---
date: 2011-05-09
title: May 9, 2011 Minutes
source: 2011-05/2011-05-09_May 9, 2011_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

May 9, 2011

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
SUMMARY OF MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING

May 9, 2011 6:00 P. M.

A Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held on May 9, 2011 at 6:00 P. M. Mayor Lee Stuart presided
and Council members present were Mark Alarcon, Harold Cochran, Shirley Dabney, and Kathy Gilbert.
Fred Evans arrived after the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion to Convene made by Councilman Cochran, seconded by Councilwoman Gilbert. Passed
Unanimously 4-0.

Motion to approve the Minutes of Council Meeting April 11, 2011 made by Councilwoman Gilbert.
Seconded by Councilman Cochran. Approved 4-0.

Motion to approve the Minutes of the April 18, 2011 Special Council Meeting made by Councilwoman
Gilbert. Seconded by Councilwoman Dabney.
The invocation was by Councilman Mark Alarcon.

Pledge of Allegiance

There was no Old Business.

NEW BUSINESS

CONSENT AGENDA
Resolution - to authorize the City of Stockbridge to provide $5,000.00 in funding to furnish an emergency
support function room for Henry County Emergency Management Agency – Henry County Emergency
Communications

Councilwoman Gilbert made the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Seconded by Councilwoman
Dabney. Passed unanimously 5-0.

Kay Pippin expressed her admiration of the City Hall Facilities. She then addressed the Council and
stated how every year, the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau tries to go around and meet
with the partners in the County Government and the cities that participate and give them an update.
During the mid to late 90’s this communities’ leadership decided to levy a Hotel/Motel Tax as another
source of revenue for the community. State Law dictates that you can levy up to 12%. Local legislation is
required for an increase. For Henry County, this means that for every dollar spent in Henry they are
charged an additional sales tax called the hotel tax. Henry County levies 5%. State Law also dictates that
you must spend two pennies of whatever you levy with a non-profit organization established for the
distinct purpose for the promotion of tourism. The rest of the money, if it’s a nickel that you are levying,
the other 3% you can put into your General Fund, and use as you like. But the 2% has to be dedicated to
trying to encourage people to come back to this community and to spend money in our community and to
spend the night in our community. There are contracts between the Chamber of Commerce and each of
the cities in Henry County dating back to the late 90’s simply stating that this is what is going to happen.
The two pennies will be turned over to the Chamber of Commerce, who will turn it over to the Henry
County Convention and Visitors Bureau for the promotion of tourism. It is a completely separate backing
account, with monthly reporting and subjected an audit at the end of every year by an out of town auditor
specializing in non-profit organizations. Mayor Stuart sits on the Board of Directors at the Chamber of
Commerce as a voting member, and he receives a monthly detailed report on the CVB (Conventions and
Visitors Bureau) and its expenditures. In addition, each participating City and the County has a voting
member on the CVB Board and the current representative for the City of Stockbridge is Miranda Roberts.
Kay Pippin went on to say that in the nine years that she has been on board, there has never been a
question raised as to how those funds are spent, and has always met every state audit requirement, and
she’s very proud of that. The CVB realizes that this is tax money and holds it to a higher standard. She
then introduced Laura Luker, a representative from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ms. Luker made
a correction by stating that the 3% out of the 5% that Kay mentioned earlier actually can only be used for
tourism related infrastructure. Examples would be directional signs for parks, or infrastructure of parks.
And that is does have to related to tourism. She went on to define tourism as not just people who travel,
but also the industry that builds up around the people who travel. It includes restaurants, hotels,
transportation; and anything that makes the travel industry possible. It’s not just family vacations. It’s also
sports teams that come in to play tournaments, weddings, and people that get off on the interstate and
they get off to buy gas or they have a meal. That all contributes to the local tourism dollars. For Henry
County, in 2009, these are the most recent statistics. From a study prepared for the Georgia Department
of Economic Development by the U.S. Travel Association, $176 million dollars were spent in Henry
County in 2009. More than 2,000 jobs were created. $41 million dollars in resident wages were
generated. And approximately $5.5 million dollars in local tax revenue. And approximately $7 million in
state tax revenue. This breaks down to approximately half a million dollars spent in Henry County every
day. Henry County has a prime location being midway between Atlanta and Macon and on I-75 one of the
busiest corridors in the world. Having those tourism dollars keeps the taxes down for the local citizens in
order to get the same services and meet budget criteria. The goal of the CVB overall is to promote
tourism and attractions in Henry County, and, also to encourage the development of new attractions to
keep people coming back again and again. Tourism is economic development and it generates a lot of
money for the community. The CVB wants to promote that economic development through tourism. The
CVB wants to serve as the official contact point for any type of tourism related travel such as meetings,
group travelers, etc. Recent research about Henry County responses were that Henry County was new,
clean, safe, comfortable, growing and a nice balance of rural and urban. Thus the tagline, Comfortably
South of Atlanta, and it has been very effective. The CVB has implemented a new
website: www.visithenrycountygeorgia.com. Included on the website are tabs for sports events, wedding,
family reunion, shopping, dining, a calendar of events, and much more. The Visitor Guides are circulated
around the County. Henry County also been declared “Camera Ready”. This is a designation from the
state meaning communities have done their homework and are ready for film companies to come in.
Mayor Stuart encouraged the citizens to get involved with the Chamber and Commerce events and ribbon
cuttings.

