Swainsboro City Council held their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 5, at 6 p.m. Following the Prayer of Invocation that was provided by Pastor Nicholas Robertson of Consuming Fire Ministries, and the Pledge of Allegiance, which was recited by all, Council approved the minutes from the regular, May 1, 2023, meeting.
Old Business:
• Council Considered the water rate increase to meet the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) requirements. City Administrator, Herman Middlebrooks, explained that the current minimum residential rates for water, sewage and garbage is $48.80. He further explained that with the new rates, instead of getting 2000 gallons for $7.96, they’re proposing that the rate be increased to $10.44 for 1500 gallons of water. The monthly sewer rate charge will increase to $20.66. Which will bring the entire rate up from $44.80 to $54.80. For commercial customers for 1500 gallons, the rate will increase from $8.21 to $12.81 for water and for the sewer its going up from $17.88 to $25.11. Which will bring the entire rate up from $49.89 to $62.02. Middlebrooks elaborated that the city is just trying to standardize the rates for both residential and commercial. He also shared that our community lost three million gallons in water last year. In overlapping discussion, the long overdue watertank replacement project on Old Nunez Road was brought up in terms of how much money would need to be borrowed to resolve the current financial and operational problems with the water/wastewater department of the City. At that point a discussion followed on borrowing $1,800,000.00 that would be used to correct non-compliance on the current GEFA loan and also supplement the new watertank project. Instead, a motion was made to address both issues and use one million dollars of federal covid relief funds and borrow $800,000.00 from other sources to supplement the new watertank project. The federal funds would come from the American Rescue Plan proceeds of 2.8 million dollars which were granted to the City of Swainsboro in 2020. The City was awarded state grant money for the watertank project over 18 months ago. The motion was agreed to.
• Swainsboro resident, Giselle Perry, addressed council to request an update on the Robin Road project. She asked council if the Robin Road Committee that was recently established has had a chance to meet since the last meeting. Councilman Parker explained to Perry that they would get back to her after a group of “concerned citizens” are established. Perry asked that a formal report or minutes be taken of each meeting for documentation.
New Business:
• City Attorney, Jon Levis, presented the second reading of the Blight Ordinance and requested that Council consider the approval for it to be revised because it’s not in compliance with city standards. The motion passed 6-0.
• Heather Tilson with Broadband One presented Council with a request to approve the placement of a new internet utility pole in the public right of way of North Anderson Drive and Highway 56. An approval for her request was postponed until the July meeting.
• Councilman Davis requested to amend the agenda to change the July 4 meeting to July 10, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.
• Nick Robertson and Melissa Kirby with the DDA, presented Council with a request to remodel the old food pantry building adjacent to Main Street Market instead of demolishing it. They explained that by doing this they could establish new businesses within in it which will benefit the city through those rental funds that will be collected. Robertson explained that the DDA has received a quote of $110,000 to remodel the building for this purpose. The cost to demolish the building is $70,000, however they elaborated that in the long run it’ll be less costly and more beneficial to remodel it for the use of renting it to businesses because this will give the city the opportunity to continuously reap monetary benefits and will allow future growth for the downtown community. City Administrator, Middlebrooks, shared with Council that there is enough money in SPLOST to remodel the building for this purpose. The request was tabled until a later discussion.
• Chris Morton with Clearwater presented their $1,000 scholarship to Swainsboro High School 2023 Alumni and STAR Student, Manuel Fernandez. Fernandez will be attending Georgia Tech this fall to study Industrial Design. Congratulations Manuel!
• The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) presented the 2023 Wastewater Gold Award to Clearwater for their outstanding service over this year. GAWP explained that Clearwater passed their clean water exam with flying colors and commended them for their outstanding effort in providing Swainsboro with constant fresh, clean water. Congratulations Clearwater and thank you!
• Council considered the reappropriation of the Gumlog Gym money. Mayor Bennet explained to Council that they’ve determined that it’s going to take approximately $900,000 to remodel the gym instead of $500,000 that was originally discussed. Their plan is to create classrooms within the building so that the neighborhood children and teens will have a place to go during the summer hours and in the afternoons after school. Mayor Bennett requested that Council wait until they receive the architectural drawings of the gym to decide what they would like to see provided within it, then collectively modify those things as a group. Council unanimously passed a vote to continue working on this consideration and decide something during the next council meeting in July.
• Council considered the approval of the Effluent Pump Station Operations Panel repairs. Chris Morton with Clearwater approached Council to share that one of the Pump Stations at the Wastewater Treatment Plant is failing and is currently only being operated on Emergency Floats at this time due to system failure of the main control panel. Morton additionally shared that the system is now obsolete with parts not being available for purchase to repair the issue. He explained to Council that operating primarily on emergency floats is detrimental to the pump system and is not recommended for optimum pump life expectancy and causes the system to overheat which puts excessive wear on the motors and increases the light bill. Morton requested $9,583 to repair, revamp and rehab a new control panel system that will operate on a level sensor that will turn the motors on as needed. The vote passed unanimously.
• Council considered the bidding for the purchase of two Knuckle Boom trucks. Chris Morton with Clearwater explained that two Knuckle Boom trucks used by the city are in disrepair and requested that those two trucks be sold at auction to purchase the new trucks that are needed. Morton explained that the amount received from this sale could be between $15,000 to $20,000. Morton shared the three quotes he received for the purchase of a new truck: Municipal Equipment Company gave a quote for a Mac Truck for the price of $241,000 and a quote for a Freightliner for the price of $229,900, and Pac Mac gave a quote for a Freightliner for the price of $229,225. Morton suggested that at least one truck be replaced because it’s inoperable. City Administrator, Middlebrooks, explained that there is enough money in SPLOST to purchase one truck but that it’ll need to be put on the Georgia Equipment website for 30 days because of the price. Councilman Parker motioned that one truck be sold at auction for the purchase of the needed truck. The vote passed unanimously.
• Council approved the joining of Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership (PROPEL). This approval is going to allow the University of Georgia to step in with USDA Funds that will help the County and the cities within it to get together and prepare them for the extra growth that our community is going to experience through the upcoming Hyundai plant and the growth our community will see over the next few years in general. UGA will give members of the community an initial assessment to see where we are currently and see what we need to increase on as far as infrastructure. This is completely funded through a grant at no cost to us. The vote passed unanimously.
• Fire Chief Mike Strobridge approached council to request that a part-time firefighter be moved to a full-time position. Council voted and unanimously passed this request. Chief Strobridge made a second request that a new firefighter be hired. Council passed a vote 6-0 to hire Coby Martin for this position.
• Police Chief Randy Ellison approached council to request their consideration to hire Kerri Hall once her necessary training is completed and approved. Chief Ellison explained that once she is hired, he would like to send her to the academy on July 5, to further her training. The vote passed 6-0. Chief Ellison additionally requested that a Lieutenant Hall be promoted to Captain. The vote passed 6-0.
• City Attorney Levis recommended that a temporary ordinance be enacted by council under an emergency resolution authorizing a curfew for adolescents.
• Attorney Levis presented a revised pay plan that more fairly addresses overtime pay and the motion was passed unanimously.
• Councilperson Parker asked that staff observe "Juneteeneth" as a paid federal holiday. The motion was agreed upon.
