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CITY OF JONESBORO The City of Jonesboro Mayor and
Council held their monthly meeting on Monday, January 9, 2006 at 7:00pm.
The meeting was held at 170 South Main Street. Members Present: Councilman Luther Maddox Councilman Clarence Mann Councilwoman Donna Meadows Councilman Bobby Wiggins Councilwoman Linda Wenz Councilman Rick Yonce Mayor Joy Day Staff Present: Finance Officer Stacey Inglis DDA Director Kathryn Lookofsky City Manager Jon Walker Public Works Director Sam Durrance Interim Police Chief Jim Roberts
City
Attorney Winkle and Kendall Minutes Approved: Mayor
Day asked for any changes to each of the December Minutes; December 15th,
December 20th, December 21st, December 22nd,
and December 29th. There
being no changes or comments Mayor Day asked for a motion to approve these
minutes as presented. Councilwoman
Wenz motion to approve December Minutes as presented.
Councilwoman Meadows seconded. The
motion carried unanimously. Home Occupation: Juan
Souder of 213 West Mill Street requested a home occupation to operate his
courier service. He will use his
home as his office. No materials to
be stored. Councilwoman Meadows
made a motion to approve this home occupation for Mr. Souder.
Councilman Maddox seconded. The
motion carried unanimously. Rezone Request: City
Manager Jon Walker reviewed the staff report regarding the rezone request for
the following properties from R-4 Residential to RA Residential Attached
Residential District: 116 Spring Street,
173, 177, 181, 183, 185 and 187 North Main Street. The staff
report and the Historic Preservation Committee report both recommend denial of
this request as it does not comply with current zoning and development
regulations. Don Stallings, the
agent for the project development requested a 30 day extension so that he can
address the concerns outlined in the staff report.
He stated the development would have strict covenants, residents would be
55 years of age or older. He stated
he did not receive the staff report in time to make any changes.
Mayor Day confirmed with Mr. Stallings that he received a copy of the
zoning and development regulations prior to submitting this request. Public Hearing: Mayor
Day opened the floor for public comment regarding this rezone request.
Many citizens spoke of their objection to this development project citing
26 homes is too much density, concern about property values, questioned
utilities, asked how covenants are enforced and asked the council to deny this
rezoning request. Mayor Day
made a public comment stating this request is not compatible with the future
land use, she questioned the placement of egress and decel lanes.
Don Stallings was given the opportunity to respond.
He stated the cost of the units (between $130 and $150K) would not affect
the surrounding homes, there is a need for senior citizen living quarters, that
good neighbors make for good covenants and asked again for a thirty day
extension. Mayor Day asked for any
further comments, there being no comments, Mayor Day closed the public hearing
regarding this rezone request and called for a motion.
Councilman Maddox made a motion to deny this rezone request.
Councilman Yonce seconded. The
motion carried with Councilman Wiggins abstaining as this would affect members
of his family. Burn Victim Can Recycling:
Councilman Wiggins made a motion to place the Burn Victim can recycling
bin on the east side of the parking lot at the fire department.
Councilman Yonce seconded. The
motion carried unanimously. Parade Permit: Mr.
Herman Turner requested council to waive the $500 parade permit fee for the
Martin Luther King Parade set for January 16, 2006.
Councilman Mann asked who would be responsible for clean up following the
parade, Mr. Turner stated he would. Councilman
Yonce recommended the fee be reduced to $250.00.
Councilwoman Wenz agreed stating the city still incurs a cost to assist
in the parade. Councilman Maddox
made motion to waive the Parade Permit Fee of $500.00.
Councilman Mann seconded. Council
members Maddox, Mann, Meadows voting in favor with Council members Yonce,
Wiggins and Wenz opposing. The
motion carried with Mayor Day breaking the tie in favor of the motion. Ethics Committee: Mayor
Day nominated Yvette McDonald to serve on the City of Ethics Committee and
requested a motion. Councilwoman
Wenz made a motion to approve the appointment of Yvette McDonald to the Ethics
Committee. Councilwoman Meadows
seconded. The motion did not carry.
Council members Yonce, Mann, Maddox and Wiggins opposed.
Mayor Day will bring another appointee to the next meeting.
Mayor Day asked if council had an appointee.
Councilman Maddox made a motion to appoint Lillie Suder to the Ethics
Committee. Councilman Mann seconded
the motion. The motion carried with
Council members Yonce, Maddox, Wiggins and Mann in favor and Council members
Meadows and Wenz opposing. Mayor
Day welcomed Ms. Suder to the Ethics Committee. Parking Signs:
Mayor Day reviewed the parking decision made at the December 15th
meeting regarding Trifles and Treasures and asked the council for their
recommendation regarding downtown parking.
Councilman Wiggins made a motion for any retail business that locates
within the city, upon their request, be allowed two dedicated parking spaces in
front of their retail business adding this is retroactive.
