From the BOC Work Session Agenda for July 2nd:
Douglas County will host a special blood drive for the American Red Cross in Citizen’s Hall of the Courthouse on Thursday, July 12th, to collect Type “O” blood. The blood drive will be from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and citizens are encouraged to call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate blood. During the summer, blood supplies are at their lowest, and Type “O” blood is the universal blood type that can be used in multiple situations.
The Board of Commissioners will host a County-wide Town Hall Meeting on Monday evening, July 16th, in the Douglas County Courthouse. From 6 - 7 p.m., citizens are invited to meet and greet the County staff and view Department exhibits, and from 7 - 8 p.m., ask questions of and talk to the Board of Commissioners. This County-wide Town Hall Meeting will be chaired by Chairman Tom Worthan. The Public is invited.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
JULY 2, 2007
10:00 A.M. – BOARD ROOM
CITIZENS’ INPUT
PRESENTATION
Memorial Gardens at Boundary Waters and Woodie Fite Senior Center. (Angie)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Regular Commission Meeting of June 19, 2007.
PROCLAMATION
2. Recognizing Chaplain Gary McManus for his years of service in the Douglas County Jail Ministry. (Stan)
PLAT APPROVALS – FINAL PLAT ACCEPTANCE (Cynde)
3. Stonehaven Subdivision, Phase II.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
4. To consider the relocation of an unnamed cemetery located on the Shepherd of the Hill United Methodist Church property at 4283 Chapel Hill Road – LL 60, District 1, Section 5, Parcel 6. (TABLED 5/15/07)
BUSINESS
5. Approval of cancer victims Memorial Garden at Boundary Waters, Grandma’s Garden at Woodie Fite Senior Center and placement of memorial plaque at the flagpole at the Boundary Waters Sports Complex. (Gary)
6. Authorization to sign Credit Reporting Service Contract with Credit Bureau of Dallas, Inc., d/b/a Credit Reports USA (Tim/Legal)
7. Request authorization to enter into supplemental agreement No. 2 with the Georgia Department of Transportation for Project CSSTP-0007-00(127) known as the Douglas County Curve Safety Plan and authorize the Chairman to sign related documents.
8. Request authorization to adopt resolution for the Georgia Department of Transportation to designate segments of Central Church Road and Kings Highway as Temporary State Routes 1182 and 1182TA to support the intersection improvement project at the intersection of Central Church Road and Kings Highway and authorize the Chairman to sign resolution document.
9. Request authorization to enter into agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation to retain jurisdictional control and maintenance responsibility on Temporary State Routes 1182 and 1182TA (segments of Central Church Road and Kings Highway) while on the State Highway System and authorize the Chairman to sign related documents.
10. Selection of firm for Curve Safety Project and authorize the Chairman to sign all related documents. (Diane)
11. Award of bid for Winston Ball Park grading project and authorize Chairman to sign all related documents. (Diane)
12. Authorize the selection of RJ Wood & Company and Rindt McDuff for the Engineering Consulting Services for Douglas County and authorize the Chairman to sign all related documents.
13. Appointment of Diane Connors as County Liaison to the Cultural Arts Council Board of Directors.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Board of Commissioners will host a County-wide Town Hall Meeting on Monday evening, July 16th, in the Douglas County Courthouse. From 6 - 7 p.m., citizens are invited to meet and greet the County staff and view Department exhibits, and from 7 - 8 p.m., ask questions of and talk to the Board of Commissioners. This County-wide Town Hall Meeting will be chaired by Chairman Tom Worthan. The Public is invited.
Sheriff Phil Miller invites Douglas County citizens to tour the Douglas County Jail on Saturday, July 21st, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Douglas County will host a special blood drive for the American Red Cross in Citizen’s Hall of the Courthouse on Thursday, July 12th, to collect Type “O” blood. The blood drive will be from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and citizens are encouraged to call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate blood. During the summer, blood supplies are at their lowest, and Type “O” blood is the universal blood type that can be used in multiple situations, so please donate if you can.
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION - Personnel, Litigation, Land Acquisition
CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting July 2, 2007
7:30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Minutes of previous regular meeting of June 18, 2007, budget public hearing of June 11, 2007, and legislative session of June 14, 2007.
5. Consent Agenda: Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain
a. 20-07-34 - Adopt a resolution to authorize Operation L.E.A.D. to use certain City of Douglasville streets for a march at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5.
Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth
a. 21-07-34 - Authorize the Mayor to sign a Sponsorship Contract Agreement between the City and the Douglasville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc., with CBL & Associates Management, Inc., and Arbor Place II, LLC, for promotion of tourism initiatives at Arbor Place Mall between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.
b. 21-07-35 - Authorize the Mayor to sign a $20,000.00 renewal agreement with the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce for the period of July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, for tourism services in cooperation with the City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter
a. 22-07-59 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Douglasville Exchange at 7424 Douglas Boulevard. Application by Michael McGuire of Hana AMC, Inc.
b. 22-07-60 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester Parcel R, Phases 3 & 4, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
c. 22-07-61 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester Parcel B, Section 1-B, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
d. 22-07-62 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester Parcel B, Section 2, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
e. 22-07-63 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester Parcel A, Section 4, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
f. 22-07-64 - Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester Parcel A, Section 3, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
g. 22-07-65 - Request approval of a final plat for Tributary at New Manchester, Parcel C, at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Steve Osterbur of Douglasville Development, LLC.
Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
a. 23-07-18 - Adopt a resolution to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with John Pearson for security services in City parks, to be effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008.
Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks
a. 26-07-11 - Authorize the City Manager to advertise for bids for cleaning services for various City of Douglasville buildings from August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008.
b. 26-07-12 - Authorize the City’s Keep Douglasville Beautiful to apply to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a grant under the “Away from Home” Special Events Recycling Program.
Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims
a. 28-07-19 - Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with the Atlanta Regional Commission for a pay and classification study of City of Douglasville employees.
b. 28-07-20 - Adopt a resolution to provide for the sick leave bonus program for City of Douglasville employees to be continued in Fiscal Year 2007 - 2008.
Other Business
a. Change the date and time of the City Council’s first regular meeting in September 2007 from 7:30 p.m. Monday, September 3, 2007, to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2007, due to the Labor Day holiday.
6. Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain
a. 20-07-36 - Request for an alcohol beverage license for a change in the agent outlet manager for the retail package sale of wine and malt beverage at RaceTrac #417 at 9294 Georgia Highway 5. Application by RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.
b. 20-07-37 - Request for an alcohol beverage license for a change in the agent outlet manager for the retail package sale of wine and malt beverage at RaceTrac #439 at 5897 Georgia Highway 92 (Fairburn Road). Application by RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.
c. 20-07-38 - Request for an alcohol beverage license for a change in the agent outlet manager for the retail package sale of wine and malt beverage at RaceTrac #636 at 656 Thornton Road. Application by RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.
7. Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth
8. Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter
Tabled from May 21, 2007:
a. 22-07-44 - Request for a variance from the City’s Zoning Code on sign regulations in a CG (General Commercial District) at 2038 Highway 92 (Fairburn Road). Application by CBS Outdoor, Inc., and Scott Peters.
New Business:
b. 22-07-66 - Request for variances: to allow the modification of the sign, as shown on engineering plans previously submitted to the City, in order to adjust the sign faces approximately 16 feet towards the rear of the subject property, with certain associated modifications to the structure foundation and other structural aspects; to increase the proximity requirement to Interstate 20 from the required 500 linear feet up to 1,000 linear feet; to reduce the front yard building setback from the required 75 linear feet down to 3 linear feet, to reduce the side yard setback from the eastern property line from the required 75 linear feet down to 40 linear feet, to reduce the side yard setback from the western property line from the required 75 linear feet down to 45 linear feet, and to reduce the setback from other buildings or structures on said property from the required 75 linear feet down to 3 linear feet; and to vary the maximum height of the sign from the required 30 linear feet up to 45 linear feet on approximately 0.648 acre at 2038 Highway 92 (Fairburn Road). Application by CBS Outdoor, Inc.
c. 22-07-67 - Adopt a resolution to enable builders to have an extension of time for installing sod on new construction sites, consistent with the length of the current drought.
9. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
10. Finance Committee/Henry Mitchell III
11. Information Technology Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. 25-07-11 - Authorize the Mayor to sign contracts with HTE VAR, LLC, IBM Corporation, and InfoPrint Solutions Company for maintenance service on computer equipment and software.
b. 25-07-12 - Authorize the Mayor to sign a Service Agreement with Motorola for Fiscal Year 2007 - 2008.
12. Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks
13. Transportation Committee/Michael Carter
14. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims
15. Ordinances & Intergovernmental Committee/Callye B. Holmes
16. Other Business
17. City Attorney/Joel Dodson
18. Chief Assistant City Attorney/Suzan Littlefield
19. City Manager/Bill Osborne
20. Comments from Citizens and Delegates
On September 18th the public has a chance to attend “Round 2” for voting on the latest version of SPLOST. Last July the public disapproved the 2006 SPLOST referendum on many premises, the new County jail likely the culprit intentionally receiving all incoming funds first.
The disapproval of the 2006 SPLOST resonated through the County government and local municipalities, forcing politicians to revise SPLOST projects while injecting the possibility of impact fees. Nowadays information about impact fees has vanished into a filing cabinet and the advent of SPLOST has returned once more.
