---
date: 1993-03-08
title: March 8, 1993 Minutes
source: 1993-03/1993-03-08_March 8, 1993_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

March 8, 1993

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA MARCH 8, 1993

The regular meeting of the City Council was held March 8, 1993 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Kelley presiding and
members present were Harold Cochran, G. W. Evans, W. A. Gardner, F. J. Hunter and Ronnie Simmons.

Motion to convene was made by Harold Cochran, seconded by G. W. Evans and passed unanimously.

Motion was made by W. A. Gardner to approve the minutes of the February 1, 1993 Council Meeting,
seconded by G. W. Evans and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley welcomed guests attending the first Council Meeting in the new City Hall. Mayor Kelley
introduced Derry Stockbridge, the great, great, great grandson of Levi Stockbridge, the founder of
Stockbridge, Georgia. Ted Strickland read the information he recently acquired on the life of Levi
Stockbridge, which is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.

Jim Risher presented plans for Phase I of Stockbridge Manor. Irvin Meisler, IRCA Builders was present to
answer questions regarding his development. Phase II will have 120 units of apartments. This will give a
total of 240 units when Phase II is complete. If the present sewerage lift station capacity will not handle the
sewerage for the additional 120 units, it was pointed out to Mr. Meisler that he must increase capacity to a
7.5 horsepower pump or whatever size pump is necessary to pump 125 gallons of sewerage per minute. A.
J. Welch, City Attorney, informed Mr. Meisler that the original developer of this property, Jack Hamilton,
Capital Investment, Inc., agreed to pave Speer Road when this property is developed. Mr. Meisler would be
required to pave Speer Road from North Henry Boulevard to his entrance on Speer Road. A. J. Welch
suggested Mr. Meisler go back and discuss this matter with Mr. Hamilton. Presently, the right-of-way is forty
(40) feet and should be increased to eighty (80) feet. If the Mays family will not donate right-of-way for this
project, Mr. Meisler will have to donate the additional forty (40) feet of right-of-way from his side of the road.
A. J. Welch suggested calling a meeting to include himself, Ted Strickland, Jim Risher, Irvin Meisler and Jack
Hamilton. The Council will not hold up construction of this project but a solution to paving Speer Road will
have to be reached. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to approve construction subject to an approved
plan to pave Speer Road from North Henry Boulevard to just past the entrance to Stockbridge Manor on
Speer Road, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

Greg Coombs, representing Elsie S. Askew, Askew Mobile Home Park, presented preliminary plans to
develop and extend the existing Mobile Home Park. The completed project will have a total of 81 units. It
was brought out that five (5) acres to the rear of the property will need to be rezoned from agricultural to
mobile home park. Mayor Kelley said this portion of the plans will not be discussed at this meeting. Mrs.
Askew will have to go back to Community Development to have this property rezoned and then brought
before the Stockbridge City Council for final disposition. This project will be completed in four (4) phases.
By doing the job in phases, the first phase will be completed in order to move the existing mobile homes to
the first phase and the other three phases will then be completed. It was noted by Greg Coombs that by
grading the front section of this property and pushing the dirt to the rear, to follow the normal flow line on the
property, no sewerage lift station will be necessary. Mrs. Askew plans to go on City water and sewerage.
The water and sewerage facilities will be installed to City and County specifications, including fire hydrants
and cut-off valves. The front section of this property is already zoned for mobile homes. Jane and James
Rutledge were present representing Mrs. Askew and answered questions regarding the development of this
project. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to approve development of the front portion of property, which
is already zoned Mobile Home Park, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

MINUTES
3/8/1993
PAGE 2

The Stockbridge High School scholarship committee has requested the City award a $1,500 Stockbridge
Business Scholarship to a deserving business student of the 1993 graduating class. Motion was made by
Ronnie Simmons to approve $1,500 scholarship, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley informed Council that Harold Reece has requested, in writing, permission to use City property
on Railroad Street for a baseball practice field. Mayor Kelley explained that he has been discussing the
development of this property with Jim Joyner, County Commissioner. It must be understood that if this
development occurs before the season ends, the ball team would have to relocate. John O'Kelly, Stockbridge
Athletic Association, was present to discuss the shortage of playing fields. With the growing population,
Stockbridge is already experiencing a waiting list for children to be placed on a team. Mr. O'Kelly said the
Association would be willing to work with the City and County in the development of additional fields on
Railroad Street. He also stated that if the County develops these fields, they will control and schedule games.
The Stockbridge Athletic Association would still be in need of fields. Council instructed Ted Strickland to get
with Harold Reece to work out the details regarding the Railroad Street practice field.

