---
date: 2006-09-11
title: September 11, 2006 Minutes
source: 2006-09/2006-09-11_September 11, 2006_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

September 11, 2006

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE MINUTES
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA SEPTEMBER 11, 2006

Regular Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held on September 11, 2006 at 6:00 PM. Mayor R. G.
Kelley presided and members present were Harold Cochran, Fred Evans, W.A.Gardner, Steve Moon and
Leila Turner.

Harold Cochran made a motion to convene; Fred Evans seconded, and passed unanimously.

Steve Moon gave the invocation.

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve minutes of August 14, 2006 Stockbridge City Council Meeting;
W. A. Gardner seconded, and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley welcomed guests.

RECYCLING UPDATE – Ted Strickland gave an update and stated that if the City develops the property on
Railroad Street for a recycling station it would require paving a heavy duty driveway off Railroad Street,
fencing the property, hiring an employee to run the station, and some type of building. S&P Company,
Marietta, Georgia has an office in Forest Park and they could furnish containers and pick-up the full containers
and separate the items. Otherwise, the City will have to get bids for glass, card board, aluminum, etc. and
the City would get paid a percentage from these vendors. It’s not going to be a money making situation and
the City will spend a lot of money to get up and running. The simplest way would be to pave the road, put up
the fence and hire someone to keep the area clean and let S&P install and pick-up containers.

Mayor Kelley stated that the City needs to do a lot more checking before we get into recycling because we
tried this once before and it didn’t work and we need to check and see why it didn’t work. With all the
expenses the City has at the present time we need to make sure this will work.
Councilman Moon stated that the young lady who made the suggestion has not attended another meeting
and she was invited to attend to keep up with the progress being made in this matter and he wonders if this
is a priority in her life. The City has a news letter that we access to the public, why not put a question in the
news letter and ask people to respond back to City Hall whether they are interested in paying for this service
or understanding the cost involved to drop stuff off versus leaving it alone. We can use the newsletter for to
find out; is this something really worthwhile doing. Mayor Kelley stated this sounds good to him.

Mark Meeks suggested that an article be put it in the newsletter that the Fire Department is collecting
aluminum cans at the end of Berry Street for recycling.

SIDEWALKS – Ted Strickland gave an update on installing sidewalks. Under the old SPLOST about three
(3) years ago there was about $7,000,000 and $3,000,000 went for infrastructure, water tank, buildings,
water, and sewer. We have SPLOST funds coming in now and we can start paving sidewalks. Inflation is
going to eat up some of these funds and he would like permission to move forward with paving sidewalks in
the old part of the City where there are none.

Mr. Strickland has met with three (3) companies: Stevenson & Palmer Engineering Company, Bill White –
Stantec Engineering Company, Kathy Stege – JTV Contracting Company, Jim Vann. He asked the council
if they want to use one (1) or all three (3) firms to pave the sidewalks. Mayor Kelley asked what sidewalks
are involved and are we talking about Tye Street. Mr. Strickland responded that Stevenson & Palmer have
already been awarded the Tye Street project.

Mr. Strickland stated that the City will have approximately $3,500,000 of SPLOST funds to develop sidewalks.
Stevenson & Palmer and Stantec would do the engineering and oversee the projects. Jim Van could be hired
as Construction Manager and get several bids to install sidewalks and he would pick the better bids and
oversee the installation.

Mayor Kelley said he recommends picking the best of the three (3) and not all three (3) just to have all three
(3) and of course the Council knows the type of work Stevenson & Palmer and Jim Vann with JTV Contracting
Company does good work with everything he does. If the prices are comparable and that’s what we need to
look at but he would certainly feel comfortable with going with JTV. Councilman Evans agreed and said by
using JTV that would eliminate a lot of expense from other people. Mayor Kelley stated that the project would
be bid out but would be bid out by JTV. Mr. Strickland stated if the Council gives the project to Jim Vann he
will bid get four (4) or five (5) bids he would pick the low bid on each part of the project. Jim Vann would be
hired as Construction Manager.

