The first order of business at the Griffin City Commissioners meeting Tuesday August 12th was to recognized Jeremy Cousson, Firefighter with Griffin Fire/Rescue, as the July 2014 “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 board also recognized Captain Eddie Ellis of Griffin Fire-Rescue upon his retirement after 31 years of service to the City.
The Commissioners approved the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Griffin, Spalding County, and the G-S Airport Authority, authorizing the transfer of real property to the Airport Authority, for the provision of Aviation Services by the Airport Authority, and authorizing a lease-purchase of certain Airport property to Spalding County. City will make 100% of Interest Only payments first 3 years of debt service. City / County will each pay 50% of debt service remainder of life of bonds with County reimbursement to City of first 3 years interest during the life of the bond. The County Commissioners approved the agreement August 4th. The G-S Airport Authority approved the agreement August 11th.
Recognized the following awards for the city for Financial reporting for fiscal year 2013. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting…
CAFR Award for Comprehensive Annual Financial Reporting….
PAFR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting…
These are the tenth consecutive CAFR and eighth consecutive PAFR awards for the City of Griffin.
The Commissioners declared as surplus two (2) 2001 Dodge Intrepid’s from the Police Department fleet, and donate to Southern Crescent Technical College to supplement their fleet. The estimated value of each vehicle is $1,000.
Also approved a request to modify the current Probation Services Agreement between Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc. (JAG) and the City of Griffin Municipal Court:
1,. Monthly Probation supervisory fees assessed by the Court upon probationers shall be increased from $35.00 to $40.00 per month beginning with all new probationers and new cases on existing probationers.
2.. JAG will pay jail fees of $2,100 per month (reduced from $2,700.00 per month)
3. .JAG will no longer be responsible for compensating off-duty police personnel to enter the data on probation violation warrants into the GCIC system and will be the responsibility of the Griffin Police Department for warrant entry.
The purchase of a 2014 Ford F150 XL SWB Cab Pickup Truck for the Fire Department from Speedway Ford off state contract in the amount of $26,448.00; was approved along with the purchase and install lighting system and radio from Trans Comm for $3285.00; purchase lettering package from Firehouse Graphics for $575.00;
The Commissioners declared as surplus a 1995 Crown Victoria, with mileage of 105,262. and advertise for sale on GovDeals.com. Total package cost is $30,308.00. New unit will be assigned to the Office of the Fire Chief, replacing the 1995 Crown Victoria.
Approved was a upgrade to Windows Exchange 2013 platform to meet new technologies and support future department needs. All city departments utilize and depend on the Windows Exchange platform. The cost is $21,048.79 and is in the current budget.
NetPlanner Systems, Inc was approved to install a new Local Area Network in the Police Department building located at 868 W Poplar St in the amount of $29,848.01. The Police Department’s LAN is in need of upgrade to provide network reliability, security and expansion. The Police Department new Local Area Network is funded in FY2015 budget for the amount of $40,000.00.
A Caterpillar model 730C off road dump truck for use at the Shoal Creek Landfill, a 953D Track Loader for use in the Stormwater Dept, and a Model 312E Track Hoe for use in the Street Dept. was approved for purchase on a Multi-Year Government lease from Yancey Brothers Inc. in the amount of $854,668.00.
Approved a purchase of 19 greens covers from Green $aver Turf Cover Company in the amount of $16,479.48 for the City of Griffin Golf Course. The covers are to be applied when temperatures are 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below to protect the greens from winter kill.
Approval of submission for a Clean Water State Revolving Loan for the Potato Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $9.5 million.
Approved a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan for the Flint River Pump Station Replacement in the amount of $3.1 million. The replacement of Flint River Pump Station will be paid for with 2.0 million dollars from Coweta Settlement and 3.1 million dollars from DWSRF Loan.
Also approved was an amendment to existing Potato Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant design and expansion task order with Paragon Consulting Group to design a copper treatment process to meet new permit limits in the amount of $199,990.00 for the Water and Wastewater Department.
Paragon Consulting Group is making engineering changes to the Potato Creek upgrade and expansion. The City of Griffin received its wastewater NPDES Permit 2014 from Georgia EPD and limits for discharge have been reduced significantly therefore in the plant upgrade must include a process to remove copper from our discharge to meet water quality standards.
A Task Order for the Pre-Engineering of Community Development Block Grant to Paragon Consulting Group for Phase VII-VIII in the amount of $6,700.00 for the Water and Wastewater Department was approved. This is for the last phases for the Thomaston Mill Village repair or replacement of water and wastewater infrastructure.
Approved a resolution finalizing the award of $500,000.00 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for the Stormwater Department. The Loan Project is for the regional detention and mitigation pond at 18th Street and W. Solomon. It is a Public Private Partnership with Eternal Hope Hospice and is designed for stormwater detention in the upper part of basin as well as collect debris from going down stream to Rushton Mills.
Approved: An agreement with Allen-Smith Consulting to prepare the City of Griffin’s FY2015 Community Development Block Grant application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in the amount of $8,000. The water and wastewater infrastructure in the (Zone 7, and a portion of Zone 8) are in significant need of repair. Both systems have been in operation for over 75 years.
Approved price adjustment of the annual contract for tree trimming and removal work to Asplundh Tree Experts until July 31, 2015.