October 2007

OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE OXFORD MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2007 - 7:30 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER, OXFORD, GEORGIA

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: WILLIAM H. MURDY, MAYOR; HOYT P. OLIVER, MAYOR PRO-TEM; GEORGE R. HOLT; AND JAMES H. WINDHAM

ABSENT: AMMA L. GAITHER; TERRY SMITH

OTHERS PRESENT: JERRY D. ROSEBERRY; DR. L.M. WILLSON; CLAUDE SITTON; EMMA LOU PATTERSON; VIRGIL Y.C. EADY, JR.;  JOHN P. GODFREY; LATRELLE OLIVER; TOBY MALCOLM; AND KELLY ELLIS

The October meeting was called to order by the Honorable William H. Murdy, Mayor and invocation given by Hoyt Oliver, Mayor Pro-Tem.

Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Oliver, seconded by Holt for the approval of the minutes of the September 10, 2007 Mayor and Council meeting.  The Mayor and Council vote four (4) with four (4) members present.  The motion carried.

PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS/PETITIONS

Oliver reported that the Planning Commission, at its last meeting, approved a developmental permit for the Oliver’s, 312 West Clark Street, for landscaping to include cobble stone paving.

Oliver also reported that the Planning Commission approved a developmental permit for Forrest McCanless, 1003 Wesley Street, for structure extension to place an electric kiln for pottery.

An application for occupational tax license received from Cornelius Mitchell, 1306 Emory Street, for an Income Tax Business was denied.  Commercial activity is not allowed in residential zoning.

Thursday, October 18th, 7:00 p.m. has been scheduled for a Public Hearing on the Ten Year Comprehensive Plan Update.

 75% of the household surveys mailed for the Comprehensive Plan update have now been returned and  Erik Oliver has complied the data for review.

GENERAL

The November regular session was moved to Monday, November 12th due to the city election.

The October work session was set for Monday the 29th beginning at 6:00 p.m.


MAYOR & COUNCIL
OCTOBER 1, 2007
PAGE 2

Claude Sitton-1223 Wesley Street
Sitton asked the Mayor and Council if they were aware that Charter Communications, (buyer of Covington Cable Television) has tripled the franchise rate from $.55 to $1.36 and is now including a $5.00 monthly fee for lease of cable modems?  Sitton also stated that rumor was that franchise agreements from the municipalities in the county had expired and had to be updated prior to the sell.

Jerry Roseberry, former Council Member and candidate for Mayor, reported that Oxford’s franchise agreement had not expired, but franchise fees had not been paid to the city prior to the transition.  Roseberry has also asked that the agreement be amended to allow payments  be made to the city every ninety (90) days as allowed by law.

Occupational Tax License Applications
A motion was made by Oliver, seconded by Holt to approve a customary home occupation license for “Cuts With Care”, Craig Bailey, Sr., 162 Longstreet Circle with two conditions:  1.) That it meets any requirements for county license; and 2.) that no activity will be performed at the residence.  The Council vote unanimous.

A motion was made by Oliver, seconded by Windham to approve a customary home occupation license for “Auto Glass Store”, Danny Weeks, 108 West George Street with the understanding that the operation would use a regular van and no business would be conducted at the residence.  The Council vote unanimous.

WALKING TRAILS

A motion was made by Oliver, seconded by Windham to proceed with the conveyance of Deed of Gift to the City of Oxford from Newton County Trails-Path Foundation, Inc. for the multi-use trails from West Clark Street south to Stone Street, and to allow the easements granted from: 1.) Jeffrey and Janice Wearing; 2.)  Thomas H. Johnson and Emmie Carlton Johnson; and 3.) Richard G. Woods along the trail.  The Council vote unanimous.

PARKS/RECREATION

George Street Park
A motion was made by Windham to transfer the $10,000.00 budgeted for the maintenance facility landscaping to park development, and then combine the Tree Board and Parks budgets  and to make up the deficit of $3,179.20 to cover the cost of the following bids:
Waterways Construction Swale ($4,787), Fence ($3,509), Kiosk ($462) -   $   8,758.00
JRJ Construction ConcreteTrail ($17,726.10),Boardwalk($5,684)-   23,410.10
Conestoga Builders Gazebo($3,075)       -   3,075.00
        35,243.10
The motion was seconded by Oliver.  The Council vote unanimous.

