BR BROOKS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Brooks GEORGIA- MINUTES May 19, 2025 Mayor Langford gave the Invocation, led the Pledge, and then called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mayor: Daniel Langford Council Members Present: Kay Brumbelow Brian Davis Scott Israel Todd Speer Council Member Absent: Ted Britt Guests: Alan Carver, Mallett Engineering Matt Flynn, The Pond Company Phill Mallon - Fayette County Engineer Lee Hearn - Fayette County Commissioner The proposed agenda for Monday, May 19, 2025, was emailed to the Mayor and Council Members for review before tonight's meeting. Mayor Langford asked for a motion to approve the agenda; Council Member Todd Speer motioned to approve the agenda as presented, and Council Member Kay Brumbelow seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The draft Council Meeting Minutes for Monday, April 21, 2025, were emailed to the Mayor and Council Members for review before tonight's meeting. Mayor Langford asked for a motion to approve the Council Minutes; Council Member Brian Davis motioned to approve the April 21, 2025, minutes, as presented; Council Member Scott Israel seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. New Business: Recognition M. Ungaro recognized Lorey Spohr for completing the required courses to become the town's first certified municipal clerk. First Reading - FY2026 Budget L. Spohr reviewed the proposed FY2026 Budget. L. Spohr read the importance of municipal incorporation and the local government requirements that qualify the Town of Brooks as a local government. The proposed balanced budget for FY2026 General Fund is $622,719, and the Enterprise Fund is $43,000. The proposed FY2026 Revenue is $472,719, and the proposed 2023 SPLOST revenue is $150,000. The proposed "tax" revenue is $391,169, 49% of which comes from LOST, 16% from Property Taxes, and the remaining from insurance premium tax, franchise pg. 1 fee tax, and TVAT taxes. The proposed expenses are $472,719, with administration being 57% of the budget, LMIG, Cemetery, Library, Parks/Recs, Public Works/Goyemment Building, Capital Projects, and Stormwater transfer make up the remaining 43% of the budget. L. Spohr reported that the millage rate will remain at 1.129 mills because the LOST proposed revenue will increase from $170k to $190k. Overall, the proposed balanced budget reflects a 5.8% increase from last year, which includes the 19.3% increase for property and liability insurance. L. Spohr asked the mayor and council to consider a 2% COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) for the town employees. Council Member Brian Davis inquired about the current inflation rate. L. Spohr responded 2.93%, at which point Council Member Brian Davis suggested including a 2.93% COLA increase for consideration in next month's presentation. The COLA will be funded using Fund Balance. No action will be taken this month, and the proposed FY2026 balanced budget, with the COLA increase, will be presented, reviewed, and proposed for adoption at the June 16, 2025, Council Meeting. Public Hearing for the FY2026 Budget Mayor Langford opened thel Public Hearing at 6:44 p.m. and asked: ifthere were any questions from the council or the audience. After hearing no comments, Mayor Langford closed the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. Pond & Company Presentation on Safe Streets and Roads for All = Safety Action Plan Mike Flynn, a representative from Pond & Company, reviewed the presentation, which they are seeking Fayette County to adopt at its June 12, 2025, meeting. If passed, grants for road improvements within Brooks will be available, requiring a 20% match of funds for project(s) within the town limits, which could range from $100k to $400k depending upon the project. The presentation focused on the town's roads of concern, specifically Morgan Mill and the 85 Connectori intersection. Over five years, there have been 137 crashes, zero fatalities, and one serious injury, with 60% of them occurring in the dark and 40% in daylight within the Town of Brooks. There have been fifteen crashes at Morgan Mill and 85 Connector, and three at 85 Connector and Brooks Woolsey in the past five years. The countermeasures include installing rumble strips, larger stop signs, and flashing beacons, and converting the intersection to a roundabout with updated geometry, signage, and markings to help slow approaching vehicles and improve safety. Upon hearing the proposed idea of a roundabout at thel Morgan Mill and 85 Connector intersection, a lengthy discussion occurred between the audience and M. Flynn, voicing their preference not to have a roundabout but instead put in a four-way all-stop, as it would not require obtaining land from any owners on the corners oft the intersection. pg. 2 M. Flynn stated that it would be best to keep the roundabout option in the grant application instead of limiting the application to lower-cost short-term projects. SPLOST 2023 Sidewalk Project M. Ungaro reviewed the proposed sidewalk project presentation, which would provide sidewalks on 85 Connector near Railroad and 85 Connector to Price Rd, continuing Price Rd to the cemetery. The project also includes creating nine white parking stalls along the curb on the 85 Connector and necessary gutter repairs. The project costs $145,542.90, and it would be paid for using SPLOST dollars. The sidewalks would provide safe pedestrian walking, and the parking spaces would assist in slowing traffic down on the 85 Connector, providing additional parking for the local shops and during town events. As suggested in previous discussions, this would eliminate the need to buy land to create another parking lot. Two residents voiced their opinions and concerns that the parking stalls could prevent the full use of their driveways, interfere with their mailboxes, and be unsafe for those exiting their parked cars while cars are speeding by them on the 85 Connector. Council Member Scott Israel stated he would like more time to review thej project and feels it would be best to table it until next month for additional research. Mayor Langford asked for a motion regarding tabling the 2023 Sidewalk Project until next month. Council Member Scott Israel made a motion to table the discussion and decision until June's Council meeting. Council Member K. Brumbelow seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Resolution 2025-005 - Approval of Application for Funding of Safety Action Plan (SAP) Projects in the Town of Brooks. M. Ungaro explained the resolution's purpose, enabling the town to participate in the Safe Streets 4. All funding process. The town would be: required to pay a 20% match and expects to utilize either 2017 or 2023 SPLOST funds for the required match. It also states it would be in the best interest of the citizens of Fayette County that the planning, design, acquisition, construction, installation, and carrying out of the Projects move forward without delay. The projects included in the resolution are improvements to the Hwy 85 Connector and Morgan Mill intersection, and the installation of a sidewalk from Liberty Tech Charter School to Woods Rd. Mayor Langford asked for a motion regarding Resolution 2025-005. Council Member Scott Israel motioned to approve Resolution 2025-005 as presented, and Council Member Kay Brumbelow seconded the motion. The vote was three yeas and one nay. pg. 3 Committee Reports: Mayor's Report: Mayor Langford reported receiving two complaints regarding the recent repaving work on Carrington Road. He was going to speak with Commissioner Lee Hearn and ask his opinion on the quality of the work performed, but unfortunately, Commissioner Lee Hearn had to leave the meeting earlier. M. Ungaro said he would investigate the project and report back with his findings; until then, payment for the project is on hold. Other paving projects included Brookside, Brooklet Way, and Brooks Rd. The type of paving done was micro paving, which extends the road's life by eight years at a fraction of the cost. Mayor Langford shared that he received an old Brooks District School desk from Sheila Fletcher, which belonged to Betty Stone Fletcher, and thought it would be nice to have it in Town Hall. Planning and Zoning: M. Ungaro reported that there was no update for this evening. Recreation: Chris Moody shared that Football and Cheerleading registrations are open. Library: K. Bradley reported that the library is quiet but anticipates becoming busier once school is out. The Brooks Library Book Bingo contest begins on June 3rd and concludes on July 25-h, prizes will be awarded. With section three now open, five cemetery lots have been sold, and the first burial in the new section was this past Saturday. Town Clerk Report: L. Spohr reported that two new trash customers will begin in May and has been busy working on the photo section of the second edition ofthe History of Brooks and the 115th Brooks celebration event. The town has received 310 recipes for its cookbook, but still needs recipes from council members. Finance Officer's Report: The financials for the General Fund and Enterprise accounts were reviewed. April' s LOST revenue was down 2.10% compared to last April, but up for YTDI by 3.83%.. March 2025's SPLOST revenue was down 2.17% compared to March 2024, and the year-to-date (YTD) 2023 SPLOST is up 2.84%. pg. 4 Town Manager Report: Transportation: The McIntosh Rd/Hwy 85 Connector intersection improvement project had significant rain delays, but the sidewalk on the Post Office side oft the road is complete. The crew is currently working on the raised median. Last week, another wreck occurred at the intersection ofHwy 85 Connector and Morgan Mill. Liberty Tech: With the school's renovation work underway, the contractor needed space for materials. This prompted a request to temporarily park their activity bus in the Brooks Bears parking area. Permission was granted to park it at the end of the parking lot, near the practice field. The bus should be moved back onto the school lot in about ten days. Brooks Market: Saturday's S market was successful despite being quite wet. A new vendor offering wood-fired pizza was sO busy that he stayed until 1:45 p.m. and sold fifty pizzas. Brooks Memorial Gardens: The updated plat of the cemetery expansion has been delivered, and we have commenced selling burial plots. Any Other Business: None Adjourn: Mayor Langford requested a motion to adjourn with no further business to discuss. Council Member Scott Israel motioned to adjourn, and Council Member Todd Speer seconded it. The vote was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lorey Spohr Town Clerk pg. 5