TOWN OF TALLULAH FALLS
STATE OF GEORGIA
REGULAR MEETING
March 9, 2017
MINUTES
The regular monthly meeting for March 9, 2017 of the City Council of Tallulah Falls, Georgia was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Terri Dobbs.
- Mayor Terri Dobbs
- Pro-Tem Deb Goatcher
- Councilperson Bill Coldren
- Councilperson Larry Hamilton
- Councilperson Robbie McCutcheon
- Police Chief Bill Goatcher
- Fire Captain Mike Early
- Attorney Allyn Stockton
- Town Administrator/Clerk Patti Polk
OTHERS PRESENT:
See attached sign-in list. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Mayor Dobbs welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Mrs. Joyce Morris, member of Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church, to open the meeting with prayer.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Goatcher to accept the minutes of the Special Called Meeting on February 6, 2017 and February 9, 2017 Regular City Council Meeting. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson McCutcheon and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs recognized Rabun Tourism Development Authority Executive Director, Teka Earnhardt. Ms. Earnhardt discussed the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse event and how surrounding cities are involved. The main “viewing party” event will be held on August 21, 2017 at Rabun Gap School and is expected to draw approximately 7,000 people. The Authority has included Tallulah Falls Saturday Night Blue Grass on the Square as part of the event schedule and will be coordinating with Bill Goatcher and Dale Reece on further details. Ms. Earnhardt asked if Tallulah Falls would like to help sell t-shirts for the event on consignment for $15 each.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Goatcher to take fifty (50) t-shirts on consignment with no money to be made from said sales. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Coldren and passed unanimously.
Attorney Report:
Attorney Stockton commented on the title search for the dock property where the old Town Hall was formerly located. He and Lisa McCall are still working to narrow down their search and ownership.
Attorney Stockton discussed the amended contract for the Habersham Radio Agreement. He has spoken with Phil Sutton to advise the Town of Tallulah Falls will make part of the upcoming FY2017 budget.
Fire Report:
Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Fire Captain Mike Early announced the Fire Department had two former members to rejoin and one new member to join.
Captain Early stated he recently purchased supplies for the Fire Department in the amount of $257.89 and asked for reimbursement from the Town. Captain Early also noted the need for three (3) thermal imager batteries which usually cost $200-300 each.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Coldren to reimburse Captain Early and authorize the expense of up to $900 for the thermal imager batteries. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Goatcher and passed unanimously.
Captain Early noted a donation was made by Liberty Baptist Church to the Fire Department in the amount of $800. A thank you note has been sent by the Town.
Captain Early announced Fire Chief, Robbie McCutcheon, resigned from his position once becoming a newly elected Tallulah Falls Councilmember so until the election is held in June 2017, there is now a vacancy for Fire Chief as well as Assistant Fire Chief.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Goatcher to appoint Captain Early as the interim Fire Chief until the June election. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson McCutcheon and passed unanimously.
Police Report:
Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Police Chief Bill Goatcher stated the new all-wheel drive 2017 Charger patrol car should be delivered within the next one to two weeks. There is no invoice yet; however, the amount will be $30,700, less the $3,500 trade value for the Crown Vic.
Chief Goatcher stated a resident fire arms class is being planned for April. An email with the exact date and time will be sent to residents and will be posted on the web site as well.
Financial Report:
Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Mayor Dobbs referenced the Tuesday, March 6, 2017, Workshop where Joely Mixon presented the financial audit findings for FY2016 noting the Town has seventeen (17) months of cash reserves on hand.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Goatcher to accept the FY2016 Financial Audit for the Town of Tallulah Falls. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Coldren and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs also acknowledged her agreement with Mixon’s recommendation on segregation of duties and asked that Councilperson Coldren assist the Town Clerk by opening and reviewing bank statements prior to the reconciliation by the Town Clerk.
Water Report:
Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Mayor Dobbs referenced the Tuesday, March 6, 2017, Workshop where she and the Council interviewed Dallas Taylor as a potential appointment for Tallulah Falls on the Rabun County Water Authority. Mr. Taylor is a Tiger resident but there is no requirement he live in Tallulah Falls. Mr. Taylor has agreed to, at a minimum, provide a written report to the Council each month.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Hamilton to appoint Mr. Taylor to the Rabun County Water Authority. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson McCutcheon and passed unanimously.
