February 20, 1978 Council Meeting
February 20, 1978
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held at City Hall, Smyrna,
Georgia on February 20, 1978. The. meeting was called to order by presiding officer
Mayor Frank Johnson at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All Councilmen were present. Also
present was City Attorney Chuck Camp, City Clerk Willouise Spivey, Finance &
Administration Director Gunter Newsom, Parks and Recreation Director Lee Silver,
Building Inspector/Marshall David Granade, Fire Chief Don Atkinson, Police Chief
R. E. Little~ Public Works Director Jim David and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Jim Hawkins, followed by the pledge to the flag.
Mayor Johnson recognized the newly formed Boy Scout Explorer Post #21, sponsored by
the City of Smyrna Civil Defense Department. Civil Defense Director Jim Farley
introduce:;! members of the post and their Advisor, Tom Logue. A member of the Atlanta
Area Council presented the Post Charter to the City. Mayor Johnson thanked them
for the Charter, said Explorer Post #21 was only four months old, had already started
their good work. and he knew they would be a real asset to the City of Smyrna.
Elbert Coalson. Chairman of the Civil Defense Committee. stated the truck recently
acquired from the Government needs repairs. He made a motion the following re-
commendations from the committee be approved: (1) bids be received on all parts
for the new truck. (2) to surplus old truck #R-25 and receive bids and (3) approve
for purchase and request bids for three manikins to be used in CPR training. all
bids to be opened at the next council meeting. Jerry Mills seconded the motion.
After discussion vote on the motion was unanimous.
Marion Douglas Jenkins, Belmont Pawn Shop, advised Council that
merchandise taken in for a period of thirty (30) days before it could
be He had talked with Lt. Det. David Farmer and was advised the stolen
property check could be completed in fifteen (15) days, allowing him to sell the
merchandise, if Mayor and Council approved. Mayor Johnson stated this would
necessitate a change in the ordinance and we would put it under advisement.
David L. Waldrep, Civil Engineer with the Cobb County Public School System said he
was Manager for the project being built on Ward Street and would be glad to answer
any questions about the project. Bill Darby made a motion the request of the Cobb
County School System for a quit-claim deed on a proposed roadway, owned by the city,
be brought off table. Elbert Coalson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Mr. Waldrep said the project was being constructed with an EDA Grant in the amount
of $291,763 and would include two softball fields, a full size soccer field and a
driver training range. also a road on the south end of the property all the way to
the driver training area. The school board recommends relocating the road on the
north end of the property, which is now on school property, to one-half school and
one-half city property. The purpose of this is to utilize the track so that two
softball fields do not overlap. Their plans called for lowering the grade next to
the tennis courts. put a berm on the north side similar to what is there now and
he guaranteed there would be no flooding of our tennis courts. Mr. Waldrep said
it was his understanding there would be no charge by the Power Company to move the
light poles involved. Lee Silver said he walked the property with a representative
of the Georgia Power Company who stated they do charge approximately $300 per pole.
Mayor Johnson, in clarifying the request from the school board stated (1) they
were asking for a quit-claim deed on a proposed roadway, deeded to the city, that
runs through the center of the construction property and (2) the roadway on the
north end of the property be moved over seven feet on city property. During dis-
cussion and in answer to questions, Mr. Waldrep stated that at the present time
only security lights are planned for the field; after the new soccer field is
finished the Wills High School baseball field will be refinished and used by the
school; that no buffer was planned between the driving training range and homes on
Wayland Court since they were trying to get the maximum use of the 1.and and that
school facilities were scheduled through the local principal. He was advised that
a ten-foot buffer is required by city ordinance and he should check with the
building inspector. Mayor Johnson advised Mr. Waldrep that we would need a letter
from the School Board stating they would pay any and all relocations cost and other
expenses involved. including attorney fees. Mr. Waldrep said he was sure the
school board would do that. Rem Bennett said he thought a retainer wall would be
needed to keep the tennis courts from being flooded, and there were still too
many unanswered questions. After further discussion Jack Shinall made a motion
this request be tabled again. Jerry Mills seconded the motion and the vote was
unanimous. Mayor Johnson appointed the Inspection Committee to work with Mr.
Waldrep and get the problems resolved.