Wendell Strickland from ShawHankins presented a new benefits plan for the City. He stated that in 2010
the City received an increase of 26% in premiums. In 2009 somewhere north of 20% and in 2008 in the
teens. With the reduction of tax revenues and increased healthcare costs, this was to find a way to stop
that trend. The goals that ShawHankins had in mind when they came to the City were to reduce the
existing healthcare cost, and to fix the dynamic of rising healthcare cost. Two factors: One is a split
deductible plan that you can get through savings, and use some of those savings to drive a wellness plan
that will reduce healthcare cost long term. Also, to look at the gaps in some of the plans such as Short
Term Disability. The plan that is presented tonight matches the doctors in the current plan north of 99.6%.
Overall usage of prescriptions is also above 99%. The plan that is being offered is going from a 90% co-
insurance plan to a 100% plan. The co-pays in a couple areas are a little higher. The Coventry plan would
save the City $205,000 +. The dental is fine where it was. He went on to state that he was not with a
particular insurance carrier. ShawHankins is a consultant; one of the top two consultants in the state of
Georgia. They shopped ever carrier, and are unbiased. There don’t have a preference, and want the
metrics to meet the needs of the City. The medical proposal is a very close match with a $205, 000
savings, and the dental will remain where it is, and vision will be picked up at 100% by the City with the
savings, which is a new benefit to the employees. Basic life policy remains the same, but at half of the
cost to the City. The Short-Term Disability was a $150 weekly benefit to the employees and that will
increase for up to a $1000 weekly benefit. Taking the deductible to where your carrier wants your
deductible to be so that there would be savings generated. There will also be a wellness program. This
will give us the ability to meet with your employees and to help to learn to live healthier lifestyles, and turn
that into about a 20% reduction in your utilization year over year. The deductible increase and the
wellness program would save the City around 25 – 30%. The City will be asked to put into the split
deductible account called an HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) a little bit more of the savings to take
care of any of the ancillary cost where the healthcare cost may be too aggressive for the employees.
Included in this area may be a reimbursement of prescriptions and other areas to keep that on par. There
is the ability to level that out. Councilwoman Gilbert asked if there is a higher cost for the prescription
drug, that ShawHankins would be supplementing that cost from the savings plan (HRA). Mr. Strickland
responded that – you can. He went on to say, that the City needs to try to get ahead, otherwise, you will
be looking at another 26% increase next year, and guarantee increased cost. An HRA account can be
spent on any qualified medical expense. Phase II would be to get the basic plan in place and look at this
plan design and take particular elements that have some significant impact on some employees and
globally decide that the extra money that has been set aside can be used to offset these costs. It must be
globally, and cannot be for a specific person or a specific drug. It would have to be for example Tier 3
prescription drugs or something like that. Councilwoman Gilbert asked about the memo requesting the
EOB (Explanation of Benefits) for each employee. Will the employee be out of pocket? Mr. Strickland
responded that, you want every claim to process through the insurance carrier so that we understand that
it is a valid claim, and that all of the discounts of the network are applied, because doctors have a
tendency to charge more that is allowed, sometimes. The only mechanism to do checks and balances is
the EOB. There are two options. The doctor can reimbursed directly; or the employee can be reimbursed,
which is the more common practice. Councilwoman Gilbert stated that the process requires the employee
to be responsible and more engaged and submitting the EOB. The employee would need to submit their
EOB via fax or scan it; ShawHankins will process and issue a check. By all estimates, roughly 7% of your
population will be submitting EOB’s. Employees call the ShawHankins Service Center, and everything is
taken care of through them, freeing up time for your Human Resources Department.
ShawHankins would come in and do an educational meeting. Mr. Strickland stated that because of
HIPPA regulations, as an employer, you want an outside third party person handling those issues.
Employees would have the ability to track their information online or via telephone by contacting
ShawHankins. Another plus is that the Coventry plan has an unlimited lifetime benefit; whereas your
current plan has a $2 million dollar lifetime benefit. Mayor Stuart asked for a poll of the employees as far
as where they stood in regards to the change in benefits plan. Ray Gibson, City Administrator reported
that of those that responded 45 were in favor, 9 opposed and 12 undecided. Councilman Evans asked is
this item was advertised to give the local families an opportunity to bid. Councilman Alarcon stated that
the bidding process took place in September 2010 and initially the item was going to come back before
Council in June 2011. However, he brought the item back for reconsideration. Mr. Strickland stated that
he is not under contract. If the City is not happy with their services, they can be relieved. Councilwoman
Dabney asked Attorney Welch if there was anything that the Council may have overlooked. Attorney
Welch stated that Mr. Strickland had covered everything thoroughly. Attorney Welch wanted to clarify that
this was a comprehensive strategy. Mr. Strickland confirmed that it is. Councilman Alarcon made a motion
to adopt the proposal submitted by ShawHankins. Councilwoman Gilbert if Councilman Alarcon’s motion
is to adopt the plan is its entirety. Councilman Alarcon confirmed that to be his motion. Councilwoman
Gilbert seconded the motion. Motion Failed. Opposed by Councilman: Cochran, Dabney and Evans.