Street Report:
Chief Goatcher stated the Town Hall parking area needs asphalting. He is currently getting bids and will come back to the Council with a cost.
Public Safety Report:
None.
Mayor’s Comments:
Mayor Dobbs stated the Rabun County Oath of Municipal Officers had been completed by each Officer and was filed in the Rabun County Probate Court files on March 6, 2017 by Town Clerk, Patti Polk.
Mayor Dobbs referenced the Tuesday, March 6, 2017, Workshop where Archway representative, Sharon Liggett, presented their project proposal to assist Tallulah Falls City Council in establishing the Vision, Mission, and Values for the Town. Mayor Dobbs stated she would like to see community involvement in the 1-day workshop. The date and time of the workshop is being scheduled and an email notification will be sent to residents soon.
Mayor Dobbs requested the monthly workshop date be changed to better accommodate the time of others. Currently, the Workshop is held on the Thursday before the regularly scheduled Council meeting. The new proposed Workshop date is to meet on the same day as the Regular Council Meeting. The Workshop will be held at 5:30pm and if more time is needed for a workshop discussion, it will continue after the regularly scheduled Council meeting ends on the same evening.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Coldren to accept the Workshop date change. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Hamilton and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs reviewed the advertisement options for the sale of the Terrora Building also known as the Old Georgia Power Building. Option 1 is to advertise in the Legal section at $10 per 100 words. Option 2 is for a 10-inch display ad in the main section of paper. For the Northeast Georgian, a two-week run will cost $386. For the Clayton Tribune, a two-week run will cost $320.
Attorney Stockton noted the advertisement must run in the Legal section of the newspaper.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Coldren to authorize up to $1,000 for the advertisement of the Terrora Building in the Legal section as well as a Main section display for two weeks in both the Northeast Georgian and Clayton Tribune. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Goatcher and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs reviewed the building permit submitted by Mr. Craig Weatherly for 305 River Street. Mr. Weatherly is requesting a permit for the construction of a 12×16 out building, valued at $6,000, for storage of kayaks and canoes.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Hamilton to authorize the building permit for the out building. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Coldren and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs stated the Town has been approached by a couple of local banks interested in securing our banking business which will require releasing 3 months of financial statements for analysis of any cost savings. She asked if the Town is interested in having the analysis completed.
A Motion was made by Councilperson Goatcher to release the financial data and requested the Town Clerk contact local banks who are interested in providing a cost savings analysis/proposal for the Town’s banking business. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Hamilton and passed unanimously.
Mayor Dobbs made the following appointments, effective immediately, for Council Members.
- Deb Goatcher remain as Mayor Pro-tem
- Larry Hamilton, formerly Street Commissioner, is now Water Commissioner
- Bill Coldren, formerly Public Safety Commissioner, is now Street Commissioner
- Robbie McCutcheon is now Public Safety Commissioner
Mayor Dobbs commented on the Rabun County “Keep Rabun Beautiful” project. She is requesting Tallulah Falls residents participate in this garbage pickup event on Saturday, April 22, 2017, starting at 8:30am. The Tallulah Falls Police Department will assist with the distribution of orange safety vests and road patrol to keep our participants safe.
Chief Goatcher stated if anyone calls wanting to work off their fine, this is an event where they can sign up to do so.
Mayor Dobbs stated the Town Hall Open House will be scheduled for mid-May rather than early April to allow for all renovations to be completed. An announcement will be made once a final date and time is decided.
Mayor Dobbs gave an update on her March 14, 2017 discussion with State Representative Matt Gurtler. Representative Gurtler was receptive to the Town’s recent requests and concerns made to the Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Department of Natural Resources and has agreed to actively work on these requests.
Open Floor:
Councilperson Coldren distributed a handout on time management for meetings and requested it be added to the agenda for the next scheduled workshop.
Resident and former Mayor, Dan Hayes, stated he had received a rejection letter from the Georgia Department of Transportation in response to the Town’s request to have the hill removed at the Terrora Building.
Mayor Dobbs indicated she was unaware a rejection letter had been received but would follow up with Representative Gurtler accordingly.
Councilperson Coldren made the Motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilperson Goatcher. The Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.