During the meeting the commissioners approved: A Proclamation declaring March 27, 2018 to be “Spalding High School Lady Jags
Day” in honor of their recent win as State Basketball Class AAAA Champions.
The Spalding High School “Lady Jags” (28-2) won their first ever GHSA (Georgia High
School Association) State Basketball Championship Class AAAA title on Saturday, March
10, 2018 with a dominant win over Henry County (29-2) at the McCamish Pavilion on the
Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta.
The Lady Jags were led by third-year Spalding High School Head Girls Basketball Coach
Tykira Gilbert, and Assistant Coaches Robby Milner and Kevin Davis. Prior to this win, the Spalding girls’ basketball team had never advanced beyond the state quarterfinals.
The roster of hard-working, dedicated and talented female athletes includes: Kiana Banks, Senior Guard #5; Kirah Milner, Senior Guard #4; Keyondra Leverette, Senior Forward #14;
Kayla Milner, Junior Guard #2; Aniaya Jester, Junior Guard #1; Dana Dozier, Junior Guard
#20; Corriana Evans, Sophomore Forward #3; Jordan Davis, Sophomore Guard #12; Kierstyn
Milner, Freshman Guard #10; Elicia Threatt, Freshman Forward #33; De’Erica Dewberry,
Junior Forward #24; Nia Duranham, Sophomore Guard #11; Maya Collier, Freshman
Forward #15; and Managers Skylar Hill, BriAndi Willis, and Nick Jester.
The Commissioners:
Presented: to members of the Pulaski Chaper NSDAR a Proclamation declaring April 19, 2018 as Pulaski Chapter NSDAR Day in honor of their service to Griffin and Spalding County.
Founded in 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based,
non-profit national society with a deeply rich history and more than 930,000
women who choose to honor their heritage and make a difference in their
communities across the country and the world.
The Pulaski Chapter, NSDAR was created in 1893 by Elizbeth Andrew Hill
Bailey (Mrs. Fleming G.) and Mary Ansley Cope Mills (Mrs. Thomas Roderick).
The Pulaski Chapter was affiliated with the National Society Daughters of the
American Revolution for the past 126 years, supporting its goals, projects and
activities. The passion for history and family stirred and channeled through DAR has
assisted our community in preservation, celebration and recognition of history,
patriotism and veterans.
The commissioners:
Approved: a Proclamation declaring April 22, 2018 to be “Earth Day 2018.”
Earth Day is an annual reminder of the daily need for environmental activism, stewardship commitments and constant sustainability efforts.
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Griffin urges all citizens, businesses and institutions to celebrate the Earth and promote environmental and climate literacy. In addition, the City of Griffin encourages all local business to promote use of paper and/or reusable bags during the week of April 22 – April 28, 2018 to help raise awareness for Earth Day and the need for creating and sustaining
a healthy environment.
The commissioners:
Presented: to Kelly Barrow, member of the Sons of the Confederacy, a proclamation declaring April 2018 to be Confederate History Month.
April is the month in which the Confederate States of America began and ended a four-year struggle for states’ rights, individual freedom, and local government control, which they believed to be right and just. Confederate Memorial Day, on April 26, is a time when Georgians commemorate the more than 90,000 brave men and women who served and sacrificed for the Confederate States of America.
The month of April of each year is designated as Confederate History and Heritage Month and shall be set aside to honor, observe, and celebrate the Confederate States of America, its history, those who served in its armed forces and government, and all those millions of its citizens of various races and ethnic groups and religions who contributed in sundry and myriad ways to the cause which they held so dear from its founding on February 4, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, until the Confederate ship CSS Shenandoah sailed into Liverpool Harbor and surrendered to British authorities on November 6, 1865.” It is important that Georgians reflect upon our state’s past with honor and respect for the devotion of her Confederate leaders, soldiers, sailors, marines and citizens.
The commissioners:
Presented: to Griffin Lineman a Proclamation declaring April 18, 2018 to be Griffin Lineman Appreciation Day and the month of April 2018 to be Georgia Lineman Appreciation Month.
Linemen are often first responders during storms and other catastrophic events, working to make the scene safe for other public safety heroes. They work every day in potentially hazardous conditions, often in extreme weather, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, to keep the power flowing for the rest of us.
Recognizing that the State of Georgia has designated April 18, 2018 as Georgia Lineman
Appreciation Day and the month of April 2018 as National and State Lineman Appreciation
Month, it is most fitting and proper that the linemen of Griffin Power be recognized for their
effective, steadfast and dedicated service to all the citizens of the City of Griffin, Georgia.
The commissioners:
Recognized: Toni Simmons, Inventory Manager, with the City of Griffin’s Electric Department, as
the December 2017 “Strongest Link” award recipient.
