by WHITLEY CLIFTON
Members of Swainsboro City Council and Mayor Greg Bennett convened for their second monthly meeting on Monday, May 16, at City Hall. The meeting was called to order shortly after 6 p.m. by Mayor Bennett. Dr. D.J. Davis gave invocation and the pledge of allegiance recited by all. Minutes were then reviewed from the May 2 meeting and were unanimously approved..
In reference to old business…
•Rita Faulkner addressed council on the Robin Road Project, requesting that action be taken on the project that was voted a budgeted item by prior council. John E. Parker motioned that the city uses funds from the American Rescue Act to fund the repairs. Bobbie Collins seconded this motion but the motion failed on a 2 – 3 vote with Eric Quarterman abstaining. Johnny Ray Stafford made a second motion on the project request for an engineer to properly diagnose whose responsibility the project would be, the city’s or residential property owners. The motion, seconded by Dr. Davis, passed on a 4 – 1 vote, with Quarterman abstaining.
•Chris Morton with Clearwater Solutions discussed inert landfill with council and advised that the task should be 100 percent completed within the next two weeks.
In reference to new business…
•Council heard a zoning appeal request from Candace Daniel. Due to involved legalities, the request was motioned and approved for referral to the zoning board for further discussion or action to be made.
•Council unanimously approved to revert to hosting only one monthly meeting, unless other business matters arise that require a special called meeting.
•Council approved to pay an invoice from Delta Engineering in the amount of $7,000. The invoice was billed to Ken Warnock on October 12, 2021, for plumbing plans performed at the historical theater.
•Council approved advertisement requests for game room license for the following applicants:
•Arvind R. Patel dba Kisan Inc./Mini Mart located at 905 West Main Street
•Maheshkumar Patel dba Krishi 1502 LLC/ Emanuel Discount located at 119 South Central Street
•Bhargav B. Patel dba Swaiminarayan Krupa Inc. located at 504 East Main Street
•Milankumar D. Patel dba MD Enterprise Inc./ Raco located at 202 East Main Street
•Niral Patel dba Jaynell LLC/ ABC Food Mart located at 208 North Main Street
•Dirav Dolatbhai Patel dba OMSAI Gateway LLC located at 350 East Main Street
•Piyushkumar J. Patel dba K. T.’s Place located at 636 North Main Street
Committee Reports
•Recommendation from the planning and zoning committee for the city to start the process for updating the zoning map was briefly discussed but postponed for later discussion/action.
In other news…
•Sconyers motioned for the agenda to be amended to include discussion on repair work for the city’s street sweeper made by Morton. Morton advised of receiving a quote for $15,000 for repair work for the installation of a new vacuum motor with warranty, advising that a used motor’s estimated cost was given at $10,000 and the price for a new street sweeper being approximately $175,000. Council unanimously approved the installation of a new vacuum motor in the amount of $15,000. Sconyers made first motion for approval and Stafford seconding.
•Chief Ellison addressed council with a request to hire a new employee at the Betty Gambrell Animal Shelter and recommended the hiring of Stephanie Forsythe. He advised council that Leta Fuentes, prior animal control officer and shelter manager, had recently retired and the additional hire was needed. He further spoke on Forsythe’s passion for animals and of her previous volunteer work in that field and advised that she would be a benefit to the shelter, if approved for hire. This request unanimously approved by council.
Executive Session
With no further business to discuss, council opted to enter into executive session to discuss property negotiations. O.C.G.A 50-14-2(1), attorney-client privilege information regarding pending litigation. O.C.G.A. 50-14-3(b)(1)(a), and employment exception pursuant to O.C.G.A. 50-14-3(b)(2).
At the time of press, any information or action resulting from executive session has not been provided by City Hall and will be reported following release.
