City of White Georgia City Council Meeting May 5th, 2025 Present at the council meeting were Mayor Curtis Powell, Councilmembers Gary Crisp, Stephanie Nichelson, Karissa Noland, and Jean Swank, City Clerk Robin Cochran, and City Attorney Debra Golymbieske. Mayor Powell called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and led with the pledge of allegiance. Councilmember Nichelson followed with the invocation. Mayor Powell started with the review and approval of the agenda for the meeting and opened the floor for council discussion. None were heard and Powell asked for a motion. Council member Nichelson made a motion to approve the agenda. Council member Swank seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Mayor Powell moved to the approval of the April meeting revised minutes and opened the floor for council discussion. None were heard and Mayor Powell asked for a motion. Councilmember Crisp made a motion to approve. Councilmember Noland seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Mayor Powell opened the floor for public comments. There were none and Powell moved to city news and reports. City Clerk, Robin Cochran approached the council to give updates from the Clerk's office. Cochran began with three maturing CDs at Southern States Bank in the amounts of $23,693.00, $79,652.00, and $24,118.00. Cochran informed the council of the rate options; 8 months at 4.4% or 13 months at 4.2%. Mayor Powell opened the floor for council comments and councilmember Crisp asked the other councilmembers about their thoughts after a few moments of silence. Councilmember Swank made a motion to renew the CDs for 8 months at 4.4% Councilmember Crisp seconded the motion. The motion was carried with a 5-0 vote. Cochran continued her report by informing the council the city received the $1,725.00 check for the truck sold from Public Works. Police Chief, Brad Loyd approached the council to give the report from his department starting with the stats from the previous month. Loyd stated he and his officers had 243 calls for service, 211 traffic stops, had written 115 citations, and 96 warnings. Loyd informed the council that he was in the process of getting more police radios from Cobb County. Loyd confirmed the tag readers for his department's vehicles were in service. Loyd confirmed the Durango was still out of service. Public Works Superintendent, Shawn Chastain approached the council to give the report from his department Chastain stated two leaks were repaired in the Whispering Pine Subdivision. Chastain stated Kirkpatrick had not started at the culvert yet and he was waiting on a call back for an update. Powell asked if Chastain knew which side they were going to start on to which Chastain responded Old Tennessee Hwy and then Richards Rd. Chastain gave an update on the trash truck and said the tailgate was fixed and operable. Mayor Powell moved to unfinished business to discuss the proposed Zoning Ordinance and opened the floor for public comments. None were heard and Powell closed the public comments and opened the floor for council discussion. Councilmember Crisp stated he had many issues with the Zoning Ordinance as well as the citizens he had spoken with and stated that he felt there were things in the ordinance that were too big for the city. Crisp continued by asking citizens in the audience how they liked the new ordinance. Citizen DJ Bennett asked about the shingles on properties as he felt it was too strict and pricy to which Powell reminded him that it was only for commercial and industrial properties. There was some chatter amongst the council and citizens about industrial properties, commercial properties, and residential properties. Mayor Powell asked for a motion on the new Zoning Ordinance. Councilmember Swank made a motion to approve. Councilmember Vichelson seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 4-1 vote. Councilmember Crisp voted against adoption. Mayor Powell moved to new business and began with the split tree emova/remedlation located at City Hall. Chastain received two quotes. One from Woods Tree Service who quoted $5,000 to take the tree down and grind the stump, and one from One Source who quoted $10,800 to take the tree down and grind the stump. One Source did not want to cut the tree down after measuring it and seeing the tree was around 88 years old and quoted $4,700 to trim the tree back to get some of the weight off it and run a cable system through it, to save the tree. Mayor Powell asked how long the tree would last if they explored that route to which Chastain responded he didn't know how long, but One Source said it would take a tornado to take it down after they were done with the repairs to the tree. Councilmember Crisp asked Chastain if he was able to get a quote from Woodpecker as they gave the city the best quote to take down the tree at Richards Rd a couple months back. Chastain stated he had not heard back from them. Councilmember Swank suggested the price was SO high because of how close the tree was to power lines and roadway and went on to explain how they would need very heavy machinery to access the tree. Chastain stated he would get a quote from Woodpecker and asked if the council was leaning more towards saving the tree or taking it down. Councilmember Nichelson suggested if the tree did come down, to get with Keep Bartow Beautiful and get another tree that would grow to the same size to plant in its place. Councilmember Nichelson made a motion to table untilJune's council meeting. Councilmember Crisp seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Chastain moved on to discuss the communication system at both lift stations and the well houses. Chastain stated that in 2026 the current equipment will be obsolete, and each facility will need to be upgraded before then. Mission Communication's quote to upgrade was $15,900.00 Chastain got another quote from a local company recommended by Jon Holland who quoted $24,503.00 Chastain stated his issue with Mission Communication is, they are out of state and when he needs a new part, etc., they're unable to come out on site, and they're hard to get hold of. There was a lot of discussion amongst Powell, Swank, and Chastain about pump types, the alert system and how it works, and the challenges Chastain has faced with the current company and equipment. Mayor Powell moved to discuss the Financial Policies and Procedures Manual and suggested a work session in the near future. Councilmember Swank had questions regarding committees and Powell provided clarification. Council member Swank suggested a finance committee/Interna. audit committee to be formed to assist City Clerk, Robin Cochran and the Deputy City Clerk, Brianna Shuping, with annual audits done by a third party. Councilmember Swank made a motion to table for two months and to have work sessions to discuss the topic further. Councilmember Crisp seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Mayor Powell moved to discuss the anti-litem notice received and Attorney, Debra Golymbieske from Bowen, Walker, and Jenkins spoke. The anti-litem notice was received April 7th, 2025, from O'hagan Law Firm regarding an incident that happened on Peachtree Road in Atlanta, Georgia pertaining to one of the city's part-time officers. Golymbieske stated there were deficiencies in the anti-litem notice and she was asking the council for approval of responses to be served to the plaintiff's attorney the following day. Mayor Powell opened the floor for council discussion. None were heard and Powell asked for a motion. Councilmember Nichelson made a motion for Golymbieske to proceed with her responses. Councilmember Crisp seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Mayor Powell moved to council and mayor comments. None were heard and Powell asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Nichelson made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Swank seconded the motion. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:38pm. Respectfully submitted, Cokiar Rdan Robin Cochran City Clerk Attest Cabka Curtis Powell, Mayor