12-05-1983 Regular MeetingDecember 5, 1983
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held pursuant to the Charter
on December 5, 1983. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 o'clock p.m. by presi-
ding officer Mayor Pro Tem Elbert Coalson. All council members were present. Also
present was City Attorney Charles E. Camp, City Clerk Willouise Spivey, Police Chief
R. E. Little, Acting Fire Chief Hubert Cochran, Parks and Recreation Director Sherry
Reavis, Assistant City Clerk Melinda Hiatt, Civil Defense Director Jim Farley, Build-
ing Inspector Larry Dunn, Librarian Doris Morris and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Jim Hawkins, followed by the pledge to the Flag.
Elbert Coalson stated tht Mayor Bacon's sister was in the hospital in critical con-
dition and asked everyone to remember her in their prayers.
Citizen Reports: Sue Brissey said she had been contacted by several business people
in Smyrna expressing their displeasure with 5 businesses on South Cobb who are oper-
ating their business on the right of way. Mr. Coalson said we would turn this over
to City Marshal Gene Golden and if we don't receive cooperation, would turn it over
to the State since it is on their right of way.
Public Hearing: Attorney Camp said we have received several requests from builders
to raise the maximum height of structures from 35 feet or 3 stories, to 55 feet
or 5 stories. There were no questions or comments from the audience and Jim Tolleson
made a motion that Section 802 of the zoning ordinance be amended to allow structures
of 55 feet or 5 stories. Jack Shinall .seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Annexation: Jim Tolleson made a motion the Charles G. West property on Elmwood
Drive, Land Lot 666 be annexed into the City to become a part of Ward 1, the legal
description having been read and made a part of the minutes of •November 7-, 1983•
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried 6-0. There was no opposition to the
annexation request.
Validation of Signatures: Stanford Troup requested annextion of property on Pat
Mell Road and the application was read by Attorney Camp as follows:
We the undersigned, who constitute sixty percent (60%) of the owners of the land
area by acreage of the area described below, which is unincorporated and contiguous
to the City of Smyrna, hereby apply to have said area annexed into the City of Smyrna
under the provisions of the Code of Georgia Annotated, Sections 69-904 through 69-
912 (Georgia Laws, Acts 1966, Pages 409, 410, 411, 412, 413; 1971, 399; 1976, Pages
1011, 1012; said property to be annexed being described as follows, to wit:
All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lot 349 of the 17th Dis-
trict, 2nd Section, Cobb County, Georgia and being more particularly described as
follows:
BEGINNING at a point on the East side of Old Concord Road 111 feet more or less
North from the North right of way of Pat Mell Road; thence North 01 degrees 51 min-
utes 36 seconds East a distance of 350 feet to an iron pin; thence South 88 degrees
08 minutes 24 seconds East a distance of. 280 feet to an iron pin; thence South 01
degrees 51 minutes 36 seconds West a distance of 350 feet to an iron pin; .thence
North 88 degrees 08 minutes 24 seconds West a distance of 280 feet to an iron pin
set at the point of BEGINNING.
WHEREFORE, THE UNDERSIGNED SET THEIR HANDS AND SEALS, AND THEREBY MAKE SAID APPLI-
CATION FOR ANNEXATION TO THE,CITY OF SMYRNA.
Witness the signature of the record title holders of the fee simple title, or his
legal representative, of 60% of the land area above described by acreage: s/STANFORD
TROUP
Jack Shinall made a motion the signature be validated and the public hearing set
for January 3, 1984. Max Bacon seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Bid Opening: Bids for an Emergency Management rescue vehicle were opened, read
and recorded as follows:
National Sales & Service $30,000.00 - FOB Orlando, Florida
Box 1047
Smyrna, Georgia
December 5, 1983 - Continued
American Safety & Fire House
3858 Oakcliff Ind. Court
Atlanta, Georgia
Counts Rescue Equipment
Box 903, Highway 76
Ballentine, S.C.
Harry.Harless Co.
109 So. 43 Rd.
Birmingham, Alabama
Wade Ford
3860 South Cobb Drive
Smyrna, Georgia
$27,997.00
$16,893.50 - Less Chassis
Bid on equipment only
No bid
No bid
James Williams made a motion the bids be turned over to the Public Safety Committee
with their recommendation back to full council on December 19th. Sarah Jones seconded
the motion which carried 6-0.