Fred Evans made a motion to award installation of sidewalks to Jim Van, JTV Contracting Company as
Construction Manager of the project; Harold Cochran seconded, and passed unanimously.
WASTEWATER TUNNEL UNDER NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY – STEVENSON & PALMER
ENGINEERS, BILL WHITE, ENGINEER – A. J. Welch stated that under the City’s previous contract, the
tunneling was an add on provision and the contractor who failed to complete the job bored into the railroad
crossing for a certain number of feet and hit some littered stumps and could not continue the bore. They
went to the other side of the railroad tracks and tried and had the same problem. When the City relieved
them of the job, the bonding company came in and we kept the balance of our contract price plus the paid
us the additional funds to be released from the bond which gave us enough funds to complete the contract
but did not include the tunnel. Bill White has gotten Griffin Brothers who will be subbing under our existing
contractor to complete the project for $170,308 and then the additional sewer line to connect on to what
Davidson
Brothers has built to this point, Davidson Brothers is the one who came in and completed the project and did
a very nice job. Bill White said that is going to cost $36,000. The City will need to build in a fifteen (15%)
percent contingency so we will have a total expenditure of $237,245 which will be an add-on to the City’s
existing contract. Griffin Brother would be operating as a sub-contractor for Davidson Brothers. The staff
recommendation is that the Council allow this be done and get this job completed.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve staff recommendation to complete this project; HaroldCochran
seconded, and passed unanimously.

BUDGET AMENDMENTS – Mayor Kelley explained that the overall budget increase is $537,488 which is a
(3%) increase due to mid-year adjustments. He reviewed these items with Nancy Brown, Finance Director,
and everything is in order. Each of the Council has these figures in their folders. Inflation in some areas and
some areas things come along that we have to do. Mayor Kelley recommended approve of the budget
amendments.

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve the 2006 budget amendments as presented; Steve Moon
seconded, and passed unanimously.

OCCUPATIONAL TAX PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE – Mayor Kelley advised that the City has never
charged an administrative fee for the City to issue an occupational tax. This is allowed by Georgia law to
cover administrative expenses to process applications. Henry County charges $35.00, Locust Grove charges
$50.00 and McDonough charges $70.00. Mayor Kelley recommended somewhere in the $50.00 to $60.00
range.

Steve Moon made a motion to set a $60.00 administrative fee; Leila Turner seconded, and passed
unanimously.
TOM PAPAGEORGE, SIZEMORE GROUP to present the first draft of the floor plans for the new City Hall.

Tom Papageorge said he was briefly going to go over where the budget stands and where we are in the
process. Last week he sat down with the authority and they recommended constructing the 28,862 square
foot building. Basically, this is Phase I consisting of City Hall and town greens combined and with it they
approved $12,855,878 and probably another $40,000 for parking lot and lighting which needs to be in the
building rather than pieced out. We can look at it both ways based on what the Council wants to do. With
the lighting it’s $12,895,878. This will be a two story building with what we have been calling in the past, a
basement. The basement will probably have windows all the way around and part of the basement level will
be underground but not the whole thing. The Agency approved the building and square footage and they are
asking that the Council consider and approve these figures.

Mayor Kelley pointed out that the Council approved these figures so the Sizemore Group can continue their
work toward getting the plans finalized.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve Phase I figures, W. A. Gardner seconded, and passed unanimously.

A. J.Welch advised the Council that at the October meeting they will be prepared to present the new loan
documents, etc. Gordon Morton has gone through getting everything priced out and getting it organized. Of
course, the budget had to be refigured because of price increases and finalizing the exact plans. Merle
Manders and Ted Strickland and lot of other people have spent a lot of time with Sizemore Group finalizing
how the office traffic flow and how the use of the building is to be set-up. We are now convinced that we are
ready to and finalize these plans. Mr. Morton will handle the financial end of it and explain that to you. What
Mr. Morton is doing is setting up the loan. There is a certain portion of it we will have to take down. We will
take that down and reinvest that money and we will use that money to pay the on going expenses as we
need the additional funds we drawn it down and start drawing interest on it at that time and we are not paying
interest on the total amount until we actually draw it. It is all put together in that fashion and if the Council
establishes the budget tonight and Mr. Morton finalizes his figures and starts finalizing the documents.