The “Strongest Link” Award is given monthly to a deserving employee who has demonstrated excellent performance and productivity, loyalty, professional pride, and other noteworthy accomplishments. The recognized employee receives one day off with pay, a gift certificate from a local restaurant, a “Strongest Link” plaque, and the symbolic “chain”, for which he/she will be the custodian until a subsequent employee is recognized.
Toni Simmons has been instrumental to both Technical Services and Line Construction since the Warehouse Manager position was vacated last year. She has worked two vastly different jobs simultaneously and has never skipped a beat. All of her normal duties as AMI Systems Administrator have been fulfilled as she stepped in to learn various aspects of inventory control, work order management and other vital daily functions of the Warehouse Manager position. In addition to doing both jobs, she has made time to train her replacement! Her qualities are the definition of the Strongest Link in the Chain
The commissioners:
Approved: to surplus a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria from the fire department and offer for sale on Gov.deals. This unit has approximately 100,000 miles and is no longer needed by the fire department.
Approved: the purchase of two (2) vehicles from Speedway Ford in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00 to replace 2 wrecked vehicles amd declare the wrecked vehicles to be released to the insurance agency; and amend the budget accordingly. Two vehicles have been totaled due to accidents. Vehicles being replaced are: a 2010 Dodge Charger and a 2013 Dodge Charger.
The resolution and budget amendment appropriates $19,111.00 from insurance settlements in General Fund and $20,000.00 from fund balance in Confiscated Assets Fund, toward the purchase of replacement vehicles for Criminal Investigations Division.
Approved: to direct MEAG Power to place 100% of the City’s 2017 MEAG Power Year End Settlement refund of $1,074,420 into the City’s MEAG Municipal Competitive Trust Flex Operating Account-Short Term Portfolio and authorize execution of the MEAG Power Projects 2017 Year End Settlement Form by City Commission Chair and City Manager.
The Short Term Portfolio account is for electrical emergency operations and future reserve and debt.
Approved: to direct MEAG Power to place 100% of the City’s 2017 MEAG Telecommunications Year-End Settlement refund of $2,686 into the City’s MEAG Municipal Competitive Trust Flexible Operating Account – Short-Term Portfolio and authorize execution of the MEAG Power Telecommunications 2017 Year-End Settlement Election Form by the Commission Chair and City Manager.
The Short Term Portfolio account is for electrical emergency operations and future reserve and debt.
The commissioners:
Approved: a request for a special use permit to allow for a Places of Assembly to utilize a facility located at 708 S. Hill Street as a multi-use activity and event center for events such as a concert, an educational presentation, a museum, a meeting facility or other live performances or events.
The Milner – Walker House with its new designation on the National Historic Registry will be a tourist attraction and will continue to accommodate church groups, school field trips and private events.
Approved: a request to amend the Unified Development Code, of the City of Griffin, “Special Accessory and Nonconforming” section that addresses outdoor promotions and seasonal sales.
These regulations are designed to allow short-term and seasonal commercial uses and activities that are temporary in nature, will not adversely impact the surrounding areas and land uses, and that can be terminated and/or removed immediately
After much discussion the commissioners;
Approved: an amendment to the Unified Development Code of the City of Griffin, to modify occupational tax classifications in Planned Commercial Development (PCD) and Planned Industrial Development (PID).
The amendment allows for uniformity amongst the City’s Unified Development Code, the Code of Ordinances, the classifications used for Occupational Tax Certificates and National Standard Codes. The permitted uses in the current code will not change, as automotive sales and automotive repairs are still allowed in PCD.
Outside storage is prohibited; however, uses categorized as Automotive Engine Repair and Replacement, Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers, Automotive Tire Dealers, Motor Vehicle Towing, and Automotive Body, Paint & Interior Repair & Maintenance may store four operable vehicles per exterior service bay located on the business structure after business hours.
The commissioners:
Approved: on first reading a request to amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Griffin,
“Junked or Inoperable Motor Vehicles” to update definitions and establish storage parameters for automotive type facilities.
During the past several months, we have had conversations with the Board of Commissioners during the annual goals workshop, two separate workshops and a public hearing about this topic. In addition, the Planning and Development Department conducted a Car Chat Forum in February 2017. The ordinance is a compilation of input and suggestions offered by the various groups. The forum addressed the aesthetics of repair shops and junkyards and the expectation of how we can improve the community.
The commissioners:
Approved: a travel request for Commissioner Holly Murray for the Spring 2018 Two-Day Training on April 12-13, 2018 at Calaway Gardens.These Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) training sessions are integral parts of the certification process for commissioner training levels. Registration $510; Travel $153.10 + mileage
The City Offices will be closed Friday for Good Friday Holiday.
Submitted by: Larry Johnson
