---
date: 2021-07-12
title: 07-12-2021 Minutes
source: 2021-07/2021-07-12_07-12-2021_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

Stockbridge
Where Community Connects

COUNCIL M EETING
SU M MARY M INUTES

MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021 6:00 PM.
Ma or& Ci Council Administration
MayorAnthony 5. Ford Randy Kni hton, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Elton Alexander Vanessa! ollda , Clty Clerk
Councjlwoman Volanda Barber John WI ins,' Itv Treasurer
Counculman John Blount
Quinton ashmgton, City Attorney
Councjlwoman LaKeisha Gantt Jeremy T, Berry, City Attorney
Councnlman Alphonso Thomas

Mission: To rovidelyision a l eadership and s uperjormun icipal services that enhance the
quality of Ifeforcmzens [w I lecreatlng la wel coming bust ness almosph ere focused on
sustainabll Ity a nd expans ton of tourism and cultu ralevents.

The meeting was called to order
by Mayor Ford.

Invocation by Councilwoman Gantt.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited all in unison.

City Clerk, Vanessa Holiday was asked to proceed with a verbal roll call. All
members
were present for the roll call.

Mayor Pro Tem Al exander motioned to adopt the Agenda: Second
by Councilwoman
Gantt. The motion passed 5-0.

Councilwoman Barber motioned for the
Approva | of the Minutes for the following
meetings: Second by Mayor Pro Tem Al exander The motion passed 5-0.

1. 4/15/21 2. 5/10/21 3. 5/25/21

PUBLIC COMMENTS
All public comments must be submitted to the
Clerk no later than one hour prior to the
The Public Comment Form meeting,
can be found on the City's
webpage
on the Clerk's
City page at:
httgs://slockbridge.seamlessdocs.com/f/ZOdezAmo7xb and the form must include your name,
phone, and email contact information. Comments are limited to
(3) three minutes and will be read
by the Clerk during the meeting, respecting all members of the elected
body, officials, and staff.
Comments including defamation, unruliness and/or
swea ring will not be accepted.

Sunny Randazzo asked the city to address the bright Amph itheate r
of Bryant Street throughout the
lighting facing the residents
night and expressed c oncerns of co st and the environment.

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CEREMONIAL
4. Proclamation DeVry University Celebrating 90 years presented by Mayor Ford

Ms. Moore thanked the city of the recognition of the 90th anniversary and gave
an overview of the education
opportunities, and desire for partnerships throughout the
community.
5. Proclamation -

Archbishop Ruth W. Smith presented by Mayor Ford
6. Proclamation -
U. S. 12th. Amendment presented by Mayor Ford

OLD BUSINESS
7. Council Consideration to approve the TSPLOST
Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA) between the City of Stockbridge, Henry County, and
the cities of Hampton. Locust Grove and
McDonough.
Presented by Randy Knighton City Manager

Mr. Knighton noted Council has discussed the TSPLOST
(Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax) and approved a list of
projects for $30.5 million which includes a contribution for the city with a
fewjoint projects with the County and includes the Rock Quarry Rd
extension and resurfacing projects; noted the IGA
(Intergovernmental
Agreement) was approved by the County and provided to the Cities for
approval and once everything goes through, the County will call for the
referendum vote on November 2, 2021 ; noted he is
recommending
approval of the IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) with the total
amount of the TSPLOST (Transportation Special Local
Option Sales
Tax) estimated at $245-$250 million; and stated if the TSPLOST is
approved, a significant amount of funds would be utilized for
transportation projects, improvements, trails, sidewalks, etc.

Attorney Berry added the referendum is a 1% tax and the city would get
12.75% and would be allocated to the approved project list.

Mayor Pro Tern Alexander motioned to approve the TSPLOST
Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Stockbridge,
Henry County, and the cities of Hampton, Locust Grove and
McDonough: Second by Councilwoman Barber.
The motion passed 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS
8. Council Consideration to approve Task Order No. 21 with
TSW, lnc. -

City of Stockbridge Parks Master Plan in the amount of $124,060.00.
Funding Source SPLOST

Presented by Decius Aaron Public Works Director

Mr. Aaron noted staff met with Heather Hubble of TSW to look at

refreshing the parks systems by upgrading the restrooms and pavilions
at Clark, Memorial and Gardner parks and
increasing parking at
Memorial Park.

Ms. Hubble noted TSW toured the parks with Mr.
Knighton and
discovered a few functional issues with how the parks would like to be

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used but cannot be used in the current state with the parks restrooms
not being up to code; noting all three (3) parks needs to have the

existing infrastructure looked at and improve them with the hopes of not
discarding some of the existing infrastructure; and proposed to have a
survey completed for all three (3) parks to understand the physical
infrastructure, which is V2 of the proposal and the other 1/2 of the
proposal going towards design work; noted TSW will create a set of
bubble diagrams for each park that will show how the infrastructure
could be used and discard some of the existing infrastructure to
improve them along with options and cost. Ms. Hubble noted the survey
would include topography, existing trees. location of the structures and
utilities.

Councilman Thomas noted his concern is connectivity to the Martin
Luther King Sr. Heritage Trail and the Reeves Creek Trail which is
currently fragmented and lacks parking at Memorial Park; noted there
needs to be accessibility to access Memorial Park from Martin Luther
King Sr. Heritage Trail.

Mr. Bryan Bays of TSW noted two (2) of the things mentioned by
Councilman Thomas are external to the parks and noted the park
connectivity and access are not in the scope of work, but are very
valuable; however, parking is a part of the proposal for all three (3)
parks.

Councilman Thomas noted there needs to be a way to access
Memorial Park without going through the neighborhood.

