Council Work Session
June 16, 2009

Meeting called to order by Mayor Harold M. Edwards, Jr. at 5:30pm.

Invocation given by Mayor Edwards.

Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Wright.

Present were Mayor Harold M. Edwards, Jr., Councilman Randall Wright , Councilman Robert Smith, Jr. , City Administrator Patrick Eidson and City Attorney Rebecca Tydings.  Absent: Councilman Cameron Andrews and Councilman Edward Tucker. 

Home Based Business:  Southeast Propane Services, 800 Gunn Rd, Apt 328, Centerville (owner: Jack A. Souto, Jr.):  Copy of application provided to Governing Authority for review.  Applicant, Mr. Souto present at meeting.  Councilman Wright asked Mr. Souto if there will be any equipment kept at the residence that could be hazardous.  Mr. Souto stated “no”.  Motion made by Councilman Wright to approve business license; seconded by Councilman Smith.  Motion carried.  
 Mayor Edwards asked Mr. Souto what he will be doing. Mr. Souto stated that he will perform onsite dismantling of 30,000 gallon tanks at old plants/factories that have closed.

Approval of FY2009-2010 Budget Resolution:  Mayor Edwards gave a synopsis of resolution and made reference pertaining to the following:
Section 1.  That the proposed fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget, in the amount of $7,843,753.00, attached hereto and incorporated herein as a part of this Resolution is hereby adopted a the Budget for the City of Centerville, Georgia for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, which begins July 1, 2009 and ends on June 30, 2010.
 Mayor Edwards entertained motion to adopt.  Motion made by Councilman Wright to adopt resolution as written; seconded by Councilman Smith.  Motion carried.  FY 2010 Budget attached to Resolution.  See Resolution 2009-4.
Mayor Edwards publicly thanked all City Administrator Eidson, Budget Committee
(Councilman Wright & Councilman Tucker) and Department Heads for their assistance and input during the FY2010 Budget process.

Memorandum of Understanding: Centerville Fire Department & Georgia Forestry Commission: A copy of the document was provided to Governing Authority for review.  Both documents provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission.  City Attorney Tydings has reviewed both documents and notes no concerns.  Essentially the documents govern the use agreement between the City of Centerville and the Georgia Forestry Commission for a vehicle exchanged from the Police Department to the Fire Department.  The vehicle was transferred to the Fire Department because the police department no longer had a need for the truck.  The truck will be used by the Fire Department as a “brush” truck when assisting the Georgia Forestry Commission in fighting brush fires.  The cooperative lease agreement states that the commission will provide the equipment used in fighting brush fires for installation on the city truck at no cost.  City Administrator recognized Chief Mathews.  Chief Mathews stated that the training for this specialized type of fire fighting can be done online and in house with minimal cost.   City Administrator stated that he is seeking approval from the Council authorizing Mayor Edwards as the signatory on both documents (MOU and Cooperative Lease Agreement).  
Motion made by Councilman Smith authorizing Mayor Edwards as signatory on both documents (Memorandum of Understanding & Cooperative Lease Agreement for Rural Fire Defense: Centerville Fire Department & Georgia Forestry; seconded by Councilman Wright.  Motion carried.

Fire Department Training Facility Site Improvements/Container Purchase:  City Administrator recognized Chief Mathews.  Chief Mathews reported that the Fire Department is seeking approval to purchase (4) containers to be used as “burn buildings” and storage at the city’s property on Dunbar Road.  Chief Mathews received bids from three vendors.  High bid Semi-storage ($9100.00), low bid received from J. D. Bilderback ($950.00 each container, $50.00 delivery charge for each (Total $3000.00).   Three of the containers will be constructed into burn buildings for live fire training and one would be used for storage.  The Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth currently has no facility for live fire training, making the city’s training area very valuable to area fire departments.  Copy of bids and proposed fire training facility attached and made part of minutes.  City Administrator Eidson reported that the public safety training facility is under budget constraints and training sessions are being canceled.  This would be a positive step and save Centerville money for training.  The Fire Department has had to travel to other jurisdictions for training.  This would enhance the Fire Department with making purchase. Expenditure will be paid as follows: ½ from picture fund revenue and ½ from General Fund (Fire Department) supplies line item.  
Motion made by Councilman Smith to accept low bid (J.D. Bilderback) $ 3000.00; seconded by Councilman Wright.  Motion carried.

Contract Conduct City Elections Utilizing State Owned Equipment (Houston County):  Copy of contract provided to Governing Authority for review.  City Attorney Tydings has reviewed contract and no issues noted.  Mayor Edwards entertained motion seeking authorization to enter into contract with Houston County and designate Mayor as the signatory on contract.  
Motion made by Councilman Wright to enter into contract with Houston County to utilize state owned equipment for November 2009 Election and future elections and authorize Mayor Edwards as signatory; seconded by Councilman Smith.  Motion carried. 

Comments from Council
None

Comments from Audience
John Harley, 403 Dogwood Glen, stated that he likes the idea of a training facility for the fire department and asked if the city has made contact with neighboring residential owner (Commissioner Jay Walker) and Westside Baptist Church to get feedback about concerns related to the proximity of their properties to the proposed training facility location (Dunbar Rd).  Houston County Commissioner Jay Walker stated that he is aware of the training facility.  Chief Mathews stated that he had spoken with Westside church last year and no concerns were voiced at that time.  In fact, Chief Mathews stated that church representatives had requested that he not put up a privacy fence between the two properties so students could see the fire fighters in training.   
City Administrator Eidson reminded the Governing Authority as a point of information that City Hall will be closed on Friday July 3, 2009 in observance of the 4th July Holiday and also that he (City Administrator Eidson) will be on vacation July 6-13, 2009.  
Mayor Edwards adjourned meeting at 6:12pm.
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Mayor Harold M. Edwards, Jr.
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Attest by:  City Clerk, Krista Bedingfield
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