CITY OF MORROW, GEORGIA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 11, 2004
PRESENT AT MEETING: ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Millirons, Mayor John J. Lampl, II, City Manager
Thomas J. LaPorte, Mayor Pro Tem
C. R. Huie, Councilman
Virlyn Slaton, Councilman
Charles O. Sorrow, Councilman
Mayor Jim Millirons called the regular meeting of the Morrow City Council to order at 7:30 p.m. The meeting took place in the Council Chambers of the Morrow Municipal Complex, 1500 Morrow Road, Morrow, GA 30260.
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Councilman Sorrow gave the invocation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Work Session - April 27, 2004
Regular Meeting - April 27, 2004
Councilman LaPorte made the motion to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Councilman Huie. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
PUBLIC HEARING: Petition to annex and zone the following property:
Certain addresses on Harvard Court, Reagan Chase,
Carriage Drive, and portions of property on Marion
Lane and Maddox Road. The current zoning classi-
fications in Clayton County are: Fee Simple Attached
Townhouses (RMTH), Comprehensive/Commercial
Planned Unit Development (CPUD), and Single-Family
Residence (RS-180). The proposed zoning classifica-
tion of the subject property upon annexation is
Residential Single-Family, 8,000 sq. foot lots (RS-80)
A PowerPoint presentation was given by City Manager John Lampl, Public Works Director Jeff Eady, Communications Director JoAnn Acree, Fire Chief David Wall,
and Acting Police Chief, Major Charlie Sewell. This presentation pointed the reasons it would be in a person’s best interest to be annexed into the City of Morrow.
Note: The presentation is attached and shall be a part of the minutes in the form of a CD and cassette tape recording of the meeting.
The Mayor and Council asked questions of the City Manager and each department head as to the impact of the annexation to the City and personnel. Each one gave favorable comments about the City being well equipped to handle the annexation.
Mr. Richard Rice who lives on Carriage Drive, spoke of the annexation presentation being exceptional and how impressed he was with it. He believes, however, this annexation will negatively affect his neighborhood because Carriage Drive has 30,000 square foot lots and the proposed zoning of the annexed property allows 8,000 square foot lots.
Mayor Millirons responded that RS-80 is definitely a High Density development but, studies have shown that because land is so expensive in this area, larger homes built on smaller lots, along with the City’s development guidelines, will bring a better product and a higher quality of life. It was noted by the City Manager that on a portion of that property, the current county zoning would have allowed 6,000 square foot lots.
There being no other questions, the Mayor proceeded with the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Item 1: Acting Police Chief Charlie Sewell commendation presentation to
Officer Greg Delano
A film was shown which was taken by an onboard camera in Officer Greg Delano’s police vehicle as he was responding to a call. Major Sewell issued a letter of commendation and a certificate to Officer Delano for his alertness and professional driving skills in avoiding a head-on collision which could have resulted in serious, if not fatal, injury to both parties.
Item 2: Request for subdivision of property located on Meadowbrook Lane
and contiguous to Interstate 75, Mr. Lloyd Bell, Attorney, Petitioner
Mr. Bell spoke on behalf of family members/owners of this property. He asked the Council if they would concur with the Planning and Zoning Boards’
recommendation that the subdivision be allowed. The subdivision would occur along the stream running through the property which would divide the property into two separate parcels. Because of the terrain challenges, they believe this would achieve the highest and best use of the property by allowing two different types of development. There would be approximately seventeen to eighteen acres per parcel.
Mayor Pro Tem LaPorte made a motion to approve the petition, seconded by Councilman Slaton. The vote to approve was unanimous.
Item 3: To declare a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria (VIN 2FAlP71W0SX121352)
and a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria (VIN 2FAFP71W6XX117181) as
surplus property and authorize Acting Chief Sewell or his
designated representative to dispose of the property in keeping
with applicable laws
Councilman Sorrow made a motion to approve the declaration, seconded by Councilman Huie. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 4: To declare a Police Department Gateway Solo 3100 laptop (serial #
0012484187) as surplus property and authorize Acting Chief Sewell
or his designated representative to dispose of the property in
keeping with applicable laws
Councilman Sorrow made a motion to approve the declaration, seconded by Councilman Slaton. The motion passed unanimously.
Item 5: First Reading of an Ordinance to annex the aforementioned property on Harvard Court, Reagan Chase, Carriage Drive, Marion Lane, and Maddox Road
No action taken at this time. Second reading will be on May 25, 2004.
Item 6: Resolution 2004-07 to adopt the New Official Base Map and the New Official Zoning Map of the City of Morrow, Georgia
Zoning Administrator Joyce Bean stated that the Zoning Map and Base Map were last updated in May 2002. Since that time the following changes have occurred: property has been annexed along Meadowbrook Lane, property on Meadowbrook Lane has been rezoned, new subdivisions have been added on Phillips Drive and Huie Drive, plus additional green space and new parks have transpired. Placing these changes on the map would benefit the staff and the public.
Councilman LaPorte made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Councilman Huie. The motion was approved unanimously.
Item 7: Progress report - Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Grant
As required by the Governor’s office, Mr. Lampl gave the following update on the radar trailer purchased with an award from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety:
The trailer was required a repair replacing the faulty memory component. The Police Department looks forward to examining the data collected since the trailer has been stationed on Lake Harbin Road. The data will help determine speeding frequency and whether or not the trailer acts as an effective deterrent to speeding.
Item 7: Announcement
The Mayor announced there will be no Planning and Zoning Board meeting on May 18 due to no petitions being filed.
COMMENTS:
Citizens:
None
City Manager:
Acting Chief Police Charlie Sewell was one of three people appointed by Office of Homeland Security Director Bill Hitchens to a core advisory team which will plan and implement a secure information sharing portal that will be a repository of information on best practices, procedures, responsibilities, and training for all public safety agencies.
Mayor and Council:
Councilman Huie thanked and complimented the City Manager and department heads for the excellent annexation presentation.
Mayor Millirons appreciates the staff and the progressive builders and developers who have shown confidence in the City of Morrow.
There was no further business; Mayor Jim Millirons adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m.
_______________________________________________
JIM MILLIRONS, MAYOR
_______________________________________________
THOMAS J. LaPORTE, MAYOR PRO TEM
_______________________________________________
C. R. HUIE, COUNCILMAN
_______________________________________________
VIRLYN SLATON, COUNCILMAN
________________________________________________
CHARLES O. SORROW, COUNCILMAN
ATTEST:
________________________________
Renee Abernathy, City Clerk