Mr. Knighton noted the scope would be expanded for TSW to assess
and analyze the current and future projects the city has.

Councilman Thomas inquired how citizens would access with vehicles
Memorial Park from Rock Quarry Rd and Martin Luther King Sr.
Heritage trail.

Ms. Hubble noted there be a scope extension and would need to be
more of a survey limit.

Mayor Pro Tem Alexander noted the city has several access points to
get to the Reeves Creek Trail and supports increasing the scope of
work and mentioned including the entire city in the Parks Master Plan.

Councilman Blount inquired if the study would address the drainage
issue at Clark Park.

Ms. Hubble noted the issue has been noted and will need to be
addressed.

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Mr. Bays noted the survey would not be a detail engineering study, but
more of where the lines would be and where they could fill in due to the
area being in a flood plain and would provide a recommendation from
the study.

Mr. Knighton noted staff could look at the vehicular access and other
concerns mentioned in a more comprehensive parks master planning
assessment.

Councilwoman Gantt inquired on a funding source and budget amount.

Mr. Knighton noted funding would be determined once the assessment
is completed with an approval amount set by Council; with $1.5 million
in SPLOST IV that could be used with additional funding sources.

Councilwoman Barber inquired if it would be appropriate to approach
Georgia Power with adding an entry way or partnering up where the
easement is located on Rock Quarry Rd.

Mr. Knighton noted he believes it would be appropriate to converse
about potential use of the easement.

Councilman Thomas motioned to approve Task Order for Clark &
Gardner parks scope of work and issue a new scope of work for
Memorial Park and setting the funding aside for Memorial Park: Failed
for lack of a 2nd vote.

Councilwoman Barber motioned to task TSW to prepare a Parks
System Plan for the City with Memorial Park to be priority: Second by
Mayor Pro Tem Alexander. The motion passed 5-0.

Council Consideration to approve Reeves Creek Pedestrian Bridge
Project Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $55,845.50
Funding Source SPLOST

Presented by Decius Aaron Public Works Director

Mr. Aaron noted this is the Change Order for the project which
would replace sidewalk panels and remove trees that could potentially
damage trail even more; and noted the vendor removed trees and
replaced the cracked sidewalk panels.

Councilwoman Barber motioned to approve Reeves Creek Pedestrian
Bridge Project Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $55,845.50:
Second by Councilwoman Gantt. The motion passed

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COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Ford referenced the TSPLOST IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) between the
four cities and Henry County that he will sign tomorrow, noting Henry County is the 2nd
fasting growing county in the state and in the Top 10 in the nation and continues to get
bigger and more diverse; referenced the gridlock on many of the streets and highways
where the proposed TSPLOST will generate an estimated $245 million dollars to help
fund road and transportation projects in the County and encouraged everyone to vote
yes; noted the Delta Variant of COVlD-19 is very active and the pandemic is still with us,
and asked that everyone get tested and vaccinated; noted COVlD-19 testing
appointments are available Monday Friday from 10am 3pm and Saturday 9am noon

by calling 800-847-4262; noted you must contact the Public Health Department at 888-
457-0186 for COVID vaccination appointments Monday Friday from 8am 8pm and

Saturday & Sunday from 8am 5pm where you will be asked about your demographics,

health history, age, past infections, COVID testing, COVID vaccination status, and contact
information and asked everyone to listen to the information from the health noting
the data is true and important and expressed that everyone should get tested and
vaccinated.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting will be held via Zoom until
further notice. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please visit the website
www.cityofstockbridge.com for the meeting invitation link, Facebook page or contact City
Hall offices at 770-389-7900 for updates.

> Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 6:00 pm. Via Zoom -
3rd
Tuesday of each month (Jul 20)

> Youth Council & Advisory Meeting, 6:30 pm. Via Zoom -
3rd Tuesday of each
month (Jul 20)

> Planning Commission Meeting, at 6:30 pm. Via Zoom 4th Thursday of each
month (Jul 22)

> City Council Work Session at 6:00 pm. Via Zoom Last Tuesday of each
month unless otherwise noted (July 27).

> Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, 2nd Friday of each month 9:00 am
Via Zoom -

(Aug 13)

> City Council Meeting at 6:00 pm. Via Zoom Revised Schedule -

Monday.
(Aug 16)
CITY EVENT/INITIATIVES
Food Truck Tasty Tuesday returns to Clark Park 111 Davis Rd. Dates: July July
August 3rd, and August 10th 5pm -

8pm.

Please join Councilwoman Gantt for the Get Back to Food Truck Council
Initiative on Tuesday, July 13th from 5:30 pm. to 8:00 pm. at Clark Park.

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Please join Councilwoman Barber at the Merle Manders Conference Center for the Blood
Drive Council Initiative on Saturday, July 17th from 10 am. to 4 pm. Please donate.

Pleasejoin the Main Street Program for the mural unveiling on Friday, July 16th at 6:30

pm. at Harrell Street & North Henry Blvd.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to convene Executive Session for Real Estate, Personnel
and Litigation: Second by Councilman Blount. The motion passed 5-0.

Mayor Pro Tem Alexander motioned to end Executive Session: Second by Councilman
Thomas. The motion passed 3-0. (Barber/Gantt were not present for the vote).

Mayor Pro Tem Alexander motioned to reconvene the meeting: Second by Councilman
Thomas. The motion passed (Barber/Gantt were not present for the vote).

ADJOURN

Mayor Pro Tem Alexander motioned to adjourn: Second by Councilman Thomas. The
motion passed 4-0. (Gantt was not present for the vote). 10:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted by

Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk MM ony 8. Ford, M r

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