---
date: 1988-07-11
title: July 11, 1988 Minutes
source: 1988-07/1988-07-11_July 11, 1988_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

July 11, 1988

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA JULY 11, 1988

The regular meeting of the City Council was held July 11, 1988 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Kelley presiding and
members present were Harold Cochran, John Dabney, G. W. Evans, H. M. Kersey and Ronnie Simmons.

Minutes of previous meeting were approved.

A. J. Welch, City Attorney, reviewed the new Sunshine Law as it pertains to open meetings and open records
with emphasis on public notification 24 hours prior to special meetings.

Sewer tap-on fees for commercial users were discussed. The present rate is $2,000 per unit for shopping
centers and all commercial buildings with more than one space. The only change in the commercial rate will
be if a per unit commercial user pays a tap fee of $2,000 and at a later date changes to a higher user rate,
the City will reassess according to the higher use rate fee and bill the owner accordingly. Residential users
currently pay a $500 sewer tap fee for household and multi-family per unit. A. J. Welch recommended
increasing to $1,000 for residential and multi-family per unit. This increase is needed to amortize the
expansion of a new treatment facility. Motion was made by Harold Cochran to approve the higher use rate
assessment of commercial users and increasing the sewer rate for residential and multi-family users,
seconded by Ronnie Simmons and passed unanimously.

Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to increase the cost of water meters effective July 12, 1988 to:

SIZE OF METER PER CONNECTION

¾ $500.00
1 $550.00
1½ Omit
2 $700 tap fee plus cost of meter,
materials and labor

Seconded by Harold Cochran and passed unanimously.
Mayor Kelley announced that Mr. Henry Massey donated $250.00 to be used for the rock entrance at the
Gardner Park. Council instructed City Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Mr. Massey.

Elon Mays, Katherine Knard and Ester Brannan, representing the Stockbridge Garden Club, requested the
City Council's support on two projects. One project is moving the granite City limit markers to the current
City limits on Highway 138 North and Highway 42 South. The Garden Club will get an opinion from a
contractor to determine if the markers can be moved. The cost will be paid through fund raising and donations
to the Garden Club. The seconded project will be to plant shrubs along the main streets through Stockbridge.
The Garden Club will provide the shrubs if the City will assist with the planting and watering. Motion was
made by Ronnie Simmons to support the Garden Club's projects, seconded by Harold Cochran and passed
unanimously.

Motion was made by Harold Cochran to authorize Mayor Kelley to sign a Resolution making the City eligible
to purchase merchandise through the State of Georgia Surplus program, seconded by John Dabney and
passed unanimously.

MINUTES
7/11/1988
PAGE 2

Herman Smith, AT&T Mini Warehouses, 4400 North Henry Boulevard, was present to explain why he cut
trees and graded the backside of his property that was clearly marked as a buffer area to remain undisturbed.
Mr. Smith did not give any explanation other than he needed the dirt to construct a detention pond on the
northwest corner of his property to control the surface water and silt drainage onto the property of Harold
Yearout. The City instructed Mr. Smith that he must build a retaining wall and fence on the backside between
his property and the Miller Road residents and a retaining wall on the north and west sides of the City
Cemetery. Mayor Kelley stated that he was very upset that Mr. Smith has graded the undisturbed area and
that it should be refilled and trees planted. Mr. Smith stated that his engineer designed a 750 foot section of
36 inch drain pipe along the center of his property that will drain into an 18 inch pipe that will drain along the
property line of Harold Yearout adjacent to property owned by Elizabeth D. Cooke to Mann Boulevard.
Drainage will continue north on Mann Boulevard, then west under Mann Boulevard to drain across property
owned by Richard Burrell. Charles Barnett advised Council that this drainage design is not working and is
causing damage to Mr. Burrell's property. The City recommended Mr. Smith install a larger drainage culvert
to carry the water from his site through Mr. Burrell's property to the drainage ditch behind Mr. Burrell's
property. Jim Risher, Henry County Community Development, recommended that a stop-work order be
issued until Mr. Smith corrects these problems. It was also noted by Ronnie Simmons that Mr. Smith should
go to property owners and make restitution for damages. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to authorize
Henry County Department of Community Development to issue a stop-work until Mr. Smith corrects the
problems, seconded by Harold Cochran and passed unanimously.

Jim Risher will have Wayne Smith, County Engineer, assess the drain problem and make recommendations.

The Snapper lawn mower used at the park has blown an engine and the cost to repair mower is $970.39 plus
labor for an approximate total cost of $1,400. Charles Barnett, City Manager, advised that this lawn mower
is too small to do an adequate job at the park. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to repair mower to be
used at the treatment plant, seconded by H. M. Kersey and passed unanimously.

Charles Barnett will get specifications and bids for new tractor/lawn mower for the park for the Council to
consider at the next Council meeting.

Charles Barnett informed Council that the 1972 International garbage truck has blown an engine. Motion
was made by Ronnie Simmons to authorize Charles Barnett to get specifications and bids for a new garbage
truck to replace the 1977 International truck, seconded by Harold Cochran and passed unanimously.

Eddie Buckholts, Fire Chief, reported that emergency radio system has been moved to the new location at
the Henry County Emergency headquarters in McDonough. He also reported that engine 102 has new tires
and the low gear in the transmission has been repaired.

Council instructed Charles Barnett to get cost of radio system for City vehicles.

Motion was made by Harold Cochran to adjourned, seconded by Ronnie Simmons and passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders R. G. Kelley
City Clerk Mayor