Tomorrow the five year ordeal known as the 2002 SPLOST will officially becoming to an end while bringing about a return of the 6% sales tax. How long this percentage lasts depends on the people who live in Douglas County. The question that everyone should be asking is: what’s the difference between the 2006 SPLOST and 2007 SPLOST? Let us find out for ourselves, shall we.
Local news affiliate 11 Alive today is reporting that Douglas County will join the ranks on a total ban on outdoor watering. Almost two weeks ago the WSA approved an once-a-week outdoor water ban, however Director Pete Frost recommended for no outdoor watering considering the extreme drought condition. Below is the article from 11 Alive’s website.
Joining the growing list of communities that have totally banned outdoor watering is Douglas County.
The Douglas County Commission has declared that all outdoor watering in the county is prohibited. In addition, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission and Douglas County Fire Chief Scott Spencer, all outdoor burning is banned until further notice — and this includes campfires, recreational fires and pits.
People are encouraged to be especially careful with the disposal of lighted cigarettes.
The County is proposing a warning for a first offense under the new rules, but fines of $350 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense.
The new water ban will come into effect on July 1st. The only noticeable difference from the current ban and the new ban is the third offensive. Instead of having the water supply shut off (current ban), the WSA will fine $1,000 (new ban). You can probably rule out the 4th of July fireworks at Arbor Place.
Last Friday the Douglas County Government sent out a press release regarding the projects within the 2007 SPLOST, while voting for the referendum is still months away. Although some of the language was quite vague concerning the location of the projects, using some corresponding data collected last year I was able to map out approximate places for a large portion of the public goods using Google Earth.
Some of the listings were rollovers from the 2006 SPLOST referendum that the public disapproved of last year, while other projects, like the Senior Citizen Center with a therapeutic pool, were reminiscent from the current 2002 SPLOST. Other projects had originally ppeared alongside impact fee documentation.
If you are interested in where most of the 2007 SPLOST projects are located, I have provided a map that can be seen in Google Earth and Google Maps. If you curious about the upcoming SPLOST and looking for more ‘background’ information, I should have a post out later on in the week.
The Douglas County Sentinel is reporting today that the City of Douglasville disregarded following guidelines set forth by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) since 1993. The problem lies within incorrectly informing the DCA about local modifications to the State’s minimum requirements for constructing development.
According to the article the DCA is supposed to be informed about changes sixty or more days before the City Council votes to modify a requirement. Instead the City Council took it upon them selves to approve minimum requirement changes and then submit the information to the DCA.
A press release stated as of the previous Friday the City of Douglasville discovered the error and in haste, approved a 90 day moratorium on anything related to development permits on Monday. The moratorium will end on September 18th, the same day that the 2007 SPLOST will be voted on by the public. The City of Douglasville did not provide the press release on their website.
Those on the City Council back in 1993 that are still serving in local politics today is District 2 Board of Commission Charles Camp (Mayor) and City Manager Bill Osborne.
But now questions surface: Why did it take fourteen years to find the problem? Where were the checks-and-balances to ensure this error should have never occurred? Why did not the DCA catch the error?
If you have not heard by now, the County has released the project list for the 2007 SPLOST Referendum. On first glance the list is less in length than the 2002 referendum Why is this? The main contributing factor is the cost of the new jail that will be located at the Flagview Mobile Home Park off of Fairburn Road.
Half of the SPLOST monies collected would be used for the construction of the jail, which breaks down as the following:
Another note about the cost of the new jail – the original cost was just over $87 million last year, which is a $43 million difference in less than one year.
The County is also pushing for a new library and performing arts center somewhere along the Chapel Hill Road corridor. Both locations are unknown at this time, however I would think that the locations would be north of Central Church Road. Remember that the Chapel Hill Library was to be paid for by impact fees. Another note is that the size of the library has increased from 15,000 30,000 sq. ft. to 35,000 sq. ft.
The official press release is available after the jump.
Title: Hath the Devil Come
Location: Site of New Chapel Hill Elementary
Size: 8×10
Prints: 1 of 5
Price: $20 + 5 shipping
Taken on a June evening in 2006, the skies ignited above with fiery colors at the base of leveled earth. The void created by the clearing process allowed the remaining tree line to wrap around the photograph as the sun descended to the west. Minutes after sunset the cloud layers exposed themselves in shades of orange and yellow, depicting a scene that no longer is available today.
The photograph includes a white border for easier mounting.
The price is determined by the amount of time prepping for the photograph – i.e. scouting for location, recognizing timing, studying weather patterns – setting up the shot, post-processing of image, and printing of image.
A five dollar flat rate for shipping is added to the price to take care of the purchasing shipping materials in order the photograph to make a safe trip. Losing Georgia uses USPS and FedEx for shipment.
