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02-20-1978 Regular MeetingFebruary 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 introduced 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. Citizens Reports: Marion Douglas Jenkins, Belmont Pawn Shop, advised Council that he must hold merchandise taken in for a period of thirty (30) days before it could be sold. 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 land 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. _ Commercial building permits were submitted by David Granade and upon his recommen- dation the following action is recorded: (Continuation of February 20, 1978 meeting) (1) The Second Baptist Church, 2698 Atlanta Road, requested a permit to build a Fellowship Hall. Plans had been approved by the Fire Marshall and met our zoning codes and ordinances. Rem Bennett made a motion the permit be approved. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 11 (2) Leon Dowdy requested a permit to build a warehouse and sales facility at 2080 Atlanta Road. Plans had been approved by the Fire Marshall and met the zoning ordinances. Rem Bennett made a motion the permit be approved. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. (3) Jerry T. Starnes, 2000 Glenroy Drive, requested a four -foot variance in order to build an addition onto his home. He had a letter signed by the adjacent property owner, Wayne Wood of 2010 Glenroy Drive, stating he did not object to a waiver of the code to six feet. Jim Tolleson made a motion the variance be approved. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. John Dale of 546 Benmac Road requested a residential business license to operate a quick -copy printing business in his basement. Hollis Dale, spokesman for his father, said the machine did not make much noise, advertising would be by word of mouth only and he just wanted to help his father make a little extra money now that he is retired. A petition, signed by neighbors within 300 feet stating they did not object, was attached to the application. Elbert Coalson made a motion the license be granted, a copy of the petition being made a part of these minutes. Jerry Mills seconded the motion. During discussion Jack Shinall said he did not have anything against Mr. Dale, but was not in favor of residential business licenses of any kind. Rem Bennett said he did not think this fair since other quick -copy businesses were paying rent 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. Jim Tolleson reported the Parks and Recreation Committee had met and carefully considered the renovation of Church Street pool. They also considered the re- commendations of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Among the things considered was the renovation deadline, attendance records over the past three years, the cost of additional staff, the impact King Springs pool will have, the renovation cost, the financial condition of the city and the actual need and future use of this pool. The recommendation of the committee is that $13,500 be appropriated from unobligated Revenue Sharing Funds to renovate the pool. The renovation will consist of repairing the leak in the southwest corner of the pool, replacing the diving board and stand, replacing decking in the deep and shallow end of the pool, replacing or repairing the ladder, restoring the filter median, providing four skimmers and providing a new bath house which would be removed from the present building. Jim Tolleson made a motion $13,500 be approved for the renovation of Church Street pool. Rem Bennett seconded the motion. After discussion, vote on the motion to renovate the pool was unanimous. Committee reports: Jim Tolleson made a motion bids be requested for fertilizer and grass seed for the parks, bids to be opened March 13, 1978. Jerry Mills seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Bill Darby stated the Finance Committee had been holding meetings with department heads this week concerning expenditures for the remainder of the year. Every effort is being made to live within the budgets and with the cooperation of the department heads, he thinks this can and will be accomplished. Jerry Mills announced the street sweeper is in operation and he asked all council- men to give him a list of streets in their ward that need cleaning. Jim Hawkins welcomed Fire Chief Atkinson back after a stay in the hospital. Jack Shinall said that some years ago the County tied an apartment complex into our sewer system at Smyrna Powder Springs Road and Old Concord Road. The city has had numerous calls concerning manholes overflowing raw sewerage in this area. He would appreciate the support of Council in getting this situation corrected. Jerry Mills made a motion to change the date of the next council meeting from March 6th to March 13th, due to the National League of Cities Conference in Washington. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Mayor Johnson reminded Council of the Cobb Municipal Association meeting tomorrow night at the City Hall in Smyrna at 7:00 o'clock p.m. He explained to those in (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 le 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 1 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. 1 O• J JY MIL ri WARD 3 WILLOUISE C. SPIVEY, TY C WILLIAM F. DARBY, WARD 2 w S M. HAWKINS, WARD 4 J SHINAL , WARD 5 ERT COALSON, WARD 6 REIM B. B ET , JR., WARD 7 1, CITY MARSHALL I, Edward T. Bessette , do solemnly swear that I will well and truly demean myself as Marshall of the City of Smyrna for the ensuing term, and that I will faithfully enforce the Charter and Ordinances of said City to the best of my ability, without fear or favor, and in all my actions as MARSHALL act as I believe for the best interest of the said City. Subscribed and sworn to before me this /; day of March, 1978 CITY MARSHALL I, Gunter E. Newsom , do solemnly.swear that I will well and truly demean myself as Marshall of the City of Smyrna for the ensuing term, and that I will faithfully enforce the Charter and Ordinances of said City to the best of my ability, without fear or favor, and in all my actions as MARSHALL act as I believe for the best interest of the said City. So help me God. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of March, 1978.