09-04-1979 Regular MeetingSeptember 4, 1979
The regular meeting of Mayor and Council was held pursuant to the Charter on September
4, 1979 in the Court Room of the Smyrna Police Station. 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 Attorney Charles Camp, City Clerk
Willouise Spivey, Finance Director Gunter Newsom, Police Chief Everett Little,
Assistant Fire Chief Hubert Cochran, Water Supervisor Larry Dunn, Building Inspector
Len Williams, Civil Defense Director Jim Farley and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Councilman Jim Hawkins followed by the pledge to the flag.
Mr. Arthur Bacon, representing the governing board of Ridgeview Institute presented
a check for $7,500 to the City, to be used toward the refurbishment of the Senior
Citizens Center. Mayor Johnson recognized the Board members from Ridgeview who were
present, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, Mr. Leroy Brock and Mr. Ben Underwood, Administrator,
and thanked them on behalf of the City. He stated the money would be used for furnish-
ings for the Center when it was completed.
Councilman Jim Tolleson presented a plaque to Mrs. Marion Wilhelm. Mrs. Wilhelm has
resigned her position on the Parks and Recreation Commission, after serving since its
inception in 1972. Other members of the Commission were present and presented her
with a crystal jonquil. Mayor Johnson presented Mrs. Wilhelm the Distinguished Service
Award and thanked her for the services she has provided the City.
Mayor Johnson recognized Mr. Bob Fink, President of the Board at Ridgeview who was
late arriving.
There were no citizens reports.
Building Permits - (1) Ridgeview Institute, South Cobb Drive requested a building
permit allowing them to finish eight rooms in their office building. Plans have been -
approved by the Fire Department and the Inspection Department recommended they be
approved. Jim Hawkins made a motion the permit be approved, seconded by Jack Shinall.
Vote on the motion carried by a 7-0 vote.
(2) Ridgeview Institute requested a building permit to finish four rooms in their
office building. Plans have been approved by the Fire Department and the Inspection
Department recommended they be approved. Elbert Coalson made a motion the permit
be approved. Jerry Mills seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jack Shinall made a motion the minutes of August 6, 1979 be approved as submitted.
John Steely seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Bill Darby made a motion the minutes of August 20, 1979 be approved as submitted.
Jim Tolleson seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Elbert Coulson made a motion the minutes of August 27, 1979 be approved as submitted.
Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jim Tolleson made a motion that in accordance with the order of the Court, that the
minutes of the meeting of June 11, 1979 annexation hearing be amended to delete from
the description of the property annexed, all parcels lying east of U.S. 41 (Cobb
Parkway) and the property owned or occupied by Capital Cadillac --.and Mark Singleton
Buick be removed, and the minutes be approved as amended. Jerry Mills seconded the
motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Committee Reports - (Parks) Jim Tolleson read a request from Asa Howard, Director
of Parks and Recreation for the adoption of an ordinance as follows:
"Within all park properties, the City of Smyrna Park Rangers shall have the
powers of arrest, concurrent with the powers of the Smyrna Police Department
for violations of any ordinance of the City of Smyrna, and, in addition, shall
have the -powers to eject any citizen or park participant from the park property
for violation of any rule or regulation of the Smyrna Parks and Recreation
Department."
Jim Tolleson made a motion this ordinance be approved, seconded by Jim Hawkins. Jim
Tolleson explained that this ordinance would give the power of arrest to the Rangers,
in the parks only. Asa Howard stated that the adoption of this ordinance would mean
a reduction in training cost to the City. Also, he wants to be sure our Rangers are
covered legally when they may be required to make an arrest on park property. Jim
Tolleson amended his original motion to state that this ordinance be made a part of
Section 16.,2 of the Code of Ordinances. Following a question from John Steely,
Chief Little explained that the Rangers would be required to have their certification
(Continuation of September 4, 1979 Meeting)
if they are given this power of arrest. The passage of this ordinance would lay
the groundwork for Federal assistance for mandate training, and he had no objections
to it. Bill Darby seconded the-amendment,to.the origina1.motion which carried by a 7-0
vote. Vote on the main motion carried 7-0.
Jim Tolleson read a request from Asa Howard requesting approval to stretch a banner
across Atlanta Road at the intersection of Church Road and Jonquil Plaza. This
banner would be used to advertise the Smyrna Fall Festival, Saturday, September 22,
1979 from 10:00 to 5':00 p.m. .,The banner is 8' in length and'made of canvas. It,would
be hung on September 14th and would remain until the completion of the Fall Festival.
Jim Tolleson made a motion this request be granted, seconded by Jim Hawkins. Vote
on the motion carried by a 7-0 vote.
(Finance) Gunter Newsom stated the new computer would be shipped from Ohio on
Friday, September 7th. Barring any complications we hope to have it installed the
middle of next week and will be operational within 24 hours.
(Streets) Jerry Mills made a motion that Bank Street be closed from Atlanta Road
to King Street on September 22nd, for the Fall Festival. The auto parts business on
Bank Street will be closed that day, and having the street closed should not create
any problems. Jim Hawkins seconded the motion which carried by a 7-0 vote.
Jerry Mills read a letter from Vic Broyles requesting additional funds to finish
street projects. The letter read as follows: "The paving program financed by the
State has added additional work to the Street Department for which we need additional
funds to correct. The overlay added to our street surface has caused water problems
in driveways of our residents, therefore we must raise the asphalt on these drive-
ways to delete the water runoff from the streets. There were forty three streets
to be resurfaced. My estimation of the amount of money to correct the driveways
on these streets would be $4,000. This figure also includes some bad drainage onto
our sidewalks, mainly Burbank Drive in Ward 6." Jerry made a motion that $4,000 be
transferred from the General Fund to the Street Department to correct these water
problems. John Steely seconded the motion which carried by a 6-0 vote. Jim Tolleson
abstained.
(Water) Gunter Newsom stated that we have run into problems getting water bills
out, but Tom Hill is working on the program and has assured him they will be ready
this week. They will be mailed as quickly as possible.
(Building) John Steely reported some changes were being made to City Hall during
the renovation but we were staying right in line with the money paid by the insurance
company. We hope to be able to start moving into the back portion of the building
the week of September loth, next week. The front portion of the building will not
be ready for occupancy until mid -November, or possibly December.
Mayor Johnson reminded everyone of the Earlybird Breakfast this Thursday, September
6th, and the next council meeting on September 17th. On September llth the CMA
meeting will be hosted by the City of Austell.
With no further business, meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
September 17, 1979
The regular meeting of Mayor and Council was held in the Court Room of the Police
Station on September 17, 1979. Presiding officer Mayor Frank Johnson called the
meeting to order at 7:30 p'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 Recrea-
tion Director Asa Howard, Public Works Director Jim David, Civil Defense Director
Jim Farley, Building Inspector Len Williams and representatives of the press.
Presentation - Mr. Billy Stephens, retiring from the Parks and Recreation Commission
after five years of service was presented a plaque by the Parks and Recreation
Department with an expression of their appreciation for his service. The Parks
Commission presented Mr. Stephens the traditional crystal jonquil and Mayor Johnson
presented the Distinguished Citizens Award on behalf of the City.
Appointment - Councilman Jack Shinall read a letter from William C. Nall, resigning
his appointment from the Planning and Zoning Board. Mr. Shinall made a motion the