CITY OF MORROW, GEORGIA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
September 14, 2004
PRESENT AT MEETING: ALSO PRESENT:
Jim Millirons, Mayor John Lampl, City Manager
Thomas J. LaPorte, Mayor Pro Tem
C. R. Huie, Councilman
Virlyn Slaton, Councilman
Charles O. Sorrow, Councilman
Mayor 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, Georgia 30260.
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Councilman Sorrow gave the invocation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Work Session August 24, 2004
Regular Meeting August 24, 2004
Councilman Sorrow made the motion to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Councilman Huie. The motion passed unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS:
Item 1: Recognition of employees who participated in the G-8
Conference in Savannah which included from the Fire
Department: Chief David Wall, Lt. Elton Poss, and Firefighter/EMT
Bryan Baker; and from the Police Department: Capt. Richard
Murphy, Police Officers Jonathan Barnes, Carey Case, and Wes
Elliott
Chief David Wall spoke of the State of Georgia asking the City of Morrow Police Department and Fire Department to help fill some of the positions needed for the G-8 Conference in June of this year. He presented slides showing activities of the more than 400 firefighters from all over the state who were in Savannah. He thanked the Mayor and Council for letting his department participate.
Along the other members of his department, Captain Richard Murphy also recognized Special Agent Rebecca Lovinski of the Morrow Police Department who was also in Savannah with the CCNTF. He shared how he and his men were assigned to Escort Security. There were approximately 8000 law enforcement officers from the GBI, National Guard, FBI, and the Secret Service. The State of Georgia is definitely prepared for an emergency, and the Morrow departments are better prepared if an emergency should happen in this area. He also thanked the Mayor and Council for his department’s opportunity to attend.
Item 2: Presentation and public comments of LCI parking deck concepts -
Pond & Company
Al Golan and Chris Jenkins presented a rendering of the two and one half levels of the first stage of the parking deck which will be on approximately one acre near Clayton College and State University and the Archives buildings. This building can be expanded by several more stories along with other considerations for expansion in the future. One of the considerations would possibly have retail or housing on the top floor.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Item 1: Third Public Hearing for the proposed tax increase for calendar
year 2004, by establishing the gross millage for maintenance and
operation at Nine (9) mils, less the rollback of Five (5) mils for Local
Option Sales Tax, leaving a net millage for maintenance and
operation purposes set at Four (4) mils. The first Public Hearing was
held on August 24, 2004, at 7:30 pm, and the second Public
Hearing was held on August 31, 2004 at 7:30 pm.
Councilman Sorrow called this Public Hearing to order at 6:30 pm on this date before the regular council meeting. Present at this meeting were Councilmen Charles Sorrow, Councilman C. R. Huie, City Manager John Lampl, and City Clerk Renee Abernathy. Councilman Sorrow read the ordinance. No one else was in attendance, therefore, Councilman Sorrow adjourned the Public Hearing at 6:38 pm.
Item 2: Public Hearing for an amendment to the 1986 Zoning Ordinance
of the City of Morrow, Georgia, as amended, concerning Article
IX, Schedule of District Regulations, by establishing a Mixed Use
(MUO) Overlay District as defined as Mixed Use on the Future Land
Use Map which was officially adopted May 25, 2004,to clarify the
intent of these provisions; for the health and welfare of the public;
to establish an effective date; and, for other purposes.
Mayor Millirons asked for comments. There were none.
OLD BUSINESS:
Item 1: Second Reading of an Ordinance 2004-19 pertaining to the
proposed gross millage for calendar year 2004, for maintenance
and operation to be set at Nine (9) mils, less the roll back of Five
(5) mils for Local Option Sales Tax, leaving a net millage for
maintenance and operation purposes to be set at Four (4) mils.
Councilman Huie made a motion to adopt the ordinance, seconded by Councilman Slaton. The vote was three in favor and one opposition by Councilman LaPorte.
NEW BUSINESS:
Item 1: First Reading of an Ordinance to amend the 1986 Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Morrow, Georgia, as amended,
concerning Article IX, Schedule of District Regulations, by
establishing a Mixed Use Overlay District (MUO) as defined as
Mixed Use on the Future Land Use Map which was officially
adopted May 25, 2004,to clarify the intent of these provisions; for
the health and welfare of the public; to establish an effective
date; and, for other purposes.
No further action is required at this time. The second reading is planned for September 28, 2004.
Item 2: Resolution 2004-11- adoption of the updates to the
Comprehensive Plan and Five Year Short Term Work Program
Mr. Lampl asked Sylvia Redic to explain the Department of Community Affairs and the Atlanta Regional Commission processes.
Ms. Redic spoke of the year long process of the comprehensive look at what the city is today, where it has been, and where it is expected to go. The city has received the letter from the Department of Community Affairs giving their acceptance of the plan.
Councilman LaPorte made a motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Councilman Sorrow. The vote to approve was unanimous.
Item 3: Update on the progress of the Governor’s Office of Highway
Safety Grant
Ms. Redic gave an update of the two radar trailers.
COMMENTS:
Citizens - None
City Manager - Mr. Lampl expressed his appreciation to the staff who attended the G-8 Conference. He thanked the gentlemen of Pond and Company for their remarkable work. He also thanked everyone on the city staff who worked on the Comprehensive Plan which saved approximately $100,000 by having it done in house.
Mayor and Council - Councilman Huie asked Chief Wall to introduce the newest member of his staff. Roger Swint.
Chief Wall introduced Roger Swint who has been a volunteer firefighter with the City of Jonesboro for 15 years. He passed his Firefighter l and Firefighter ll after only four sessions.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Millirons adjourned the meeting at 8:05 pm.
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JIM MILLIRONS, MAYOR
_______________________________________________
THOMAS J. LaPORTE, MAYOR PRO TEM
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C. R. HUIE, COUNCILMAN
_______________________________________________
VIRLYN SLATON, COUNCILMAN
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CHARLES O. SORROW, COUNCILMAN
ATTEST:
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Renee Murphy, City Clerk