8-21-89 council minutes
August 21, 1989
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held August 21, 1989 at Smyrna
City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 o'clock p.m. by presiding
officer Mayor A. Max Bacon. All council members were present. Also present was
City Administrator John Patterson, City Attorney Charles E. Camp, City Clerk
Melinda Dameron, Acting Police Chief Kent Sims, Fire Chief Larry Williams,
Public Works Director Vic Broyles, Personnel Director Jane Sargent,
Communications Director Steve Ciaccio, Building Inspector Scott Stokes, Parks and
Recrea tion Director Sherry Reavis, Finance Director Emory McHugh, Faye Wood
representing the Library and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Michael Carey, pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church
followed by the pledge to the flag.
John Steely presented a crystal jonquil to Jerry Hughes, retiring from the
Parks Commission after serving since 1984.
Mayor Bacon recognized Senator Hugh Ragan and thanked him for obtaining funds to pave North
Cooper Lake Road.
CITIZENS INPUT: Nothing to report.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
(A) Home occupation license - 4140 Manson Avenue
John Patterson said that Thomas McMurrian has requested a home
license to develop computer software and act as a management
Business will be conducted from his client's location with
business activity from the home. There was no opposition.
occupation
consultant.
no sign of
John Steely said Mr. McMurrian' s application indicated he would have one
employee not residing in the home, which is not allowed under our code.
However, in speaking with him earlier Mr. McMurrian has indicated that the
employee will be handling outside sales work only and will not actually be
working in the home. Mr. McMurrian said he understood that there could not be any
employees on the premises, no storage of products or equipment and no client
contact at the home.
John Steely made a motion the license be approved with the
when the business expands to the point that more employees
license be void. Jack Shinall seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
stipulation that
are needed, the
(B) Privilege license - transfer of liquor, beer and wine package license for
Sterling Package Store, 1669 Spring Road
John Patterson said that John Michael Upchurch has applied
agent for Sterling Package Store. The police investigation of
background was favorable and there was no opposition.
as
Mr.
the acting
Upchurch's
Attorney David B. Groff and James P. Wassell also represented Sterling
Package as officers of the corporation. Mr. Upchurch said he is a CPA and
this is the first time he has been involved with this type business. He is
Treasurer of the corporation and will act as a financial advisor but does not own stock in
the company. Mr. Upchurch said he had a copy of the city rules and regulations
regarding alcoholic beverages and understood them fully.
Mr. Groff said the request for change of management was submitted to the City before their
license was suspended during the sting operation. This change including the
termination of Mr. Lange was strictly a business decision. Mr. Upchurch said
while he would not work in the store, their policy from now on will be to card
everyone who comes into the store, regardless of their age appearance. They
also have placed signs inside the store stating they will not sell to anyone
unless identification is provided.
Jack Shinall reminded Mr.
provide for more stringent
Bill Scoggins made a motion
the motion, which carried 7-0.
Upchurch that our ordinance is being revised to
penalties for violations. After further discussion,
the management change be approved. Bob Davis seconded
(C) Variance sign for Exxon, Spring & Atlanta Road.
John Patterson said Exxon is requesting a variance to allow an additional
sign at their new location on Spring and Atlanta Road. The proposed sign will
August 21, 1989 meeting - continued
be 60
tabled
wish to
square feet of copy area and 20 feet in height. The variance has been
several times prior to the meeting tonight. Sue Brissey said she did not
speak but would like to go on record as being in opposition.
Elvin Aycock represented Exxon and said the sign they would like to use will be
one-half the size of the sign already on the Spring Road side. They feel they
need the sign because of the poor visibility on Atlanta Road to advertise
their prices. Mr. Aycock said this facility is a one million dollar investment
for Exxon and the business they are doing thus far does not justify the
investment. I f they cannot increase their volume they will not continue the
operation. Mr. Aycock said they have tried everything possible wi thin the
guidelines of the ordinance and felt the sign was vital to the operation.
John Steely said he could not understand why the existing sign could not be
relocated to the Atlanta Road side since they do have good visibility on
Spring Road. Jack Shinall asked if they had calculated the change in business
when the Atlanta Road construction was completed. Mr. Aycock said construction
has already slowed down and they felt that when it was completed,
traffic would speed up and make the situation worse than it already is.
Ninety percent of their business now is from the Spring Road side and if they
move that sign, they felt that portion of their business would also decline.
After further discussion Wade Lnenicka said there are good arguments on both
sides. He felt Exxon has been a good corporate citizen to the City during
their stay; it is a clean operation and the type of business we like to have in
Smyrna. Mr. Lnenicka said he was also cognizant of the precedent council would
be setting by approving this variance but felt it was a unique situation
because of the poor visibility on Atlanta Road. Wade Lnenicka made a motion the
variance be approved at this location for Exxon only; any other ownership would
automatically rescind the variance. Bill Scoggins seconded the motion which
failed 2-5, with Bob Davis, Jim Hawkins, Jack Shinall, Kathy Jordan and John
Steely opposed.
(D) Variance - portable storage buildings at Smyrna Hospital, 3949 South Cobb
Drive.
John Patterson said that Smyrna Hospital is requesting
two 14 x 48 mobile buildings to be used as temporary
some of the administrative offices will free up critical
main building necessary for patient care. There was no opposition.
a variance to allow
office space. Moving
square footage in the
Ernie Carringer represented Smyrna Hospital and said space is at a critical
stage. They will relocate the accounting, human relations, marketing and
development departments and provide additional space for patient services and
care. Mr. Carringer said the buildings will be used temporarily and they are
planning for future expansion. The buildings will be directly behind the
hospi tal and not visible from South Cobb Drive. They are constructed to
match the siding on the main building and will be tied together with walkways to
appear to be part of the main facility.
