Shari Barr, Mayor Pro Tem, presided over the bi-monthly meeting of the City of Statesboro in the absence of Mayor Jonathan McCollar. Councilmembers Paulette Chavers and Phil Boyum were also absent.
The Council approved annexation and zoning amendments to clear the way for two new housing developments inside the city. These amendments clears the way for approximately 220 new homes to be constructed in the city.
Mitchell Ball received a Zoning Map Amendment from the R-20 (Single-family residential) zoning district to the R-2 (Townhouse Residential) zoning district in order to develop approximately 78 units on 11.54 acres at 380 Westside Road.
Jared O’Sako received annexation of an approximately 54.06 acre property in order to develop a single-family detached subdivision located on Cawana Road. He also received a Zoning Map Amendment from the R-40 (Single-Family Residential) to the R-6 (Single-Family Residential) zoning district in order to develop approximately 142 homes on 54.06 acres of property located on Cawana Road.
Continue reading the story for a report on all business covered at the Council meeting.
Consent Agenda - APPROVED
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 06-20-2023 Work Session Minutes
b) 06-20-2023 Council Minutes
c) 06-20-2023 Executive Session Minutes
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-30: A Resolution amending the Housing Assistance Policy of the City of Statesboro.
It has been recommended that the Housing Rehabilitation Program allow for the Reconstruction of additional housing with the accrued interest from the ARPA funds (approximately $300,000). It is noted that the policy change increases the affordability period related to any of the homes accepted for Reconstruction, which at this time reflects a 5 year affordability period. It is recommended that this policy be amended to a 10 year affordability period for reconstruction.
Public Hearing and Consideration of a Motion to Approve:
APPROVED - A) APPLICATION AN 23-05-03: Jared O’Sako requests annexation of an approximately 54.06 acre property in order to develop a single-family detached subdivision located on Cawana Road.
APPROVED - B) APPLICATION RZ 23-05-04: Jared O’Sako requests a Zoning Map Amendment from the R-40 (Single-Family Residential) to the R-6 (Single-Family Residential) zoning district in order to develop approximately 142 homes on 54.06 acres of property located on Cawana Road.
Hayden Rollins with Hussey, Gay and Bell spoke in favor of this annexation and zoning amendment.
DEFERRED to August 15th meeting - Public Hearing and Consideration of a Motion to Approve: APPLICATION SE 23-06- 01: Encore Capital Management LLC, request a special exception from the R-3 (Medium Density Residential) zoning district in order to allow for a real estate property office on approximately 4.399 acres of property located at 1301 Fair Road.
APPROVED - Public Hearing and Consideration of a Motion to Approve: APPLICATION RZ 23-06- 02: Mitchell Ball request a Zoning Map Amendment from the R-20 (Single-family residential) zoning district to the R-2 (Townhouse Residential) zoning district in order to develop approximately 78 units on 11.54 acres at 380 Westside Road.
Hayden Rollins with Hussey, Gay and Bell spoke in favor of this amendment.
Lorethia Best who lives in Quail Run subdivision spoke with concerns and wanted to know if this project was connected with proposed development into Quail Run.
Holli Sawyer expressed concerns regarding environmental impact of this project and what guidelines are followed. Mr. Rollins explained the large amount of environment guidelines the developer would have to follow along with city rules regarding development.
DEFERRED to August 15th meeting - Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-07: An Ordinance amending Appendix A Zoning of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances in order to implement Article XXXII creating security requirements for apartment complexes, namely camera systems and controlled vehicular access.
Mayor and Council voted to advance Ordinance to First Reading at the June 20, 2023 work session
DEFERRED to August 15th meeting - Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-08: An Ordinance amending Chapter 18 Businesses of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances in order to implement Article XI creating licensing and operational requirements for event spaces.
Mayor and Council voted to advance Ordinance to First Reading at the June 20, 2023 work session
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Ordinance 2023-09: An Ordinance amending Section 82-176 of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances regarding Aid to Construction (ATC) fees.
Current ATC fee is expressed as $1.60 per gallon per day in Section 82-176, which was adopted and set in 1990. Schedule of rates and fees references $3.20 per gallon per day ATC fee. Proposed amendment would remove the inconsistency and allow for further adjustment without need for ordinance revision
APPROVED - Public Hearing and Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-33: A Resolution to increase Council compensation.
Last increase in Council compensation went into effect in January, 2006. Proposed resolution would increase annual Council pay from $7,575 to $11,000 and Mayor Pro Tem pay from $9,342 to $13,500 and go into effect on January 2, 2024.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-34: A Resolution to adopt the first amendment to the City of Statesboro Schedule of Fees, Rates, and Fines for Fiscal Year 2024.
The Aid to Construction Fee was previously included in an Ordinance. The current Ordinance is being amended to reference the City’s Rates, Fees and Fines Schedule. Therefore, an amendment to the FY2024 Rates, Fees and Fines Schedule needs to be amended to reflect the change from $1.60 to $3.20. Also included are the increase in Elderly/Low Income Credits for the base increase in Sanitation and Water Sewer Charges. These increase were discussed at the Council Retreat in March and at the Budget Work Session in May.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-35: A Resolution authorizing execution of documents with Truist for Refunding Revenue Bond necessary to refinance the installation of public infrastructure in the Old Register TAD.