Ray Gibson, City Administrator made a request to table the Proposal of Services regarding Reeves Creek
Trail – Phase II for Jack Burnside. Motion to table made by Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by
Councilwoman Dabney. Passed 4-1. Opposed by Council Alarcon.

Wynonia Williams, Occupational Tax Clerk informed the Council of a notice received from GMA (Georgia
Municipal Association) that recommends that the City’s Ordinance be revised in regards to license fees
for insurance companies based on 2010 Census results – from $50 to $100. Attorney Welch advised the
Council that this is a common practice for the GMA to make these types of recommendations when
changes occur. However, Attorney Welch noted that while the census data is in, those numbers have not
been finalized and certified. As in the past, GMA sends out recommendations to cities make the updates
to their ordinances so that when the new numbers apply, all new ordinances will be in place. The
Ordinance that GMA has provided does not call for specifications of when that census data becomes
official. Under the State Code, July 1, 2012, is the official begin date. What GMA has done in the past is
make the effective date January 1 because you take in those premiums and calculate those premiums
based on the year beginning January 1. The GMA Ordinance provides that it will be payable on the first
day of 2012 or first day of January. Motion to approve the ordinance as stated by Attorney Welch made
by Councilwoman Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman Cochran. Passed unanimously. 5-0.

The following ordinances were presented as 2011 budget amendments 1st Quarter Budget Amendments

1. Ordinance – To amend the 2011 operating budget of the City of Stockbridge regarding
personnel. Motion to approve made by Councilman Evans. Seconded by Councilwoman
Gilbert. Passed unanimously 5-0.

2. Ordinance – To amend the 2011 operating budget of the City of Stockbridge regarding
pedestrian tunnel project. Motion to approve made by Gilbert. Seconded by Councilman
Alarcon. Passed 4-1. Opposed Councilman Evans.