After discussion, Wade Lnenicka made a motion the variance be approved with the
stipulation that the buildings be limited to a two year duration and that the variance be
automatically rescinded within 30 days after these offices are relocated to a
permanent site. John Steely seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
(E) Variance - side yard setback at 1003 Natalie Lane
John Patterson said that Mrs. Bobbie Allison
requesting this variance to reduce the side
20.9 feet. There was no opposition.
of Bobbie Allison Construction is
yard setback from 23.33 feet to
Ken Reese represented Mrs. Allison and said he was the surveyor for this
property. Mr. Reese said there is a drop off on the side yard of this lot,
which made it difficult to lay the lot out. The error was discovered on the
final survey. Mr. Reese said he has surveyed the entire subdivision, which is
about 90% complete, and this is the first time they have required a variance.
Jack Shinall said the only problem he had was that the home was closed before the final
certificate of occupancy was issued by the Inspections Department and that should
not happen except in very unusual circumstances.
Jack Shinall made a motion the variance be approved seconded by Wade
Lnenicka. The motion and second were later withdrawn to allow comments by Mr.
August 21, 1989 meeting - continued
James Williamson, owner 0 f the house. Mr. Williamson said he just wanted to be
sure that if they sold the house at some future date, the next person would
not have this same problem. Also, he wondered why this was not caught earlier.
Building Inspector Scott Stokes said the encroachment was discovered be fore
footings were poured but it was difficult to measure the setback, because
of the topography of the lot. They did require the builder to move the house
back about 3 feet but the final survey indicated that they were still over
the building line.
Jack Shinall made a motion the variance be approved as requested. Wade
Lnenicka seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
FORMAL BUSINESS:
(A) Bid openings:
Bids for two copy machines to be used in City Hall and Police Department Records
were opened, read and recorded as follows:
Pitney Bowes
$10,531
165 installation
$12,061
300 installation
Minolta Business Systems $ 9,169.81 each
Xerox Corporation $17,620.00 total
First Copy Corporation
$ 8,767.40 each - Panasonic
Danka Business Services
$ 8,191.00 each - Savin 7500
$ 11,110.00 Savin 7065
$ 8,316.00 Savin 7500
$ 1,382.25 maintenance program for 7500
$ 1,946.50 maintenance program for 7065
Eastman Kodak Company
$12,917.50 each - EK90 (State contract price)
John Steely made a motion the bids be turned over to the Finance and Police
Committees for their recommendation back to full council at the next meeting. Wade
Lnenicka seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
Bids for portable staging were opened, read and recorded as follows:
Bil-Jax, Inc.
Wenger Corp.
$3,929.94
$3,430.00
Bill Scoggins made a motion the bids be turned over the Parks Committee for
their recommendation back to full council at the next meeting. Jim Hawkins
seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
Bids for the central computer upgrade were opened, read and recorded as
follows:
IBM
$27,249.00
600 credit for deletion of feature codes
XL/Datacomp
$24,900.00
DPE Enterprises
$20,630.62
Jim Hawkins made a motion the bids be
for their recommendation back to full
motion, which carried 7-0.
turned over to
council. Wade
the Finance Committee
Lnenicka seconded the
Bids for a new pickup truck for the Community Development department were opened,
read and recorded as follows:
Beaudry Ford
$10,911.00
4.3 litre engine
$11,390.00
5.0 litre engine
Bob Davis made a motion the bids be turned over to the Community Development for
a recommendation back to full council. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion, which
carried 7-0.
August 21, 1989 meeting - continued
BID AWARDS:
Bill Scoggins made a motion the riding lawn mower for the Parks
awarded to Turf Care Products for the Toro mower at $9,945.
seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
Department be
John Steely
Bill Scoggins made a motion the playground equipment for Church Street and
Tolleson be awarded to Gametime who was the high bidder at $26,518. Other
companies bidding could not or did not meet specifications and were
substituting apparatus. Kathy Jordan seconded the motion which carried 7-0.
Bill Scoggins made a motion the Holland loader with attachments be awarded to
Cobb County Tractor for $17,300. The low bid from Franklin Ford Tractor was a demo model with
parts that could not be replaced. Jack Shinall seconded the motion, which
carried 7-0.
Jack Shinall made a motion the pickup truck for Public Works be awarded to
Wade Ford at $11,800. This is not low bid but consideration was given to the
time saved on service calls with a local company. Bill Scoggins seconded the
motion, which carried 7-0.
Jack Shinall made a motion
Nissan, the low bidder for
seconded the motion which carried
the
the
6-0,
refuse collector be awarded to
Dempster model at $63,352.72.
with Bill Scoggins abstaining.
Fouts Brothers
Ka thy Jordan
COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS: Nothing to report.
CONSENT AGENDA:
(A) Parade permit - SAA opening day, August 26th
(B) Approval to request bids for motorcycles - Police Department
(C) Approval to request bids - rescue truck for Fire Department
Jim Hawkins made a motion the consent agenda be approved. Bob Davis seconded the
motion, which carried 7-0.
COUNCIL INPUT: Jim Hawkins made a motion the rules be suspended to change the
date of the next meeting. Jack Shinall seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
Jim Hawkins made a motion
September 5th because of the
motion, which carried 7-0.
the first meeting
Labor Day holiday.
of September be changed
Bill Scoggins seconded
to
the
John Steely said he would also like to thank the Cobb County Commissioners who
helped with funding for paving North Cooper Lake Road.
Mayor Bacon said the court had ruled that the City ordinance would not allow
council to arbitrarily suspend an alcoholic beverage license for violations
regarding sales and although those licenses were re-instated August 11th,
felt they had still sent a message to the businesses that they would not
tolerate sales to our minors.
With no further business, meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
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