Statesboro Mayor and City Council opened their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday morning, March 7, 2023 by recognizing AmeriCorps week, the City Finance Department and with a presentation from Richard Deal with Lanier, Deal and Proctor on the financial audit the city.
Richard Deal praised the Cities finance department and said it was no surprise they again received the GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement (COA) for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The City of Statesboro received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program for their 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This is the 17th year the City has received the award.
The COA Program was established in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles, to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.
The goal of the program is not to assess the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves. There are over 4,000 participants in the COA program. The City of Statesboro received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program for their 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This is the 17th year the City has received the award.
Recognitions/Public Presentations
A) Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing the week of March 12-18, 2023 as AmeriCorps week.
B) Presentation to the Finance Department for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
C) Presentation by Richard Deal with Lanier, Deal, and Proctor on how the City financially ended Fiscal Year 2022.
Consent Agenda (ALL APPROVED)
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 02-21-2023 Work Session Minutes
b) 02-21-2023 Council Minutes
c) 02-21-2023 Executive Session Minutes
Consideration of a motion to approve the City of Statesboro Fiscal Year 2022 audit.
New Business
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to cancel the July 4, 2023 regularly scheduled council meeting.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-12: A Resolution requesting approval to apply for the FY 2023 Community Development Block Grant for the City of Statesboro, Georgia.
In 2022, the City was granted control of the Whitesville Park adjacent to Whitesville Full Gospel Church. As a newly established City Park, staff recommends the application of a multi-activity grant to improve the park, adjacent roadway, and provide Housing Rehabilitation dollars for additional large scale rehabs that are needed in the area.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-13: A resolution approving application for funding from the Congressionally Directed Spending Program for the Creek on the Blue Mile Project.
In March of 2022 City staff submitted an application for Congressionally Directed Spending to U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. Unfortunately, no funding was federally appropriated for the project in the FY2023 budget. One of the concerns that were provided by the Senator’s Office was the need to demonstrate broader support for the project and to better demonstrate how the funding will fit into one of the funding categories that correlate best with the Creek on the Blue Mile project. Since that time the engineering phase of work has progressed to a point that will provide a clearer correlation to the available funding sources and staff has been working to obtain documentation to demonstrate a broader perspective of support and impact for the project. Application is due March 7, 2023. Staff is working to identify the actual cost of the amount to be requested, which will be in regard to the drainage channel and flood control elements associated with the project. Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects are high-impact projects that can be jumpstarted or reach completion with the assistance from the Federal Government.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-14: A resolution approving application for the 2023 Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) BRACE Program Grant.
The purpose of the BRACE Grant Program is to reduce litter, blight, and illegal dumping on public property and encourage code enforcement efforts. Funded through the Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF), it's designed to prioritize assistance for communities with smaller populations that may not have the funds or staff to adequately address these challenges. If approved for the grant, KSBB will be able to apply and request funding up to $5,000 for litter kits. Litter kits will be used to coordinate pocket cleanups throughout the city of Statesboro.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-15: A Resolution approving application for funding from The Congressionally Directed spending program supported by the Office of U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for the Statesboro Village Builders Initiative.
In March 2022, the Elected Body met for its annual retreat and indicated implementing the Statesboro Village Builders Initiative was a priority for FY2023. Effective July 1, 2022, $120,000 was funded to initiate Village Builders’ programs and services. Dr. LaSara Mitchell was hired on November 28, 2022 and has collaborated with the Youth Commission to outline a framework for comprehensive youth programs which will positively impact the lives of our youth. The applications are due on March 7, 2023 (Ossoff) and March 10, 2023 (Warnock). Once approval is obtained, staff plans to submit an application requesting $1.2 million to each U.S. Senator’s Office. Congressionally directed spending enables high-impact projects in Georgia to reach completion with assistance from the federal government. Funding is provided directly by the federal government as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion authorizing the Mayor to execute a Georgia Department of Transportation temporary driveway construction easement at the Statesboro Bulloch County Airport.
GDOT is proposing to install passing lanes on US 301 North from North Randy Lowery Road to Clito Road. As part of the construction plans, GDOT proposes to reconstruct and improve the driveway into the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport which is located across from North Randy Lowery Road. This driveway is located on property of the Statesboro Bulloch Airport, which is jointly owned by the City of Statesboro and Bulloch County Commissioners, near the northern property line of the Airport property and is across from North Randy Lowery Road. The driveway has a chain-link fence and gate which will not be impacted by the construction.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to authorize the Statesboro Police Department to purchase upgraded firearms and related equipment for use by sworn officers in the amount of $40,205.20.
APPROVED: Consideration of a motion to reject all bids for wastewater treatment plant influent pumps and upgrades.
As part of our plans to make improvements at the WWTP by replacing the influent pumps and blowers, bids were received and opened on February 8, 2023. Four bids were received with the low bid from J.S. Haren Company in the amount of $3,692,000.00. The low bid was well in excess of our engineers estimated cost of $3,100,000.00. After reviewing the bids the decision was made to reject all bids and redesign and rebid the project in order to reduce costs.
Other Business from City Council
Councilman John Riggs proposed the city begin the process of considering renaming Tillman Road from South Main to Fair Road to Snooky's Drive for the iconic Snooky's restaurant which was located where the Verizon store is now located on Tillman Road.
City Managers Comments
Charles Penny, City Manager made the council aware of a couple of their Boards and Commissions terms have expired and need to reappoint or add additional people. They City is actively advertising for interested candidates now for:
- Statesboro Youth Commission
- Statesboro Tree Board
Mr. Penny reported that over 60 students have applied to serve on the Statesboro Youth Council. He was thrilled with this high level of interest.
Next week on March 17 and 18th the Mayor and Council will participate in a strategic retreat at Jekyll Island for Council.
Click here to review meeting agenda and supporting documents
Live stream of the meeting
Due to technical issues the live stream is not available. They city will send us a recording within the next 24 hours and we will update that here when available.