Comn~rcial building permits were submitted by David Granade and upon his recommen-
dation the following action is recorded:
(Continuation of February 20, 1978 meeting)
Baptist Church, Atlanta Road, requested a
Hall. Plans had been approved by the Fire Marshall
ordinances. Rem Bennett 11lade a motion the permit be
seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
a
(2) Leon Dowdy requested a permit to build a warehouse and sales facility at 2080
Atlanta Road. had been approved by the Fire Marshall and met the zoning
ordinances. ReID Bennett made a motion the permit be approved. Jim Hawkins
seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
(3)
order to
property
waiver
approved.
Starnes, 2000 Glenroy Drive, requested a four-foot in
an addition ont:o his home. He had a letter signed adjacent
. Wayne Wood of 2010 Glenroy Drive. stating he did not object to a
code to six feet. Jim Tolleson made a motion the variance be
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
John Benmac Road a residential business license to operate
business basement. Hollis Dale. spokesman for his
the machine did not make much noise. advertising would be by word of
he just wanted to help his father make a little extra money now that
A petition, signed by neighbors within 300 feet stating they did
, was attached to the application. Elbert Coalson made the
license be granted, a copy of the petition being made a part of
Jerry Mills seconded the motion. During discussion Jack Shinal.l said did not
have anything against Mr. Dale, but was not in favor of residential business
licenses of any kind. Rem Bennett he did not think this fair since other
quick-copy businesses were paying on buildings. The motion was defeated by
a two to five vote. Elbert Coalson and Jerry Mills voted for the motion. Jim
Tolleson, Bill Darby, Jack Shinall, Jim Hawkins and Rem Bennett voted against.
was
cost
cost,
this
from
will
the
pool,
four
present
of
on the motion
Jim Tolleson reported the Parks and Recreation Committee had met and carefully
considered the renovation of Church Street pool. They a.lso cons the re-
of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Among the considered
deadline. attendance records over the past three years, the
staff, the impact King Springs pool will have, the renovation
the condition of the and the actual need and future use of
pool. 1be recommendation of the committee is that $13,500 be appropriated
unobligated Revenue Sharing Funds to renovate the pool. The renovation
t: of repairing the leak in the southwest corner of the pool. replacing
board and stand, replacing decking in the deep and shallOW end of the
or repairing the ladder, restoring the filter media.n,providing
and providing a new bath house which would be removed from the
Jim Tolleson made a motion $13,500 be approved for the renovation
pool. Rem Bennett seconded the motion. After discussion, vote
to renovate the pool was unanimous.
Jim Tolleson made a motion bids be requested
the parks, bids to be opened March 13. 1978.
motion and the vote was unanimous.
Jerry Mills
the Finance had been holding meetings
concerning expenditures for the remainder of the
made to live within the budgets and with the
heads, he thinks this can and will be accomplished.
department
Every
of the
Jerry
men to
announced the s is in operation and he asked all council-
him a list of streets in their ward that need cleaning.
Jim
welcomed Fire Chief Atkinson back after a stay in the
Jack
our
has
He
County tied an
Road and Old Concord
overflowing raw
in getting this
into
city
area.
ted.
a motion to change the date of the next council from
March 13th, due to <the National League of Cities Conference in
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
reminded Council of the Cobb Municipal Association
City Hall in Smyrna at 7:00 o'clock p.m. He
(Continuation of February 20, 1978 meeting)
the audience the functions of both the Cobb Municipal Association and the Georgia
Municipal Association.
Director of Parks and Recreation Lee Silver addressed Mayor and Council. He read
a letter of resignation, effective March 27, 1978. He stated it had indeed been
a pleasure and honor, both professionally and personally, to serve the City of
Smyrna. Jim Tolleson regrettably made a motion to accept the resignation. Rem
Bennett seconded the motion. All Council commended Lee for the good job he had
done in building our recreational department: and each expressed their regrets he
was leaving the city. Mayor Johnson said that Lee did the job he was hired to do,
he built the city a fine recreational program. Lee has accepted a position as
Director of Parks and Recreation in Glynn County. Vote on the motion to accept the
resignation was unanimous. Lewis Reagin thanked Lee and said he appreciated what
he had done. Rem Bennett said he was sorry Lee would not be here to see King
Springs Park completed, as he considered that Lee's project.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.