$10,000.00 will be reduced from the Tree Board’s budget  in 2008.


MAYOR & COUNCIL
OCTOBER 1, 2007
PAGE 3

INVOICES

         VENDOR

      DESCRIPTION

        AMOUNT

Eastern Hydrostatic Mixer Parts

Repairs to Backhoe

 $1,631.05

Equity Utility Service Co.

Electric Transformers

 27,200.00

GMEBS/Retirement Fund

Employee Retirement-Sept

   5,517.67

Hall’s Trenching, Inc.

Contract labor Water

   1,650.00

Hightower Consulting Engineers

Contract labor Water/Aug-Sept

   5,366.02

N.C. Water & Sewerage Authority

Sewer Treatment Fees

   6,622.98

N.C. Cornish Creek

Wholesale Water-Aug

 13,384.00

N.C. Board of Commissioners

Landfill Fees-Aug

   1,283.70

Northeast Georgia RDC

Professional Services-Comprehensive Plan Update

   3,929.80

Site Engineering

Final-Clark Street Sewer Project

   4,354.56

Strickland & Strickland, LLP

Legal Fees-Aug

   4,517.00

Tiffany Jones Ellenberg

Court Solicitor-Apr-Sep

   2,250.00

United Health Care of Georgia

Employee Health Insurance-Oct

   7,214.52

W. Gregory Pope, P.C.

Legal Fees-Sept

   1,392.00

Woco Pep Oil Company

Gasoline Purchase-Sept

   4,141.19

 

Motion was made by Oliver, seconded by Windham for approval.  The Council vote unanimous.

 


MAYOR & COUNCIL
OCTOBER 1, 2007
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WATER/SEWER

Water Rates
A motion was made by Holt, seconded by Oliver to increase retail water rates by $.02 per one thousand gallons to compensate the $.02 wholesale cost increase by Newton County Board of Commissioners on July 1, 2007.    Effective date as of November 15th, 2007 bill date.  The Council vote unanimous.

ELECTRIC

Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) Supplemental Power Purchase Contract for Peaking And Reserve Resources
Whereas, Section 401 of the Project One Power Sales Contract by and between MEAG and Participant provides that MEAG will provide or cause to be provided to the Participant its Supplemental Bulk Power Supply during each month of each Power Supply Year; and
Whereas, Section 404 of the Project One Power Sales Contract by and between MEAG and Participant provides that Participant may elect to procure an alternate source of Supplemental Bulk Power Supply other than that provided by MEAG, subject to providing notice to MEAG; and
Whereas, MEAG adopted a Supplemental Power Supply Policy in March of 1999, as amended, which, in part, waived the notice requirements provided for in Section 404©) of the Project One Power Sales Contract.; and
Whereas, MEAG has an opportunity to procure a substantial amount of supplemental power for a multi-year term from West Georgia Generating Company, L.L.C.,

MEAG recommends a subscription amount for the City of Oxford of 1,492 kw based on a 2008 preliminary forecast representing Oxford’s capacity needs and resources.  The term of the commitment would be for twenty (20) years at an annual estimated cost of $88,000.00.

A motion was made by Windham, at the recommendation of Councilman Smith, to contract with MEAG for one (1) kw of supplemental peaking power.  After a brief discussion, Mayor Murdy called for a second to the motion.  There was no second.  The motion died.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

J.P. Godfrey-405 West Soule Street
Godfrey asked permission to coordinate with Chair of Cemetery Gaither to volunteer his time for maintenance  of Ellen’s Garden flower bed in the northern portion of the cemetery.

Virgil Eady-1222 Wesley Street
Eady expressed concern of rising cost to the city for legal fees

 

MAYOR & COUNCIL
OCTOBER 1, 2007
PAGE 5

Citizen Participation continued:

Claude Sitton asked if there could be a conflict with the city attorney working as the judge for Covington?

Councilman Holt also stated he has been monitoring engineering invoices as well.

LaTrelle Oliver- 312 West Clark Street
Oliver asked if the city was still planning on placing a barrier on the south side of West Clark Street  at the drop off?

Oliver also asked if the city was aware of a recent washout  of the culvert on Wesley Street next to the Wallace house?

Oliver asked if the city was working on liter control?

There being no further business or discussion a motion was made by Windham, seconded by Holt to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.  The Council vote unanimous.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Carol A. Poole
City Clerk, CMC