December 1, 1997                                                              

                                                                     MINUTES

 

The regular meeting of the Pooler City Council was held on December 1, 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 Poteet 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 Strickland and passed without opposition.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

Councilman Strickland had no report at this time.

 

STREETS/SANITATION

Councilman DeFilippis had no report at this time.

 

WATER/SEWER

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

 

RECREATION

Councilman Seay reported that football is over; basketball signups are underway, with the season beginning December 10^th; and that the gym floor and restrooms are being restored.

 

BUILDING/ZONING

Councilman Wall reported that Planning & Zoning would begin work on the revision to the subdivision ordinance.

 

Mayor Carter presented the Honorary Councilmember for December, Kelly Praino.

 

There was no OLD BUSINESS to discuss.

 

Under NEW BUSINESS, the following was discussed:

 

1.  Request for zoning map amendment/minor subdivision at 216 E. Hwy 80

A public hearing was held prior wherein opposition was present.  The owner, Ms. Carolyn Sikes has requested to subdivide this .566 acre tract into two (2) lots, with the front portion to remain C-1 (light commercial) and the back to be rezoned to R-2C to allow her to build a duplex.  Councilman Wall stated that the adjacent property owners were concerned about parking and that this would be Aspot@ zoning, and after discussion, he made a motion to deny this request.  Motion was seconded by Councilman DeFilippis and passed without opposition.

 

2.  Request for minor subdivision Big Bend Road

Mr. Ralph Phillips, owner, has requested a minor subdivision of his property on Big Bend Road.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion, seconded by Councilman Poteet, to approve this minor subdivision.  Motion passed without opposition.

 

3.  Approval of sketch plan for proposed 267 lot subdivision at southeast corner of Pine

Barren & Quacco Road

Councilman Wall presented a sketch plan for Mr. Fred Williams= proposed 267 lot subdivision on Pine Barren & Quacco Road.  He stated that all requirements have been met and that Mr. Williams has agreed to abide by any changes in the subdivision ordinance.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion to approve this sketch plan, contingent upon Mr. Williams= agreement to abide by any changes in the subdivision ordinance.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed without oppostion.

 

4.  Approval of wrecker service/storage area at 1523 E. Hwy 80

Mr. Donald Lockard, owner, presented his request for approval to operate a wrecker service at his Westside Collision location.  He stated that the fence had been placed in accordance with the City=s regulations.  Councilman Strickland questioned Mr. Lockard about whether or not he would be storing automobiles behind the fence, thus creating a problem with a salvage yard.  Mr. Lockard stated that automobiles would remain only as long as to allow the owner to claim them, and after that time had expired and  the  owner did not claim them, they would be publicly auctioned.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion, seconded by Councilman Strickland, to approve the wrecker service/storage area at 1523 E. Hwy 80.  Ms. Rebecca Benton stated that she agreed with Councilman Strickland=s concerns.   Motion passed without opposition.

 

5.  Request for funding for the Family Services Program (formerly Homemaker

Services)

Mr. Baxter presented this request in the amount of $511.29 for the Family Services Program.  This program serves children, frail elderly and disabled adults who are in need of protection.  After discussion, Councilman Strickland made a motion to approve this funding.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Wall and passed without opposition.

 

6.  Approval of amendment to agreement with Bloomingdale regarding sewage

collection

Mr. Baxter presented this amendment for information only to allow the Council to look it over and bring it back to Council for their approval at a later date.

 

7.  First Reading on amendment to subdivision ordinance

Councilman Wall presented this amendment to the subdivision ordinance, requiring sidewalks on one side of all marginal access streets within subdivision and where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial or collector street, the Mayor and Aldermanic Board may require sidewalks to be installed along these streets.  After discussion, Councilman Wall made a motion to approve this amendment to the subdivision ordinance on First Reading.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed without opposition.

 

8.  First Reading on proposed 1998 budget

Councilman DeFilippis read the proposed 1998 budget (a copy of which is attached to and made a part of these minutes) along with an amendment to the utility rate ordinance regarding an increase to the water and sewer tap in fees and an increase to the variable rate for sewer service.  Councilman DeFilippis then made a motion to approve the proposed 1998 budget on First Reading and to amend, on First Reading,  Chapter 19, Article II, Section 19-21, Subsection (e) and Chapter 19, Article III, Section 19-61 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Pooler,  by increasing the amount of tap in fees for water and sewer from $300 to $500; to amend Chapter 19, Article III, Section 19-46, Subsections (a), (b) and (c), by increasing the variable rate for sewer service $.40 per thousand gallons.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Strickland and passed without opposition.

 

At this time, Mayor Carter complimented Ms. Anne Smith and Mr. Ron Roberts on the fine job they did on the recent Acoffee break@ weekend.  He also complimented Dewey & Peggy Whitaker and Inez Nowell on the Christmas decorations, stating that they are more beautiful than ever.

 

Mr. Ron Roberts, President of the Pooler Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, Inc. presented Council with a preliminary financial report on the festival.  He stated that a final report would be presented before the end of the year.

 

 

Ms. Anne Smith thanked everyone for their help during the Acoffee break@ weekend.

 

Councilman Poteet made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session at approximately 6:54 p.m.  to discuss personnel matters.  Motion was seconded by Councilman DeFilippis and passed without opposition.

 

Mayor Carter called the meeting back to order at 7:30 p.m.  Councilman Poteet made a motion to approve Christmas bonuses for all City Employees.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Wall and passed without opposition.

 

There being no further business to discuss, Councilman DeFilippis made a motion to adjourn at approximately 7:32 p.m.  Motion was seconded by Councilman Poteet and passed without opposition.

 

                                                              PUBLIC HEARING

 

A public hearing was held prior to the regular City Council meeting on Monday, December 1, 1997.  Mayor Buddy Carter called the hearing to order at 5:45 p.m.  Present were Councilman Al DeFilippis, Jim Poteet, Wayne Seay, Marvin Strickland and Stevie Wall; and City Manager, Dennis Baxter.

 

The purpose of this hearing was to discuss a requested zoning map amendment and minor subdivision at 216 E. Hwy 80.  The owner, Ms. Carolyn Sikes, is requesting to subdivide a .566 acre parcel of land into two (2) lots.  The lot is presently zoned C-1 (light commercial).  Ms. Sikes would like to leave the lot fronting on Hwy 80 as commercial and requests the rear lot to be rezoned to an R-2C Zoning to allow her to construct a duplex there.

 

Mr. Randy Morgan and Mr. Emerson Holland, adjacent property owners,  addressed the Council with their concerns over the driveway being on a 90 degree curve, thus creating a problem with parking and safety for the children playing in the area, and also that they felt like this would be Aspot@ zoning and that they were opposed to the rezoning of this property.

 

There being no further business to discuss, the hearing was adjourned at approximately 5:54 p.m.