October 20, 1997                                                                 

                                                                     MINUTES

 

The regular meeting of the Pooler City Council was held on October 20, 1997.  Mayor Buddy Carter called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Present were Councilman Al DeFilippis,  Jim Poteet, Wayne Seay, Marvin Strickland and Stevie Wall; City Manager, Dennis Baxter and City Attorney, Wiley Ellis.  Councilman Bud Jeffcoat was absent.

 

The invocation was given by Mr. Baxter and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman DeFilippis. 

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed upon a motion by Councilman Strickland and seconded by Councilman Wall, with no opposition.

 

Report from the Standing Committees:

 

FINANCE

Councilman Jeffcoat was absent, therefore Councilman DeFilippis presented bills for payment, and after discussion, made a motion to pay these bills subject to funds.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed without opposition.

Councilman Seay presented a budget adjustment for the recreation department, decreasing account #9900 (park improvements) by $4600 and increasing account

#9701 (building overhead capital outlay) by $4600 to cover the cost of renovating the restrooms in the gym.  Councilman Seay made a motion, seconded by Councilman Poteet, to approve this budget adjustment.  Motion passed without opposition.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

Councilman Strickland reported that the new fire truck was here.

 

STREETS/SANITATION

Councilman DeFilippis reported that the street & drainage department has performed routine maintenance.

 

WATER/SEWER

Councilman Poteet reported that the water & sewer department has performed routine maintenance.

 

RECREATION

Councilman Seay reported that football and cheerleading is in full swing; that signups for basketball have begun; October 25^th there will a Halloween Dance at the gym; and the recreation department, along with Fred Williams Homes, is sponsoring a Haunted House at the upside down house on October 30^th through November 1^st; Homecoming is November 6^th and the Homecoming Dance is November 7^th.

 

BUILDING/ZONING

Councilman Wall reported that the PUD review board had there first meeting recently.

 

Mayor Carter presented a certificate to the Honorary Councilmember for October, Carol Purcell, thanking her for her service this month.,

 

Mayor Carter read aloud a proclamation, recognizing Mrs. Bessie Beery, who recently celebrated her 101^st birthday.  Mayor Carter proclaimed October 14^th as ABessie Beery Day@ in Pooler, Georgia.

 

Under OLD BUSINESS, the following was discussed:

 

1.  Request for variance at 124 Pine Meadow Drive

Mr. Vic Landau and Mr. Larry Lagasse of Palmer Wireless were present.  Mr. Ellis stated that he has met with their attorney to determine whether a condition could be recorded on the plat that would restrict the use of the property.  He stated that the city would not be able to enforce such a restriction.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion to deny this variance request.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Strickland and passed with Councilman DeFilippis opposing.

 

Under NEW BUSINESS, the following was discussed:

 

1.  Request for variances at Lots 151,152 and 140, Cross Creek Subdivision

A public hearing was held prior, wherein no opposition was present.  Councilman Wall made a motion to approve these variances, based on Planning & Zoning=s recommendation.  Motion was seconded by Councilman DeFilippis and passed without opposition.

 

2.  Request for minor subdivision of Pinehurst Subdivision in three (3) phases and

minor subdivision of Lot 9 (Phase I)

A public hearing was held prior, wherein no opposition was present.  Ms. Rebecca Benton asked that her comments, (i.e., trespassers, lack of play space for children) be made a part of the record.   Councilman Wall made a motion to approve these minor subdivisions, based on Planning & Zoning=s recommendation.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Strickland and passed without opposition.

 

3.  Approve annexation and zoning of 1713.88 acre tract adjacent to Jimmy DeLoach

Parkway

A public hearing was held prior, wherein no opposition was present.  This property consists of six (6) parcels and the owners have petitioned the City to be annexed.  This land is currently zoned R-A (residential-agricultural and surface mining) under Chatham County=s classification and the proposed Pooler=s classification is

R-A (residential-agricultural).  Marty Jones and Kelly Praino addressed Council with their concern over letting the people have more say in the decision to annex.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion, based on Planning & Zoning=s recommendation, to approve this annexation and zoning.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed with Councilman Strickland abstaining due to a conflict of interest.

 

4.  Approve site plan for W.V.T. Enterprises convenience store

Councilman Wall presented this request from W.V.T. Enterprises for their convenience store located in Mill Creek Subdivision.  He stated that all requirements have been met, including the LDA approval.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion, seconded by Councilman Poteet, to approve this site plan based on Planning & Zoning=s recommendation.  Motion passed without opposition.

 

Mr. Jack Brewton invited everyone to the candidates forum  being held on Tuesday, October 21^st from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Pooler School, the Neighborhood Watch meeting on October 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, and the Mayoral candidate forum on October 28^th at Pooler School.

 

There being no further business to discuss, Councilman Wall made a motion to adjourn at approximately 6:51 p.m.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed without opposition.

 

 

 

                                                                 Public Hearing

 

Two (2) public hearings were held prior to the regular City Council meeting on Monday, October 20, 1997.  Mayor Carter called the hearings to order at 5:30 p.m.  Present were Councilman Al DeFilippis, Bud Jeffcoat, Jim Poteet, Wayne Seay, Marvin Strickland and Stevie Wall; City Manager, Dennis Baxter and City Attorney, Wiley Ellis.

 

The purpose of the hearings were to discuss:

 

 

5:30 p.m.  - 1) Requested variances at Lots 151, 152 and 140, Cross Creek Subdivision - Mr. Fred Williams, owner, presented requests for a 15' variance on each of these lots.  He stated that the subdivision was designed with the County=s setbacks in mind, therefore, the houses planned for these (corner) lots will not fit under the City of Pooler=s setback requirements. 

 

2) Requested minor subdivision of Pinehurst Subdivision - Mr. Jerry Wardlaw has requested this minor subdivision in three (3) phases and Lot 9 to be Phase I.  Ms. Rebecca Benton, adjacent property owner, stated that there should be standards in place to protect the City from these small subdivisions, adding that they cause problems with noise and trespassers and that the children have no where to play.  She further stated that this is an example of greed on the part of the former owner and the developer.

 

 

5:45 p.m. - proposed annexation and zoning of 1713.88 acre tract adjacent to Jimmy DeLoach Parkway - Councilman Poteet stated that 100% of the owners of this property have requested to be annexed into the City.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the hearings were adjourned at approximately 5:52 p.m.