07-21-1980 Regular Meeting (2)(Continuation of July 7, 1980 Meeting)
Elbert Coalson said,he had called the reporter from the Marietta Journal to see
who the source of information concerning the budget was. Elbert said he knew she
wouldn't tell him -- it was her job not to -- and he appreciated that. Elbert
said he had been to City Hall and couldn't find the source. But one day it would
pop up, and there would be one of the employees looking for a job if he had any-
thing to do with it. Mr. Coalson said it was high time the council was reunited
and try to work this budget out for the City. We are not doing the citizens of
this town justice. There is no way we can work up a budget, divided as we are.
His suggestion was that we bury the past and get down to work and try to get a
budget for this city.
John Steely said he, too,. took offense to the article written in the paper and
-knew it was no fault of the reporters;:jthey-�were only doing-wfiati-itheys�wer,e=-.paidr:to
do, to write stories regardless of how they get them. John said he agreed with
everybody, that unity is the only thing to bring this group back on its feet.
He, too, would like to find where the article came from, but that's. neither here
nor there, he would like to see the council joined together and become one body
again.
John thanked Bill Johnston and his staff for the good job they did on the July
4th celebration.
Announcements: Jonquil Breakfast on July 16th at 8:00 a.m. at Fair's Restaurant
and the next council meeting on July 21st.
Meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
July 21, 1980
The regular meeting of Mayor and Council was held July 21, 1980 at Smyrna City
Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 o'clock p.m. by presiding officer
Mayor Frank Johnson. All Council members were present. Also present was City
Clerk Willouise Spivey, City Attorney Charles E. Camp, Finance Director Gunter
Newsom, Police Chief R..E. Little, Fire Chief Don Atkinson, Parks:and Recreation
Director Bill Johnston, Assistant Public Works Director Vic Broyles, Building
Inspector Dan Steely, Civil Defense Director Jim Farley and representatives of the
press.
Invocation was given by Elbert Coalson, followed by the pledge to the flag.
Citizens Reports: Leon Hood reported that ex -Councilman Clarence Canada was in
the hospital and asked that.he and his family be remembered in everyone's prayers.
Variance Request: Jeff Stevenson, Manager of Arbor Lake Apartments asked that his
request for a variance from the sign ordinance be tabled and presented at a later
meeting. John Steely made a motion the request be tabled. Jack Shinall seconded
the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Variance Request: Jack Boone requested a variance from the setback requirement
of 40' to 30' for the construction of a building on Bourne Street which would be
used for a combination office/warehouse. Mr. Boone stated this construction would
not be out of line with the other buildings on the street. Mr. Hiram Singleton,
chairman of the building committee at Welcome All Baptist Church said the church,
as the adjoining property owner, had no objections to the variance. Bourne Drive
was formerly called Russell Avenue and was deeded to Jack Boone and Welcome All
Baptist Church some time ago and the paved area being used by the church for parking
is actually property belonging to Mr. Boone, which he has been letting them use.
Elbert Coalson made a motion the variance be granted. Jack Shinall seconded the
motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Residential Business License: Ms. Lillian Pruitt, 2750 Ivanhoe Lane, requested
a residential business license to operate an interior decorating service. There
was no opposition to the request. John Steely made a motion the license be granted.
Jim Tolleson seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
(Continuation of July 21, 1980 Meeting)
Commercial Building Permits: D. S. and W. S. Caswell requested a building permit
for construction of a 2200 square foot building to be located at Pat Mell Road
and South Cobb Drive at a total estimated cost of $150,000. When completed, the
building will be leased to the county for a training center_ for mentally retarded
children. Plans have been approved by the Fire Marshal and Inspections Depart-
ment. Jim Hawkins made a motion the permit be approved. Jack Shinall seconded
the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jim Hawkins made a motion that the amendment to Section 6-95 of the'Code of
Ordinances which was approved June 2, 1980, become effective September 15, 1980.
Jerry Mills seconded the motion. Jim Hawkins said two weeks ago the Council
voted to amend this section whereby businesses in Smyrna could only have a tempor-
ary sign for 90 days, and then it had to be removed for 90 days,. There seemed to
be some feelings on the part of some merchants that they -had not been properly
informed of the changes. After meeting with them, it was decided to delay the
enforcement of this ordinance until September 15, 1980. The merchants have formed
a committee and they will study the ordinance and make recommendations to the
License Committee. Jim said the newspaper headlines said Smyrna had backed down
.on the sign ordinance and that was not true. We have not backed down at all; we
are simply trying to give the businessmen an opportunity to present their recommen-
dations and ideas. Vote on the motion to delay enforcement of this ordinance
carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jerry Mills said the Engineering Department had recommended installation of a
stop sign at the intersection of Jonquil Drive and Corn Drive, and made a motion
the sign be approved. Jim Tolleson seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0
vote.
