05-05-1980 Regular MeetingMay 5, 1980
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held pursuant to the Charter
on May 5, 1980 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Smyrna, Georgia. The meeting
was called to order by presiding officer Mayor Frank Johnson at'7:30 o'clock p.m.
All Council members were present. Also present was City Attorney Charles Camp, City
Clerk Willouise Spivey, Finance Director Gunter Newsom, Police Chief R. E. Little,
Fire Chief Don Atkinson, Parks and Recreation Director Bill Johnston, Public Works
Director Jim David, Civil Defense Director Jim Farley and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Jim Hawkins followed by the pledge to the flag, led by David
Johnson, son of Mayor Frank Johnson.
There were no citizen reports.
Commercial building permits: (1) Considine Company, 100 Colony Square, Atlanta,
Georgia, requested a building permit to renovate the shopping center at the inter-
section of Concord Road and South Cobb Drive, at an estimated cost of $100,000.
Plans have been approved by the Fire Marshal and Jim Hawkins made a motion the permit
be approved. John Steely seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Elbert Coalson made a motion the minutes of April 7, 1980 be approved as submitted.
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion. Jack Shinall stated that at the April 7th meeting
he made a motion that two notes be renewed, one for $250,000 and the other for
$200,000, and it should have been two notes for $200,000 each. Jack made a motion
these minutes be corrected accordingly. Vote on the motion to approve the minutes
as amended was approved by a 6-0 vote. Jerry Mills abstained.
Max Bacon made a motion the minutes of April 21, 1980 be approved as submitted.
Elbert Coalson seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 .vote.
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Frank Johnson, Jerry Mills motioned that Danny
Steely be appointed as Building Inspector. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which
carried by a 6-0 vote. John Steely abstained.
Elbert Coalson made a motion that Danny Steely be appointed as City Marshal. Jack
Shinall seconded the motion which carried by a 6-0 vote. John Steely abstained.
Attorney Chuck Camp administered the oath of office to Mr. Steely, as Building
Inspector and City Marshal.
Mayor Johnson thanked Mr. George Hill of Nichols Drive for the flowers he had
presented him tonight. The flowers were sent in appreciation for the City allevia-
ting a rat problem in his neighborhood.
Committee Reports: John Steely made a motion the City negotiate a fixed price for
the furnishings for the Senior Citizens Center, to be paid from the $7500 donated
by Ridgeview Institute. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0
vote. The renovation should be complete around the middle of July.
John Steely stated a valve had blown at the King Springs Park Pool. The valve was
ordered approximately six weeks ago, but due to the delay in receiving the part,
it was necessary to cancel the Spring swimming lessons.
John Steely reported the following upcoming events in the Parks and Recreation
Department: The 3,4,5 & 6 year old track meet will be May 14th; Smyrna Community
Theatre will present their Spring play, "Barefoot in the Park" May 15th through 17th,
beginning at 8:00 p.m. each evening. Smyrna Hospital is sponsoring a 5,600 meter
road race which will be held on May 18th beginning at.2:00 p.m. at Lakd Park, and
ending at Rhyne Park. The entry fee is $4.00 in advance and $5.00 the day of the
race. The race is being held as a finale of National Hospital Week. Trophies will
be presented and refreshments served afterwards.
Elbert Coalson read a letter from Smyrna Hospital requesting a permit for their
5,000 meter race, and made a motion their request be granted. Jack Shinall seconded
the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jack Shinall made a motion the City surplus four (4) vehicles as follows: (1) 1973
Datsun pickup; (1) 1973 Ford Custom; (1) 1975 Ford Custom (wrecked); and (1) 1970
Plymouth Fury. John Steely seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jack Shinall made a motion the City request bids on these four surplused vehicles.
Jerry Mills seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jack Shinall made a motion that "no parking anytime" signs be installed on Glendale
Place on both sides of the road from Birch Street to 690 Glendale Place. There is
(Continuation of May 5, 1980 Meeting)
a bad curve there and at times it has been necessary for the Police Department to
move vehicles parked there. Elbert Coalson seconded the motion which carried by
a 7-0 vote.
At the request of Jim Hawkins, Gunter Newsom reported that the City had engaged
a draftsman to update our base map, after which the zoning map will be reconstructed.
After approval by the Planning and Zoning Board, the Mayor and Council will be asked
to readopt the maps.
Jerry Mills made the following report: "I want to report back to you on the progress
the Finance Committee is making in developing the fiscal year 1981 budget. The
department heads are now preparing their individual budget requests and will submit
them to the Finance Committee by May 9th.
As you are all aware, this is an extremely difficult budget to prepare since it is
going to have to reflect a period of high inflation--18% or more --and a period of
economic recession. This means that our expenditures will be rising rapidly while
our income will have little or no growth. Because of this situation, it is going
to be necessary to perform a great deal of additional study and research to balance
the FY81 budget. In order to efficiently and effectively prepare this budget, I
am making special assignments to members of the Finance and Administration Committee.
I, as chairman, will be responsible for the overview of the budget and coordinating
the Finance Committee activities with department heads. Jack Shinall will be
responsible for reviewing all requested expenditures with the goal of: 1) finding
areas in which efficiency can be accomplished that will reduce expenditures, and
2) establish a set of priorities for the level of services and thus curtail expen-
ditures. Jim Hawkins will be responsible for reviewing all revenues and suggesting
adjustments to them that will result in greater revenues.
I believe that this specialization within the Finance Committee will enable us to
prepare a reasonable budget for fiscal year 1981."
Max Bacon reported a new procedure which will be followed by the Sanitation Depart-
ment in picking dp trash, beginning the first week in June. The first three weeks
of each month will be used only for the pickup of limbs, leaves, grass clippings,
etc. The last week of each month will be used to pick up other trash items,
including metal. The City will not remove rocks, dirt, building materials, limbs
or trees taken down by a contractor. Limbs taken down by property owners must
not be over six feet long, six inches in diameter, or over 75 pounds. Hopefully
this new system will work, and enable us to catch up on our trash pickups.
Jim Tolleson announced the pumping station on Highland had been repaired. He
called on Commissioner Wit Carson for assistance from the county in replacing the
pumping station altogether. In answer to a question from Jerry Mills, Jim stated
the recommendation from the county was basically the same as that received from
our city engineer. The county was very satisfied with the job we had done.
Announcements: Elected Officials Barbecue at Six Flags on May 8th; next Council
meeting on May 19th.
Meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
May 19, 1980
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held on May 19, 1980 at the
City Hall, Smyrna, Georgia. The meeting was called to order by presiding officer
Mayor Frank Johnson at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All Council members were present. Also
present was City Attorney Charles Camp, City Clerk Willouise Spivey, Director of
Finance and Administration Gunter Newsom, Police Chief R. E. Little, Assistant Fire
Chief Hubert Cochran, Water Department Supervisor Larry Dunn, Parks and Recreation
Director Bill Johnston, Building Inspector Dan Steely, Civil Defense Director Jim
Farley and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Mayor Frank Johnson followed by the pledge to the flag, led
by Cub Scout Pack 716, Den #2.