Bid Award: James Williams said there was some question about the bids received
on carpeting the Detective Bureau due to the drastic difference in .prices. James
made a motion the bid be awarded to B&M Carpet, the low bidder at $1,635.42 provided
the carpet and padding meets specifications. If not, the second lowest bid will
be awarded by Mayor and Council at the next meeting. Max Bacon seconded the motion
which carried 6-0.
There were no commercial building permits.
Ordinance Amendment: Jim Hawkins stated that due to a recent court case in Decatur
concerning the method of collecting insurance premiums tax our ordinance had been
re -drawn by Mr. Camp to comply. The ordinance reads as follows:
Section 14-12
An ordinance to impose license fees on life insurers conducting business within
the City of Smyrna; to impose a gross premiums tax on insurers operating within
said city; to provide an effective date; to provide for certain reports; to repeal
conflicting ordinances; and for other purposes.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Smyrna, and it is hereby
ordained by authority thereof; that Section 14-12 of the Code of Ordinance of the
City of Smyrna is hereby repealed and that a new Section 14-12 of said Code is hereby
adopted titled Insurance Company License Fees which shall be as follows:
Sub Section A Life Insurers License Fees.
There is hereby levied for the year 1984 and for each year thereafter an annual
license fee upon each life insurer doing business within the City of Smyrna in the
amount of Seventy -Five Dollars ($75.00). For each separate business location in
excess of one not covered by Section 2, which is operating on behalf of such insurers
within the City of Smyrna, there is hereby levied a license fee in the amount of
Seventy -Five Dollars ($75.00). For the purposes of this ordinance, the term "insurer"
means a company which is authorized to transact business in the class of insurance
designated in subsection 1 of O.C.G.A. 33-3-5. .
Sub Section B License Fee for Life Insurers Insuring Certain
Risk at Additional Business Locations
For each separate business location, not otherwise subject to a license fee here-
under, operated and maintained by a business organization which is engaged in the
business of lending money or transacting sales involving term Tinancing and in con-
nection with such loans or sales, offers, solicits or takes application for insurance
through a licensed agent of a life insurer for life insurance said insurer shall
pay an additional license fee of $75.00 per location for the year 1984 and for each
year thereafter.
Sub Section C Life Insurance Agency License Fees; Independent
Life Insurance Agencies, Brokers, etc. not
Otherwise Licensed
There is hereby levied for the year 1984 and for each year thereafter an annual
license fee upon independent agencies and brokers for each separate business location
from which a life insurance business is conducted and which is not subject to the
December 5, 1983 - Continued
company license fee imposed by Section 1 hereof, in the amount of Seventy -Five Dol-
lars ($75.00) for each such location within the City of Smyrna.
Sub Section D Gross Premiums Tax Imposed on Life Insurers
There is hereby levied for the year 1984 and for each year thereafter an annual
tax based solely upon gross direct premiums upon each insurer writing life, accident
and sickness insurance within the City of Smyrna in an amount equal to one percent
(1%) of the gross direct premiums received during the calendar year in accordance
with O.C.G.A. 33-8-8.1. Gross direct premiums as used in this section shall mean
gross direct premiums as used in O.C.G.A. 33-8-4. The premium tax levied by this
section is in addition to the license fees imposed by Section 1 of this ordinance.
Sub Section E Gross Premiums Tax, All Other Insurers
In accordance with O.C.G.A. 33-8-8.2, there is hereby levied for the year 1984 and
for each year thereafter an annual tax based upon the gross direct premiums on each
insurer doing business in the City of Smyrna at the rates set forth below:
Commencing Janury 1, 1984 through December 31, 1984
3.5% of the gross direct premiums:
Commencing January 1, 1985 through December 31, 1985
3% of the gross direct premiums:
Commencing January 1, 1986 and every year thereafter
2.5% of the gross direct premiums received during the
calendar year.
Insurer as used in this section shall mean any insurer other than an insurer trans-
acting business in the class of insurance designated in subsection 1 of O.C.G.A.
33-8-8.2(a).
Sub Section F Due Date for License Fees
License fees imposed in Sections 14-12A through 14-12C of this ordinance shall be
due and payable on the 1st day of January 1984 and on the 1st day of January each
subsequent year.
