastor Gilbert from Blooming Light Missionary Baptist Church in Pelham gave the invocation and the Mayor and Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Owens asked for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. On motion by Councilman Morgan and seconded by Councilmember Vereen, the motion to approve the agenda passed by a 6-0 vote. CITIZENS AND GUESTS Sign-in Sheet Attached. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The following minutes were presented for approval consideration: January 6, 2025 Work Session (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councilmember Vereen/Passed 6-0) January 13, 2025 Council Meeting (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councimember Vereen/Passed 6-0) January 23, 2025 Called Council Meeting (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councilmember Vereen/Passed 6-0) SPEAKER APPEARANCES Jimmy Jones, Janet Crane, Martha Bateman, Azalee Vereen, Danny Palmer, Corey Morgan, Fronnie Jess, Kelvin Owens, Oscar Maples ACTION ITEMS 2025 MUNICIPAL ELECTION CONSIDERATION TO APPOINT ELECTION SUPERINTENDENT Mayor Owens asked for a motion to contract with Mitchell County to conduct the City of Camilla elections. A motion was made by Councilman Palmer and seconded by Councilman Collins. Councilmember Vereen commented on her experience during the last election when she Page I of3 2025 MUNICIPAL ELECTION CONSIDERATION TO APPOINT ELECTION SUPERINTENDENT (cont.) came in to vote and she, along with sixteen others, received the wrong ballot. Over 70% of her constituents received improper absentee ballots in the mail. She went to court in litigation because she was challenged and the suit was dismissed. She thinks it is a good time for the county to take over the election because there is an active investigation into the election and her three reasons for the county to take over. Councilman Palmer commented the last election lacked credibility and the citizens don't have confidence in the process and it needs to be changed and taken out of city hall. Until that is done there is always going to be a cloud. After further comments from Council, a roll call vote was taken to contract with Mitchell County to conduct the City of Camilla elections. Voting in favor of the motion: Councilmember Vereen and Councilmen Collins and Palmer. Voting in opposition: Councilmen Burley, Morgan and Maples. The Mayor voted no and the motion for the County to conduct the City of Camilla elections failed by a 4-3 vote. Mayor Owens commented after the individual is sworn in he recommends they be paid $500 per month for the service of election superintendent. Councilman Burley and Councilman Morgan nominated Maggie Bell. Councilman Palmer nominated Cheryl Ford. Clerk Ford commented with her additional duties serving as interim city manager she would decline the nomination at this time. Councilman Palmer then nominated the election superintendent of Mitchell County. Councilmember Vereen stated the name of the election superintendent was Laura Cox. Mayor Owens stated they have two nominations and asked for a motion to close nominations. A motion was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilman Morgan to close nominations. The motion passed by a 6-0 vote. A motion was made by Councilman Palmer and seconded by Councilmember Vereen to appoint Laura Cox to serve as the City's election superintendent and conduct the City's elections. Voting in favor of the nomination to appoint Laura Cox via roll call: Councilmember Vereen and Councilmen Collins and Palmer. Voting in opposition: Councilmen Burley, Morgan and Maples. The Mayor voted no and the motion failed by a 4-3 vote. A motion was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilman Morgan to appoint Maggie Bell as the election superintendent for the City of Camilla at $500 per month effective once all prerequisites are satisfied. Councilman Morgan read a letter into the record submitted by Maggie Bell expressing her interest in serving as the election superintendent. Voting in favor of the motion via roll call vote: Councilmember Vereen and Councilmen Burley, Morgan, Maples. Voting in opposition: Councilmen Collins and Palmer. The motion to appoint Maggie Bell at $500 per month for services as election superintendent passed by a 4-2 vote. ARTS GRANT FUNDING Mayor Owens commented whatever is left from ARPA he is asking to supplement with the economic development fund at Georgia Fund 1. They appreciate the arts and it has been a good thing for the city. A motion was made by Councilmember Vereen and seconded by Councilman Morgan to approve the continued funding of the Arts Grant Program from ARPA funds and the economic development fund for a maximum of$10,000 this calendar year. The motion passed by a 6-0 vote with Councilmember Vereen and Councilmen Burley, Morgan, Collins, Maples and Palmer voting in favor of the motion. Mayor Owens commented if a play or arts show is put on, they have to prove it was in the corporate limits of Camilla. Once that is done, they can ask the City for reimbursement for the play or arts show. It is a reimbursement grant for half of the cost with a limit from $2,500 and as high as $5,000. Page 2 of3 INTERIM CITY MANAGER/ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER REPORT Reports were provided on tree trimming projects on Scott, Broad, and Church streets. Cemetery road improvements for Phase I are progressing well and the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant application for paving has been submitted to the Department of Transportation. The lift station bid should be let within the next 30 days. Additional discussion included the continuing road improvements in the cemetery, pump station on Perry Street, making sure safety equipment needs are met along with appropriate training, and information on the City's lift stations infrastructure along with associated monitoring equipment. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Owens commented he got word this week 90% of the gym engineering is now complete. He will release a computer generated walk-through video of the new gym this week and played the video for the Council. At next month's work session they will be talking about allocated ARPA funds for employees and try to identify how to give extra compensation, as a type of quarterly incentive, for first responders and other employees. The Mayor asked for the generator quote for the Perry Street pump be ready for discussion at the next work session. The ribbon cutting for the Resource Center that will house the Boys and Girls Club will be next Thursday and they are extremely excited. Sometime in April they hope to have the groundbreaking ceremony for the gym. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. on motion by Councilman Morgan. BY: ATTEST: Qu-frf KELVIN M. OWENS, MAYOR CHERYL FORDICLERK Page 3 of3 CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA a SIGN-IN SHEET DATE: F5B I0 20a5 TIME: o A.M. P.M. 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