Emily Williams also requested permission to use the practice field on City property location on Davis Road.
Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to approve, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

John O'Kelly, Stockbridge Athletic Association, informed Council that the Association's insurance covers
each of the players while on the playing field, thereby releasing the City from liability. He also explained their
current budget problems were created as a result of new laws prohibiting raffle tickets being sold. He asked
Council for monetary support. Mayor Kelley advised that we cannot appropriate funds to help with their
budget deficit. Mr. O'Kelly asked if the City could cut grass around each playing field and along the East
Atlanta right-of-way? Mayor Kelley advised that he would recommend a motion to cut around the fields and
East Atlanta right-of-way but not the playing fields. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to approve,
seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously. Mr. O'Kelly was instructed to work with Ted Strickland.

Ginger Groce, Ginger's Amusement Company, wrote Council complaining about the penalty the City imposes
on past due business licenses. Mayor Kelley recommended to the Council that the penalty of $5.00 per day
not be changed, otherwise, businesses would be late paying their license fees. Motion was made by F. J.
Hunter to continue the $5.00 per day penalty for past due business licenses, seconded by W. A. Gardner
and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley noted that employees retiring from the City lose their group life insurance. Their group life
insurance may be converted to a Whole Life policy based on age at the time of retirement. For most retirees,
the Whole Life premium is too expensive and they cancel their insurance at retirement. Ronnie Simmons
will check into some type of paid-up plan for retirees. W. A. Gardner suggested the face amount of the paid-
up policy would be less than the face amount of the group insurance policy.

Ron Colvin, Colvin & Colvin Engineers and Architects, retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation
after 34 years of service. Mr. Colvin is offering his assistance to the City of Stockbridge on a consulting basis.
His services would include planning and coordination of plans, public-relations/liaison with the Georgia
Department of Transportation, Atlanta Regional Commission, the County and other cities within Henry
County. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to retain Mr. Colvin on a consulting basis, seconded by G.
W. Evans and passed unanimously.
MINUTES
3/8/1993
PAGE 3

The National Day of Prayer will be held May 6, 1993 on the steps in front of City Hall from 12:20 to 12:40
p.m. Bill Barner, Stockbridge Baptist Church, is the contact person for this program. Motion was made by
F. J. Hunter to approve, seconded by Harold Cochran and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley informed Council that the City has received notification from the Georgia Department of
Transportation that Club Drive and Club Circle will be resurfaced under the Local Assistance Road Program
(LARP) for 1993.
Ted Strickland informed Council that Stevenson and Palmer have submitted an application for a Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) to curb and resurface a low income section of the City. The grant applied
for is in the amount of $400,000. The City will have to canvas the area to have surveys completed by each
resident in this section of the City.

Ted Strickland gave an update of construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Stevenson and Palmer,
engineers, report that the project is 38% complete and moving forward with no problems.

Willie Goggins, 104 Walker Street, addressed the Council complaining that the City repaired a sewerage line
last year, 1992, and left an open ditch across his driveway. Ted Strickland told Council that every time he
schedules the paving crew to make repairs, it rains. Mr. Strickland assured Mr. Goggins that the City has
not forgotten his driveway and it will be repaired as soon as possible.

W. A. Gardner suggested the Council require anyone wishing to address the Council must call the City Clerk
and be placed on the Agenda for a specific meeting. The request to be placed on the agenda must be made
by 5:00 p.m. the Tuesday before the Council meets on the second Monday night each month. Motion as
made by W. A. Gardner, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

Wendy Heil-Tavenner with the Henry County Police Department, was present to inform the Council about the
D.A.R.E. program being conducted in the Stockbridge Middle School. It is a 17-week program and at the
end, the students are given D.A.R.E. T-shirts, etc. at a cost of $1,510.90. The City of Stockbridge contracts
with Henry County Police Department to provide police service for the City and therefore, the contract is
being extended to include this program. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to amend the contract to
appropriate funds, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

Motion was made by F. J. Hunter to adjourn, seconded by W. A. Gardner and passed unanimously. Meeting
adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders R. G. Kelley
City Clerk Mayor