3. Ordinance – To amend the 2011 operating budget of the City of Stockbridge regarding
purchase of Boom Mower. Motion to approve made by Councilman Evans. Seconded by
Councilman Cochran. Passed unanimously 5-0.

4. Ordinance – To amend the 2011 operating budget of the City of Stockbridge regarding
increase in an economic stimulus loan. Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Gilbert.
Seconded by Councilman Evans. Passed unanimously 5-0. Ray Gibson noted that this is not
in relationship to the $86,000 from Stevenson Palmer.

Councilwoman Gilbert excluded herself from the discussion and the vote that pertained to the Ordinance
to annex approximately .72 acres located at Eagles Landing Pkwy. Councilman Alarcon stated that he
could not support the annexation without the documentation from the adjacent property owners
supporting the item. Passed 3-1. Opposed by Mark Alarcon. Councilwoman Gilbert did not vote on this
item due to her association with the Eagles Landing Homeowners Association.

The Council authorized the purchase a Boom Mower for City use – Not to exceed $89,980.00.
Councilwoman Gilbert made a motion to approve the purchase. Seconded by Councilman Evans. Passed
5-0.

Joshua George – 195 Silver Water Court, Suwannee, GA 30024 made the request for a Pawn Shop
business license located at 5470 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA. Councilman Cochran asked if this
business was a Title Lending or Pawn Shop. Mr. George advised that this would be title lending for autos
with no inventory. Councilman Alarcon asked Attorney Welch if the census date applies to this item.
Attorney Welch advised the Council that the new census numbers become official on July 1, 2012. Based
on that information, Councilman Alarcon made a motion to table the item based on the current census
information, and the new census data being finalized and certified. Seconded by Councilman Evans.
Councilwoman Gilbert stated that she was not aware at the last Work Session that this was a Title Pawn
business, and asked if there was an ordinance governing Title Pawns. Ray Gibson stated that Title
Broker falls within the Pawn Shop definition within the City’s code. Attorney Welch stated that he would
check the information and have it clearly stated at the next work session. Council Alarcon asked that the
information also include Check Pawn. Ray Gibson also asked about the recently approved business for a
Pawn Shop; it may need to be revoked. Passed 5-0. Wynonia Williams stated that the license has not
been issued yet for the pawn shop.

Houston E. Nelson, III - Newly elected Board of Directors for the Northbridge Crossing Community
Homeowners Association, Inc. addressed the Council and introduced himself and noted that the HOA
and his community would be very involved. Mr. Nelson commended Ray Gibson, City Administrator and
Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk

Councilwoman Gilbert made a motion to strike Item 12 from the Agenda as the applicant failed to appear.
Seconded by Councilman Evans. Passed unanimously. 5-0.

Wendell Moore spoke on behalf of the Misty Ridge Subdivision and stated that motorists are speeding
through the area. He is asking that speed humps or stop signs be placed in the subdivision. In addition,
along the walking trail, there needs to be a barrier to keep people from having access to individual’s
backyards.

Mike Moon made a presentation to the City for Memorial Day. The plaque reads as follows:
We gave all in Vietnam – Nathaniel Kelley 1968; Thomas H. Morris 1968; Wayne J. Stokes 1967; Ernest
L. Wesley 1968. Stockbridge, Georgia.

Councilman Alarcon reminded everyone of the first annual Memorial Day March to be held on Monday,
May 30, 2011 at 8am.

Gordon Gilbert is married to Councilwoman Gilbert. He spoke regarding the Special Called Meeting of
April 18, 2011. It is his opinion that rules were bent to shape the private agenda of Councilman Mark
Alarcon regarding park playground equipment. He stated that the previous administration had been
accused with bending the rules and suggests that this administration is doing the same thing.

Mayor Stuart announced the upcoming meetings for the City, and also the first Sounds of Summer on the
City Hall Lawn. Mayor Stuart commented on the 1st Annual Memorial Day March to recognize the
veterans on Monday, May 30, 2011 from the Conference Center to Memorial Park and back. More
information is on the City’s website and facebook.

Councilman Evans made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Councilwoman Dabney. Passed 5-0.

Respectfully submitted by:

Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk Lee Stuart, Mayor