Revenue Bond was issued for this project in August, 2019 as an interest only bond which is soon to expire. This refinance is necessary and covers the full $4,750,000 principal at 5.95% interest
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-36: A Resolution authorizing and directing City of Statesboro to appropriate available and uncommitted funds in its budget for the current fiscal year and future fiscal year budgets in an amount equal to the sum of an deficiency in the payment of debt service, if any, on the City of Statesboro, Georgia Tax Allocation District Refunding Revenue Bond (Old Register TAD Projects), Series 2023, anticipated to be issued and delivered on or about August 15, 2023.
Truist requires this resolution committing City to commit funding beyond any potential TAD revenue shortfall.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-37: A Resolution to accept 2022 Assistance To Firefighters Grant for The City Of Statesboro, Georgia in the amount of $101,374.54 with a 10% match in the amount of 10,137.45. These funds will be used to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor and Cascade System as well as the Fire Department Physician Program.
In January 2023 the Statesboro Fire Department submitted an application for the 2022 AFG. The total amount requested for this application was $112,000 to fund the following projects.
1) Continuation of the Fire Department Physician Program. • $35,000.00 project request.
2) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Cascade System • Includes Breathing Air Compressor and SCBA fill station. • $77,000.00 project request.
The Statesboro Fire Department has been award $111,512.00 of the $112,000 requested. The Statesboro Fire Department was only awarded funding for both projects submitted with this application.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve a sole source purchase and installation from Municipal Emergency Services (MES) Inc. in the amount of $70,856.70 for a Revolveair SCBA Air Compressor and Cascade system. This purchase is paid for from AFG grant funds.
The Fire Department was recently awarded the 2022 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to fund the replacement of a SCBA air compressor and cascade system. This unit will be replacing a system that is over twenty-five (25) years old which is becoming difficult and prohibitively expense to maintain. The current system is also incapable of filling newer SCBA bottles within the Fire Department which require a higher pressure than the system can produce. The new system will meet the needs of the Fire Department as well as allow the Department to comply with NFPA and OSHA Standards.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Brooklet to provide sewer treatment services.
Brooklet desires to provide wastewater collection services to handle future growth within its service area. City of Statesboro would provide treatment of wastewater delivered to the Statesboro system by Brooklet in accordance with referenced IGA
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve award of contract in the not to exceed amount of $380,000 to Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), in collaboration with Bulloch County, for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Long Range Transportation Plan. Fifty percent (50%) matching funds pledged by the City of Statesboro from the 2018 TSPLOST fund.
On April 4, 2023 city council approved selection of consultant Goodwyn Mills Cawood to perform the LRTP update. Statesboro and Bulloch County entered into the referenced MOU to establish a cost-sharing and project management arrangement for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Long-Term Transportation Plan Update. The Consultant GMC has submitted an agreement for the base scope of work for the LRTP, included in a pricing proposal, of Three-Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($380,000.00) to which the County and City agree to each pay to the consultant one-half, or fifty-percent, of the price.
As noted upon execution of the MOU, the City hereby authorizes the County to manage the terms of the agreement with the GMC for the base scope of work subject to final review and approval by each governing body and their legal staff.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Statesboro and Bulloch County for resurfacing of Cawana Road.
Bulloch County is performing resurfacing work along Cawana Road under their FY2023 Resurfacing Program. Cawana Road, from Brannen Street to Burkhalter Road, has segments that alternate from outside the Statesboro city limits to inside the city limits and again outside the city limits. To provide continuity of work for the public Bulloch County has agreed to perform resurfacing of all of this segment of Cawana Road under their contract.
The cost of work within the Statesboro city limits is $33,192.36. Due to the size of the County’s contract the unit cost would be higher under a contract by the City.
This amount will be paid to Bulloch County from the FY2018 TSPLOST Fund.
APPROVED - Consideration of a motion to award a contract to Sikes Brothers Inc. in the amount of $1,942,128.35 for the FY2023 annual resurfacing project for work based on unit prices in the contractor’s bid. This project is paid for by GDOT LMIG funds and 2018 TSPLOST funds.
The work in this contract includes, but is not limited to, asphalt resurfacing of approximately 6.28 miles of city streets, 24,054 square yards of asphalt milling, as well as permanent grassing, shoulder dressing, and the reinstallation of thermoplastic roadway striping. The low bidder is Sikes Brothers Inc. with a bid of $1,942,128.35, followed by Reeves Construction Co. with a bid of $2,652,085.00.
Other Business from City Council
The City has decided to move the final Downtown Live Concert series to 7 pm on Thursday evening due to projected high heat indexes.
City Managers Comments
APPROVED - City Manager Charles Penny requested a vote to clarify that $300,000 of interest to begin the reconstruction of homes in the City's housing assistance program.
Mr. Penny requested direction on beginning the process of changing the name of East Grady Extension to Loretta's Way and a portion of Tillman Street to honor Bruce Yawn and Snooky's restaurant. One name suggested was Snooky's Blvd. The council decided to get more information before moving forward with the process of renaming streets.
Public Comments (General)
Sue Palmer spoke about her concern regarding garbage cans being left out on Carmel, East Main and Lee street. They are supposed to be taken to the curb on trash collection day and taken back to the home. That is not happening now and it is very unsightly.
City Manager Penny shared with Mrs. Palmer that the code enforcement officers do have the ability to fine the property owners who are not in compliance. He will ask them to police these areas for violations.
Executive Session
Council entered into a brief Executive Session and returned to make appointments to city commissions including:
Greener Boro:
- Hannah Duggan
One Boro:
- Marieke Van Willigen
- Frank Qualls
- Candice Bodkin
- Dr. Karen Naufel