Councilman Maddox seconded. The
motion carried with Councilwoman Wenz opposing. Amendment to July 2005 Minutes: Councilwoman Wenz made a motion to approve the amendment to
the July 2005 Council Minutes to reflect the adoption of the Intergovernmental
Agreement with Clayton County Water Authority and to include Councilwoman
Meadows as being present at this meeting. Councilwoman
Meadows seconded. The motion
carried unanimously. Appointment to DDA: Mayor
Day thanked Robert Hepler for his interest in working with the Downtown
Development Authority and asked if the council had any other nominees.
Councilman Wiggins made a motion to appoint Robert Hepler to the Downtown
Development Authority. Councilwoman
Wenz seconded. The motion carried
unanimously. Appointment of Mayor ProTem: Mayor Day opened the floor for nominations for the position
of Mayor ProTem. Councilman Maddox
nominated Rick Yonce, Councilwoman Wenz nominated Luther Maddox.
Councilman Maddox made a motion to close the nomination.
Councilman Mann seconded. The
motion carried unanimously. Mayor
Day asked for all in favor of Rick Yonce to raise their right hand. Mayor Day asked for all in favor of Luther Maddox to raise
their right hand. Rick Yonce was
elected Mayor ProTem with Council members Maddox, Wiggins, Mann and Meadows
voting in favor of Councilman Yonce and Councilwoman Wenz voting for Luther
Maddox. Budget Adjustment: Mayor
Day reviewed Councilman Yonce requests for Budget Adjustments.
Councilman Maddox made a motion to adjust line item Consulting Engineer
52-1250 as presented. Councilman Yonce seconded.
The motion carried with Council members Mann, Maddox, Wiggins and Yonce
in favor, Councilwoman Wenz opposing and Councilwoman Meadows abstaining. Councilman Yonce motioned to
adjust line item 58-1220 Leased Vehicle moving $5500 to contingency and leaving
$2000 for Van Rental if necessary. Councilman
Maddox seconded. The motion carried
with Council members Meadows, Maddox, Mann, Wiggins, Yonce in favor and
Councilwoman Wenz opposing. Councilman Maddox made a motion
on line item 342-39-1210 under Capital Improvements for the Parking Deck to
return the $100,000 to reserves. Councilman
Wiggins seconded. Discussion was
held regarding the return of the $400,000 of grant money and doing away with the
parking deck. The motion carried
with Council members Yonce, Wiggins, Mann and Maddox in favor and Council
members Wenz and Meadows opposing. Mayor Day asked for a motion
regarding line item 343-39-210 the Streetscape Project.
Councilwoman Meadows made a motion that we continue with the Streetscape.
Councilwoman Wenz seconded. Under
discussion Councilman Yonce reasoned this money be put back into reserve funds
because about a year ago he asked for money from the reserved to keep the fire
department and it was denied. He
was concerned that monies have not been put into reserves.
Mayor Day stated the city will be returning 1 million dollars to the ARC
and returning $800,000 of SPLOST monies if we do away with this project. The
Streetscape is for everyone in city. The motion to keep the Streetscape did not
carry as Council members Yonce, Maddox, Wiggins and Mann opposed the motion and
Council members Meadows and Wenz voting in favor of the motion. In
connection with this, Mayor Day explained for book keeping purposes we need to
delete Special Projects and General Funds; line item 38-9100 Revenue Schedule
and line item 9100-61-1000. Councilman
Maddox made a motion to delete these two items and return funds to reserves.
Councilman Mann seconded. The
motion carried with Councilwoman Wenz opposing. Executive Session: Councilman
Maddox made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.
Councilman Yonce seconded. The
motion carried unanimously. Councilman Maddox made a motion
to resume the regular meeting. Councilman
Mann seconded. The motion carried
unanimously. Regular session
resumed. OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Day appointed Council
members Luther Maddox and Clarence Mann to the Garbage Committee; Mayor Pro Tem
Rick Yonce appointed as city representative to the Clayton County Municipal
Association and Councilwoman Linda Wenz appointed city representative to the
Clayton County Water Authority. Mayor
Day stated our total fund balance as of 1/9/06 is $2,883,195.27, in 2005 we
added $344,735.00 to fund balance which is revenues over expenditures.
Many citizens voiced their concerns on various topics; the division of
Jonesboro, its citizens and council, property values decreasing, Robertson
Sanitation billing, natural growth/natural attrition of Jonesboro, the
disappointment of loosing the Streetscape and how appalling this was done to say
“Gotcha Back”. Abb Dickson as
Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority asked the council to reconsider
their decision. Councilman Maddox requested
discussion of Wallis Street construction traffic to be on the February Agenda.
There being no further business Councilman Yonce motioned to adjourn.
Councilman Maddox seconded. The
meeting was adjourned. __________________________ _________________ Mayor Joy Day Joan Jones, City Clerk |