Sub Section G Administrative Provisions
The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a duly certified copy of this ordinance
to the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Georgia.
Sub Section H Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective Janury 1, 1984.
Sub Section I Severability
In the event any portion of this ordinance shall be declared or adjudged invalid
or unconstitutional, it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Smyrna
that such adjudication shall in no manner affect the other sections, sentences,
clauses or phrases of this ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect,
as if the invalid or unconstitutional section, sentence, clause or phrase were not
originally a part of the ordinance.
Sub Section J Repealer
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby
repealed.
Section 14-12.1 Insurance Company Reports
(A) Every life, accident and sickness insurance company doing business within the
city and subject to the tax herein imposed shall file with the city clerk on forms
prescribed by the clerk, a report showing the names and addresses of its agents
representing such company in the city, the location and person in charge of each
business location within the city operated and maintained by such company; the class-
es of insurance written; and such other reasonable information as may be required,
and, in addition, shall furnish complete information regarding the premium received,
by class, from applicable policies written on risks residing or located within the
city. Such report shall be made over affidavit of an officer of such company. It
is hereby declared to be a violation of this Code for any person or his agents to
knowingly give false or incomplete information on any such report. Said report shall
be filed at the time of paying the license fee and premium tax.
(B) The person responsible for each such insurance business location subject to
license fee hereunder shall file with the city clerk a report, on forms prescribed
December 5, 1983 - Continued
the clerk, showing the address of the business location; the class or classes of
insurance written; the names of the person writing insurance at such location; the
name of the companies represented; and such other reasonable information as may
be required. Such report shall be made over affidavit of the person in charge of
such business location. It is hereby declared to be a violation of this Code for
any person or his agents to knowingly give false or incomplete information on any
such report. Said report shall be filed at the time of paying the license fee.
(C) All reports required to be filed shall be confidential and the information
contained therein shall be solely for the use of the officers of the city responsible
for administering this section. -
(D) The fees and taxes may be enforced by execution in the same manner as other
taxes of the city. A violation of this section shall be grounds for refusing or
revoking a license, and the person responsible may be punished as for violation
of any other city ordinance.
Jim Hawkins made a motion the ordinance amendment be approved. Max Bacon seconded
the motion which carried 6-0.
Jim Tolleson made a motion the first meeting in January be changed to Tuesday, Jan-
uary 3, 1984, and the second meeting in January be changed to Monday, January 23,
1984. James Williams seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Jim Hawkins made a motion the minutes of November 7, 1983 be approved as submitted.
Jack Shinall seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Jack Shinall made a motion the minutes of November 21, 1983 b'e approved as submitted.
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
James Williams made a motion the minutes of November 28, 1983 be approved as sub-
mitted. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried 6-0.
Committee Reports: (Streets) Jack Shinall said that a portion of Memorial Drive
and Church Street would be blocked from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on December 8th,
during the Christmas Tree lighting.
Jack Shinall said we had been working with Mr. Camp to see how we can get our money
back for the curbing machine.
(Parks) Sherry Reavis reminded everyone of the Festival of Music and Tree Lighting
ceremony this Thursday.
Max Bacon said the beautification program had started on Atlanta Road at Belmont
Hills thanks to Public Works and Parks and Recreation. '
(Sanitation) Jim Tolleson said there would be a special trash pickup for the next
two Saturdays,,beginning this week. All leaves and pinestraw should be bagged.
(Library) Doris Morris reported on library activities.
Announcements: Tree lighting on December 8th; CMA meeting on December 13th; next
council meeting December 19th.
With no further business, meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
December 19, 1983
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held December 19, 1983 at
Smyrna City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 o'clock p.m. by presiding
officer Mayor Arthur T. Bacon. All Council members were present. Also present was
City Attorney Charles E. Camp, City Clerk Willouise Spivey, Assistant City -Clerk
Melinda Hiatt, Police Chief R. E. Little, Acting Fire Chief Hubert Cochran, Assistant
Public Works Director Vic Broyles, Building Inspector Larry Dunn, Sanitation Super-
visor Eddie Bessette, Parks Superintendent Jimmy Hinson, Civil Defense Director
Jim Farley, Librarian Doris Morris and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Elbert Coalson, followed by the pledge to the flag.