MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry
D. Roseberry, Mayor; and Councilmembers: George Holt; David Eady; Jim Windham,
Mike Ready, Jeff Wearing and Sarah Davis.
OTHERS PRESENT: Matt
Pepper, Assistant City Manager; Dave Harvey, Chief; Stacey Mullen, Deputy City
Clerk; Scottie Croy, Maintenance Worker II; Hoyt Oliver, Cheryl Ready, Art
Vinson, Laurie Vinson, Judy Greer, Peggy Madden, Louise Eady, Mike McQuaide,
Darryl Welch, with the Covington News, Randy Simon, Laura Gafnea, Danielle
Miller and Dean Douglas Hicks of Oxford College.
The meeting was called to order by the Hon. Jerry D.
Roseberry, Mayor.
Agenda (Attachment A)
Mayor’s
Announcements
Mayor Roseberry announced an invite from Newton County to
celebrate the new Community Resource Center on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from
8:30am-10:30am, with the ribbon cutting at 9:30am. This event will take place at 8205 Hazelbrand
Rd in Covington.
Campus Life
Center Project
Randy Simon with Oxford College presented plans to make
hardscape and landscape improvements within the city’s right-of-way, in front
of the Campus Life Center building. The council will vote on whether to approve
the plans on the November 5, 2018 Regular Council Meeting. (Attachment B)
107 W. Clark
Street Renovation Project
Councilmember Wearing discussed the details of the renovation project
as it relates to the termite infestation. He reported that Cleary Exterminating discovered active termites under the
garage. Though currently not active, the house also experienced termite damage
in the past. Cleary estimated about 25% of the garage had been infested with
termites. He presented a quote from JACO with costs to repair the termite
damage to the garage for $15,000, termite repair to restore the house for $4,500
and demolition of the garage for $8,500. Councilmember Wearing requested a vote to decide on the completion of
the termite repair, including whether it would be cost effective to repurpose
the garage. A motion was made by Jeff Wearing, seconded by David Eady, to
approve for JACO to repair the termite damage and stabilize the floor at the
house and to demolish the
garage. The motion was approved 7/0. (Attachment C)
Uniform
Contract
Councilmember Wearing gave an update regarding the
current contract with Cintas. Due to the
current leasing rate with Cintas, the city is researching a more cost-effective
option, which may result to either uniform purchasing or leasing at a lower
cost. Cintas has agreed to a meeting on
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 to negotiate a better rate. A letter of intent to either cancel or
continue service will be required to submit to Cintas by December 23, 2018, which
would give time to bring the matter back before the council by the next Regular
Session Council Meeting on November 5th, no later than the November
18th Work Session Meeting.
First Reading
to Amend the Code Section 40-536.- Livestock and Fowl
City Manager Matt Pepper advised that this was the first reading to amend Sec.
40-536. - Livestock and Fowl to allow for the keeping of up to six chickens in
the RR, R-30, R-20 and R-15 residential zoning districts. The amendment
requires chickens to be contained within the property at least 20-ft from all
property lines. The proposed amendment
will require a second reading and a vote for the Regular Session on November 5th.
(Attachment D)
Mayor and Council Retreat
Mayor
Roseberry announced the agenda for the upcoming Mayor and Council Retreat on
Friday, October 26th. The
Mayor advised that this year’s focus would be on the city’s long-term financial
sustainability. The guest speakers in
attendance would be Charles Hall, CPA; Mike Hopkins, Executive Director of
Newton Co. Water & Sewer Authority; Holly Bisig with MEAG Power; Danielle
Miller and Laura Gafnea with Oxford College, and Jim Dove & Mott Beck with
Northeast GA Regional Commission (NEGRC).
Standby Capacity Charge
Based on
figures provided by Chau Nguyen of Electric Cities of GA, Councilmember Eady
gave an analysis of the impact of revenue loss projection for the city with
customers who installed the 4kw PV solar systems. The analysis was broken down
in three groups: cost impact for 10 customers, 60 customers and 100 customers. For the group of 10 customers with solar
panels, the annual cost impact was estimated just under $3,000; for the group
of 60 customers (which is just under 10% of the customers in Oxford) the annual
cost impact was just over $17,000; and the cost impact for the 100 customers was
$28,700. Councilmember Eady advised that
the projections were optimistic for the market penetration for solar panels in Oxford. He expressed that the number of people
estimated to have solar panels installed in Oxford would be a handful. (Attachment E)
A motion was made by Jeff Wearing,
seconded by Sarah Davis to adjourn at 6:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Stacey Mullen, CMC
Deputy City Clerk