01-09-1978 First Meeting (2)January 9, 1978
The first meeting of the new Administration was called to order by Frank B. Johnson.
He said he cherished and appreciated the vote the people of Smyrna gave him and he
would.not let them down. He then introduced all Councilmen and their families.
Judge James Bullard then administered the oath of office to Mayor Frank B. Johnson.
Judge James Bullard administered the oath of office to the seven Councilmen:
James E. Tolleson Ward 1
William F. Darby Ward 2
Jerry Mills Ward 3
James M. Hawkins Ward 4
Jack L. Shinall Ward 5
Elbert R. Coalson Ward 6
Rem B. Bennett, Jr. .Ward 7
Bill Darby, on behalf of all Council, presented Mayor Johnson with a new gavel.
Jack Shinall thanked the people of Ward 5 for electing him to represent them and
asked for their help.
The first official act of the new Administration -was to appoint the Recorder's
Court Judge, City Attorney and City Clerk. Upon the recommendation of Mayor Frank
Johnson, Rem Bennett made a motion C. V. Reeves be appointed Recorder's Court
Judge. Bill Darby seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
On recommendation of Mayor Johnson, Jerry Mills made a motion Charles E. Camp be
appointed City Attorney. Bill Darby seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
On recommendation of Mayor Frank Johnson, Jim Hawkins made a motion Willouise
Spivey be appointed as City Clerk. Jerry Mills seconded the motion and the vote
was unanimous.
Judge James Bullard administered the oath to:
C. V. Reeves Recorders Court Judge
Charles E. Camp City Attorney
Willouise C. Spivey City Clerk
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Frank Johnson, Rem Bennett made a motion
Councilman Elbert Coalson be appointed Mayor Protem. Bill Darby seconded the
motion and the vote was six for and one abstention. Elbert Coalson abstained.
Mayor Johnson announced the following committee assignments:
Finance & Administration Bill Darby Jack Shinall
& Purchasing (Chairman) Jerry Mills
Streets & Sanitation Jerry Mills Rem Bennett
(Chairman) Jim Hawkins
Inspections Rem Bennett Jim Hawkins
(Chairman) Jim Tolleson
Parks & Recreation Jim Tolleson Rem Bennett
(Chairman) Elbert Coalson
Water Department Jack Shinall Elbert Coalson
(Chairman) Jerry Mills
Fire Department Jim Hawkins Jack Shinall
(Chairman) Bill Darby
Police Department Elbert Coalson Jim Hawkins
& Civil Defense (Chairman) Jerry Mills
Public Works, Garage Rem Bennett Bill Darby
and Construction (Chairman) Jim Tolleson
Employees Benefits Jim Tolleson Elbert Coalson
and Insurance (Chairman) Rem Bennett
Library Jim Hawkins Jim Tolleson
(Chairman) Jack Shinall
(Continuation of January 9, 1978 Meeting)
Bill Darby made a motion the present Business License Schedule be approved for
another years-, Jerry Mills seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Bill Darby made a motion this administration acknowledge and approve a loan from
the Commercial Bank of Cobb County for $250,000, made by the previous administra-
tion. This loan was made to cover operating expenses and will be repaid when
1977 Ad Valorem taxes are received. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the
vote was unanimous.
Jerry Mills stated that Senator Joe Thompson had been working with the L & N
Railroad and State Traffic and Safety Engineers for the last 18 months in an
effort to get additional safety devices at the Spring Street grade crossing.
His efforts paid off, and Jerry read a letter addressed to Senator Thompson, from
State Traffic and Safety Engineer Archie C. Burnham, Jr., which read in part:
"We continue to identify and ready for improvement, other locations in Cobb County
at railroad -highway grade crossings. Some of the projects are advancing rapidly.
For example, Spring Road has been authorized for implementation by the L & N
Railroad at a cost of $33,000. Due to backlog of work and seasonal variations,
it is likely that this work will be completed by June or July 1978." Mayor and
Council thanked Senator Thompson, who was in the audience.
Also recognized was.Representative Ken Nix and Civil Service Board member Ray
Brooks.
Mr. McCoy of Carolyn Drive was recognized by Mayor Johnson. Mr. McCoy wanted
to discuss the decision to rezone property located at Spring Road and Carolyn
Drive. He asked the zoning be reconsidered and said he did not feel Judge Ravan's
statement was an order. Mayor Johnson said he had not heard all the evidence
and did not want a full-fledged zoning hearing tonight. Jim Tolleson said he
felt the property was zoned illegally and would like clarification. Jim Tolleson
made a motion that Council authorize Attorney Camp to file an informal petition
asking for clarification of the order and legality of the zoning. Jim Hawkins
seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
January 23, 1978
The regularly scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held at City Hall,
Smyrna, Georgia on January 23, 1978. The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Frank Johnson at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All Councilmen were present. Also present
was City Attorney Charles Camp, City Clerk Willouise Spivey, Director of Finance
and Administration Gunter Newsom, Director of Parks and Recreation Lee Silver,
Building Inspector David Granade, Fire Chief Don Atkinson, Director of Public
Works Jim David and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Elbert Coalson, followed by the pledge to the flag.
Charles McCoy of Carolyn Drive asked what information Attorney Camp had on the
court order concerning the Lindwall zoning. Attorney Camp said he had discussed
this order with Judge Ravan and was advised it was not necessary to readvertize
the property since he considered it a remand to the city. Judge Ravan said he
made the action of the council the order of the court. Mr. McCoy said the people
of Ward 1-felt they had been treated wrong, and that we should have fought this
case in court as we did the Ruff case.
Bill McCard, President of Smyrna Lion's Club, and Gene Jernigan, Past President,
presented Mayor and Council with the City Flag. The Lions Club sponsored a
contest on the design of the flag. Mayor Johnson thanked the Smyrna Lions Club
for undertaking this project and stated the flag was beautiful and would certainly
be an asset to the city.
Rem Bennett read letters from Police Chief R. E. Little and City Inspector David
Granade stating they could see no reason the applicants listed below should not TJ
be granted licenses.
Management change only - Rem Bennett made a motion a Beer Retail Package License
be granted to Chol Ki Min, Smyrna Market, 3350 South Cobb Drive. Bill Darby
seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.