BRANDIS SPORTS CAFÉ, INC., RAYMOND REED, PRESIDENT, 3271 HIGHWAY 42 requested a license
to sell beer and wine at this location. Application, fees and background along with supporting documents
have been received and meet the requirements of the ordinance. Mayor Kelley advised the Council that the
only thing lacking is the food service permit from the Health Department and Certification of Occupancy from
the Fire Department. These items have been applied for but they are running behind so the Mayor asked
the Council to approve their license subject to the City receiving these items, staff will issue the license.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve alcohol (beer and wine) license subject to receiving the Food Permit
and the Certificate of Occupancy; Steve Moon seconded, and passed unanimously.
WAL-MART SUPERCENTER #3402, 1400 HUDSON BRIDGE ROAD, RAYMOND HOGWOOD, GENERAL
MANAGER, requested an alcohol license to sell beer and wine at this location. Application, fees and
background check along with supporting documents have been received and meet the requirements of the
ordinance.

A letter from the Department of Agriculture and a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Department have
been applied for but have not been received. Wal-Mart requested the Council approve them for the Alcohol
License subject to the City receiving these items.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve the alcohol (beer and wine) license subject to the City receiving the
letter from the Department of Agriculture and a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Department; Steve
Moon seconded, and passed unanimously.

MURPHY USA #7389, 1440 HUDSON BRIDGE ROAD is requesting an alcohol license to sell beer at this
location. Application, fees and background check along with supporting documents have been received and
meet the requirement of the ordinance.

Letters from the Department of Agriculture and a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Department have
been applied for but have not been received. Murphy USA requested the Council approve them for the
Alcohol License subject to the City receiving these items.

Steve Moon made a motion to approve the alcohol (beer and wine) license subject to the City receiving the
letter from the Department of Agriculture and a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Department; Steve
Moon seconded, and passed unanimously.

R&W BBQ, WILLIAM J. MANER, 201 EAST ATLANTA ROAD requested an alcohol license to sell beer at
this location. Mr. Maner has completed the application and all supporting documents with fees.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve alcohol license to sell beer at this location; Leila Turner seconded and
passed unanimously.
BLUE SKY GROCERY, INC., D/B/A HIGHLAND’S PLAZA SHELL, SHAKEEL LALANI, 2240 HIGHWAY
42 requested an alcohol license to sell beer at this location. Mr. Lalani has completed the application and all
supporting documents with fees.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve alcohol license to sell beer at this location; Harold Cochran seconded,
and passed unanimously.

SURPLUS PROPERTY – Ted Strickland advised the Council that the City has a good many items that are
old surplus and in need of repair. The Council has a list of these items in their folders. Mayor Kelley advised
the Council they need to approve the sell of these items when the bids are received. A. J. Welch said the
Council needs to authorize Mr. Strickland to publish the notice of sale and the Council will approve the sell
of items when bids are received.

Councilman Gardner asked if these items have already been replaced. Mr. Strickland responded that most
of the items have been replaced and these are items that have become obsolete and damaged beyond
repair. It costs a lot of money trying to keep them up.

Harold Cochran made a motion to advertise surplus property for sale; Leila Turner seconded, and passed
unanimously.

BURKE STREET DRAINAGE PROJECT – Mayor Kelley advised the Council that the drainage system has
failed at the end of Burke Street and emergency repairs are needed. The Conference Center parking lot
floods when there is heavy rain.

Ted Strickland reported that Jim Van, JTV Contracting Company, Construction Manager, had bids from five
(5) different bidders and they bid on each phase of the project. Jim Van’s cost was $4,575. Bid package
Number 2, Jim Van was low bidder with $5,296, Bid package Number 3, it also had McIntyre Grading $5,850,
Builders Unlimited $5,371, Bid package Number 3, JTV was $3,333, Paul Lee Construction Engineers were
$4,600. Jim Van was low bidder. Landscape bid package only had one bid, Highgrove, $2,506. Highgrove
already do the maintenance at the Conference Center. Bid package Number 5, storm drainage utility
relocation, JTV was $47,200, McIntyre Grading was $46,929, Builders Unlimited was $45,780, South Metro
was $47,274, Junior Suns Enterprises was $46,650 and the low bidder was Builders Unlimited, $45,780. Bid
Package JTV, $8,425, McIntyre, $10,040, Builders Unlimited, $10,640. JTV was low bidder $8,425. Total
bid was $77,276. The cost to make these repairs will come out of stormwater funds.
Mayor Kelley pointed out that this problem was created with the construction of new buildings on Burke Street
and recommended approval.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve low bids and hire Jim Van, JTV Contracting Company to repair the
drainage system on Burke Street; Steve Moon seconded, and approved unanimously.

CONSTUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT – JTV GENERAL CONTRACTOR – Ted Strickland advised
the Council that Jim Van, Construction Manager will add three (3) bays to the Stockbridge Maintenance
Building.

Cost of Construction $68,112
Design and Engineering Fees 3,500

Total Cost of Construction $71,612

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve; Fred Evans seconded, and passed unanimously.

URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY – Mayor Kelley stated that the Council needs to set fees for the Urban
Redevelopment Agency members. We have checked around with other cities and their members are paid
$50.00 and he recommends the City pay our member $50.00 per meeting. He recommended paying the
Chairman Jim Butcher $100.00 per month. This is something the Council should have taken care of months
ago and just overlooked.

Fred Evans made a motion to approve $50.00 per meeting for Urban Redevelopment Agency members and
$100.00 per month for the Chairman; Leila Turner seconded, and passed unanimously.

HUDSON BRIDGE LIGHTS – Councilman Fred Evans asked when the street light will be installed on the
new widened Hudson Bridge. A. J. Welch advised that Georgia Department of Transportation bid the project
and Georgia Power Company was the low bidder. Mayor Kelley said the City approved paying the monthly
light bill and performing the maintenance.

Councilman Evans asked about the status of installing street light on Rock Quarry Road and Eagle’s Landing
Parkway. Mr. Strickland responded that he has been in contract with Georgia Power and they are supposed
to be getting it all together. He has not heard from them recently but they have so much going on with
“Katrina” and all the other things they haven’t had time to get into these projects.

Councilman Evans said he has discussed taking down the three houses the City purchased in the Urban
Redevelopment Area and the Council needs to do what we need to do take down these houses. Two are
located on North Lee Street and have been boarded up sitting in the neighborhoods front yards since the
City purchased them. He suggested putting them out for bids or something. He suggested the Collins house
should be demolished as well because it’s just going to be in the way when construction begins on the town
center.

Ted Strickland said he has been discussing the Collins house with Henry County to see if they are interested
in moving it to Heritage Park. He will still try to get in touch with the Historical Society to get it torn down if
the County doesn’t think its worth moving.

Councilman Moon said he is in agreement that we should get the two houses on North Lee Street moved
and get the lots cleaned for the people living in that neighborhood. He asked if these houses could be moved
and Mr. Strickland responded he will check with a house moving company to see if they are worth moving.

Ted Strickland reported that an abandon red pick-up truck behind the Gramm property has been there for
some time. Mayor Kelley responded to follow the law and have it removed.

Regina Meeks advised that the Gramm house was originally the first hospital in Stockbridge. That might be
nice to move it to the Heritage Park in McDonough. If it was the first hospital in Stockbridge it was probably
the first hospital in Henry County. If someone would check into that, they might be interested because they
have already moved a lot of buildings to Heritage Park. The Gramm house looks to be in pretty good shape.

Councilman Gardner said that he’s not that old (83) but he could give some history on the hospital. Dr.
Hightower built the house and he was going to use it as a hospital but it was never used as a hospital. Mr.
Welch added that he had his doctor’s office there for a while and then when he passed on it was never used
as a hospital. Then his family divided the property and Tubby Highway ended up with the house.

Councilman Gardner asked if the streets that were patched with squiggly tar could the City spray over the
top to make them look better. Mr. Strickland said they were sprayed with tar to keep the streets from breaking
up.
Mr. Strickland said if the Council wants the streets coated give him permission and he will get back to them
with the cost. Mayor Kelley said we should take a look at the cost to coat these streets.

W. A. Gardner made a motion to adjourn; Steve Moon seconded, and passed unanimously. Meeting
adjourned at 6:40 P. M.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders, CMC R. G. Kelley
City Clerk Mayor
