MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA MARCH 10, 2025 The regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Camilla was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2025 by Mayor Owens in The Honorable Mary Jo Haywood Council Chambers. Present at roll call: Councilmember Vereen, Councilman Burley, Councilman Morgan, Councilman Collins, Councilman Maples, and Councilman Palmer. City Attorney Alicia Thompson (via Zoom), Clerk Ford, and Public Works Supt./Asst. City Manager Luke White were also present. OPENING PRAYER AND PLEDGE Reverend Clint Adams from Double Branch Freewill Baptist Church in Dooly County 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 submitted. A motion was made by Councilman Morgan and seconded by Councilman Burley. Mayor Owens asked for a substitute motion to amend the agenda to consider reconstituting the safety committee for the City of Camilla. Fire Chief Jamie Sullivan, as the Emergency Management Director, will chair the committee. A motion was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilman Morgan to add the item. Councilman Morgan asked to remove the weatherization policy from the agenda as he awaits key information. An amendment to the substitute motion to remove the weatherization policy from the agenda was made by Councilman Burley and seconded by Councilmember Vereen. Mayor Owens commented they are removing the weatherization policy and adding reconstituting the safety committee with Fire Chief Sullivan chairing the committee. The motion 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 30, 2025 Called Council Meeting (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councilman Burley/Passed 6-0) February 3, 2025 Work Session (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councilman Burley/Passed 6-0) February 6, 2025 Called Council Meeting (Motion: Councilman Burley/Second: Councilman Morgan/Passed 6-0) February 10, 2025 Council Meeting (Motion: Councilman Morgan/Second: Councilman Maples/Passed 6-0) Page 1 of3 SPEAKER APPEARANCES Charles Stripling, Jimmy Jones SAFETY GRANT PRESENTATION Mayor Owens introduced Emily Davenport, GMA Member Services District 10 Consultant. Emily stated she has a big check to present to Camilla in the amount of $17,190.45. As a member of GMA's Workers Comp Program, every year Camilla is eligible to apply for safety liability grants. There is no match requirement and a long list of eligible items the grant can be used for. The purpose of the program is to help cities get the equipment they need. This year the grant money will go towards equipment needed for the fire department. After further comments, Emily thanked Mayor Owens for his service as GMA's District 10 President and commented the District 10 meeting would be held in Camilla on April 215t. Mayor Owens thanked Chief Sullivan for his assistance and professionalism for getting the grant done every year and expressed how much he was appreciated. Fire Chief Sullivan introduced departmental personnel in attendance at the meeting to include Lt. Amanda Parr (does all the work for the grant), Captain Dennis Deal, and Firefighters Thomas Eidson and Hunter Miller. With no objections, the Mayor announced they would take a brief recess for photos. ACTION ITEMS GEORGIA INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING (GICH) APPLICATION Mayor Owens commented as a PlanFirst Community they get extra points for applying for this designation. They will have a team for community participation and also have an opportunity over the next couple of years to nail down a housing plan and strategy for Camilla. Housing is aging and they need to do everything they possibly can to improve that. With housing comes employment and if they get another major industry tomorrow, where would the workers live and the issue they are dealing with. A lot of people work in Camilla but take their pay checks back home where they are living. Completing the GICH application and potentially getting selected will be huge for Camilla. He is asking for a motion to allow staff to pursue the GICH application and what is needed to facilitate it. A motion was made by Councilman Morgan and seconded by Councilman Burley to authorize staff to pursue the GICH application. After an explanation oft the benefits of program designation and Council questions/comments; the motion passed by a 6-0 vote. EMPLOYEE RETENTION BONUS DISTRIBUTION Mayor Owens stated there is roughly over $100,000 for this particular part of ARPA available for employee retention and has asked Council to consider how they would distribute to employees. It appears quarterly is the best way to distribute and he wants to do a little extra for fire and police officers. Everyone does an awesome job for the city but it is a different kind of concept when the red or blue lights are turned on. They do not know what is on the end of those calls and he thinks everyone can appreciate the special nature of police officers and firefighters. He recommends to provide $150 per quarter for police and fire employees and $100 per quarter for the rest of employees. It would equate to $9,000 per quarter and with a few vacancies, and if all the vacancies were filled, would be approximately an additional $1,200 per quarter. He asks for Council consideration to approve the quarterly distribution not to exceed $13,000 per quarter. Ifthere is an issue they can give the authority to the city manager to adjust. A motion was made by Councilman Morgan and seconded by Councilman Burley to authorize the city manager to Page 2 of3 EMPLOYEE RETENTION BONUS DISTRIBUTION (cont.) distribute quarterly to all city employees $150 for firefighters and police officers and $100 for remaining employees not to exceed $13,000 up to and until the allocated ARPA funds are exhausted. The motion passed by a 6-0 vote. SAFETY COMMITTEE POLICY UPDATES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE RECONSTITUTION Interim City Manager Ford provided information on the City's safety committee and the desire to reconstitute the committee along with updates to the safety policy. Fire Chief Jamie Sullivan will chair the committee. A motion was made by Councilmember Vereen and seconded by Councilman Morgan to reconstitute the safety committee and incorporate amendments as presented in the City of Camilla Personnel Handbook - Section XXXI = SAFETY POLICY. The motion passed by a 6-0 vote. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Interim City Manager Ford reported on the 2024 CDBG projected project timelines and Assistant City Manager White reported on cemetery road project - Phase 2. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Owens commented a lot happening in our country and state right now. He is glad to see faces in the gallery filling up the seats. It is imperative, whether they agree or disagree, to hear citizen voices for anything happening around the dais. He wants everyone to stay engaged and know who their councilmembers are and reach out to them. They will be glad to help and are there for the citizens. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. on motion by Councilman Morgan. BY: ATTEST: CMu Sf KELVIN M. OWENS, MAYOR CHERYL FORD, ELERK Page 3 of3 CITY OF CAMILLA, GEORGIA 2 SIGN-IN SHEET DATE: WWARCH 10 20a5 TIME: A.M. PM. MEETING: COUNCIL WORK SESSION OTHER: SPEAKER NAME ADDRESS NO YES TOPIC OF DISCUSSION 1 Chykrles Strpli 360 6-Wer, GansH. 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