6:30PM Thomson-Mcduffie County Government Complex

CITY OF THOMSON REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 13, 2015

6:30PM Thomson-McDuffie County Government Complex

Present: Also Present: Kenneth Usry, Mayor Linda Green, McD Progress James Jones, Councilmember Chuck Burks Clifford Lunceford, Councilmember Mitch Sivas Alton Belton, Councilmember James Stokes John Smalley, Councilmember Forrest Crutfield Sadie Brooks, Councilmember Dot and Otis Harrison Jimmy Plunkett, City Attorney David and Patsy Hall Dianne Landers, City Clerk Bob and Marjorie Cole Mary Wells Absent: Don Powers, City Administrator

Mayor Usry welcomed all to the August 13, 2015 regular council meeting. The invocation was given by Jimmy Plunkett, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag.

MINUTES:

Councilmember Smalley moved to approve the minutes from the July 9, 2015 Regular Council meeting. Councilmember Brooks seconded the motion. Councilmember Lunceford moved to approve the minutes from the August 6, 2015 call meeting. Councilmember Smalley seconded the motion. Both minutes were approved by all.

NEW BUSINESS:

First reading of Ordinance #578, an amendment to Ordinance #480 in regards to Westview Cemetery. This amendment is an addition to cover “Memorials”. It adds that memorials “shall not exceed 42 inches in height on the width of two connecting gravesites”. Since this is the first reading, no action is requested.

Fire Training Electrical Bid:

The Thomson Fire Department has solicited bids for electrical labor and materials to install two (2) 50’ poles and associated electrical work. The bids received were:  Hammett Electric Company, Inc. $7,713.00  Augusta Industrial Electric, Inc. $6,250.00  ISI No Bid The recommendation was to accept the bid from Augusta Industrial Electric, Inc. for $6,250.00. The 2015 budget for the Fire Training Center activities is $32,384. Councilmember Brooks moved to accept the recommendation to accept the bid from Augusta Industrial Electric, Inc., followed by a second from Councilmember Smalley. All were in favor. Motion carried.

CDBG Bid Award:

Three contractors submitted bids for the 2014 CDBG project for the Forest Clary Drive area. This will include sewer replacement, paving and storm water drainage work. The engineer’s cost estimate that was used on the grant application was $645,749, which includes engineering and grant administration. The majority of the project is funded by the $500,000 CDBG award received last year. The balance of $145,749 was committed in local match. These funds are budgeted to come from SPLOST VI.  The low base bid was submitted by Beam Site Prep, verified by Civil Design, and Civil Design recommends accepting the low base bid of $492,840.00  In addition, there is an alternate (A) submittal and it includes work on the drainage ditch that runs from Salem Road to Hwy 17. The level of work required in that drainage system will depend on input from EPD and the Corp of Engineers. This input from those agencies is still outstanding. The estimate for this alternate is a maximum of $44,384.

Recommendation was to accept the Beam Site Prep bids for the entire job, including the base bid of $492,840 and the alternate (A) maximum bid of $44,384, again dependent on input for EPD and the Corps. Funding for the project will come from the CDBG grant award plus local match from SPLOST VI. Total cost to not exceed the original estimate of $645,749. Councilmember Belton moved to accept the bid from Beam Site Prep for $492,840 and the alternate submittal to include work on the drainage ditch that runs from Salem Road to Hwy 17 for $44,384. Councilmember Brooks seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Purchasing/Credit Card Policy:

The Georgia General Assembly established guidelines and penalties which provided that no municipal corporation shall issue government purchasing/credit cards to elected officials on or after January 1, 2016 until the governing authority of the municipal corporation has set requirements and standards for the use of a governments purchasing/credit cards. This Policy establishes the monetary limits, purchasing restrictions and administrator for the use of such cards. Councilmember Lunceford moved to approve the Purchasing/Credit Card Policy mandated by the State for Municipalities. Councilmember Belton seconded the motion. All were in favor. Policy was approved. Approval of 2015 Millage Rate:

The recommended millage rate for the City Budget of 2016 is 5.316 mills which is the recommended rollback rate. However, this will create an estimated $24,000 downfall in revenue. Councilmember Brooks moved to accept the recommendation for the millage rate of 5.316, followed by a second from Councilmember Jones. All were in favor. Motion carried.

DISCUSSION:

All Elected officials are asked to fill out the Public Awareness survey for the Gas Dept.

Qualifying for the November 3, 2015 election will begin on August 31, 2015 at 8:30am and will continue till September 4, 2015 at 4:30pm.

Comments from the Pine Hills Association:  Pine Lane and Jackson Street-Road is collapsing.  Local trash pickup is doing a much better job and should be complimented.  Pine tree off Wrens Hwy on Forest Clary needs to be taken down.

Demolition work is being done within the month of August. The projects include: o Drainage to the west side of Sills, over in the old Thomson Company area o Drainage ditch in Hickory Hill between Hemlock and Beechwood. o Houses on Arnall, West, First and Victory are being cleared. o Working on clearance for burned out house on Walnut.

There being no other business of the Council, meeting was adjourned at 7:05pm.

Dianne Landers City Clerk