Max Bacon made a motion the wording of the vicious dog ordinance which was
approved at the July 7th meeting be changed as follows:
Section 4-31 (i) - Upon receipt of a citation signed by two (2) or more residents
of Cobb County, each complaintant residing in separate dwellings in the vicinity
in which the violation and issue occurred, made under oath before a committing
magistrate, City Recorder or City Clerk, stating the nature and date of the act,
the name of the owner of the animal, the address of the owner and a description
of the animal doing such act, the Animal Control Officer shall investigate the
complaint to determine whether the act complained of violated this Ordinance.
Jim Tolleson seconded the moiton which carried by a 7-0 vote.
John Steely stated we had received a letter from the U.S. Department of the
Interior concerning the surplus property deeded to the City for parks and recrea-
tion use, and we needed to adopt a schedule of utilization for the property. It
will cost the City approximately $6,000 over a ten-year period to adopt the time
table prepared, as follows:
1. Survey: County will begin within 30 days
2. Road grading: Air Force will proceed after the survey
3. Road Construction: County will begin within 60 days after the
Air Force finishes grading
4. Fence Construction: Will begin within 30 days after completion
of the road and right of way
5. Soccer fields: .1980 - 1985
6. Jogging Trail: 1984
7. Ballfields: 1985 - 1987
8. Football fields: 1986 - 1988
9. Maintenance compound: 1989
Bill Johnston said in the original application for the property which was submitted
in 1977, construction was to begin and be completed within 6 years at a cost of
$1.8 million to the City. In order for us to maintain the property, we still have
to follow their guidelines, which says we have to have a program of utilization
and timetable. John read the letter from the Department of the Interior where
they requested a report on the status of this property and what progress had been
made since the meeting at Dobbins Air Force Base on March 26, 1980. During this
meeting the City had promised to provide within 30 days, a program of utilization.
John said we need to act on this as quickly as possible, since this is 77 acres
of prime property donated to the City, and we need to take advantage of it. Bill
Johnston said the North Metro Youth Soccer Association was willing to commit up
to $60,000 for development, and the City would continue to work with other athletic
associations along those same lines. John Steely made a motion the City submit an
(Continuation of July 21, 1980 Meeting)
amended program of utilization and updated schedule of development to the U.S.
Department of the Interior for the Dobbins Air Force Base property. This will be
an amendment to the original application submitted May 18, 1976. Jerry Mills
seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Committee Reports: (Parks) John Steely expressed his appreciation to the Jonquil
Garden Club for planting the flowers in front of City Hall. John announced the
GRPS Junior Girls Softball tournament began tonight at Jonquil Park, and the
swimming and diving championship will be August lst.and 2nd at King Springs Pool,
with approximately 500 children involved.
(Civil Defense) Elbert Coalson read a letter from Jim Farley to Billy Howard's
Wrecker Service thanking him for the donation of a vehicle for the rescue volun-
teers to tear up, as practice of techniques using rescue equipment.
(Inspections) Jim Hawkins said an advertisement had been run in the newspaper for
a public hearing tonight on a beer pouring license for a restaurant at 421 Jones
Shaw Road, Mr. Robert Edinger, applicant. Jim made a motion this hearing be
tabled, due to the fact that the application was not completed and the advertisement
was run prematurely. John Steely seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jerry Mills said the City Attorney, at the request of Mr. J. C. Steinmetz who is
the owner of The Depot on Atlanta Road, had drawn a lease for the vacant lot owned
by the City next to The Depot. Jerry made a motion the Mayor be authorized to
sign.the one-year lease for the sum of $25.00 per year. Max Bacon seconded the
motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
(Sanitation) Jim Tolleson reminded everyone of the trash pickup schedule: the
first 3 weeks of the month for leaves, limbs, clippings, etc., and the last week
for heavier items.
Announcements: Next Council meeting on August 4th.
Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
K B. JOHNS ON, R WILLOUISE C. SPIVEY CITY CaRK
J'AMES E. TOLLESON, WARD 1 MAX BACON, WARD 2
c
MILLS, VRD 3
/AM M. HAWKINS, WARD 4