Moreland Town Council to hold budget hearing

Friday, February 17, 2012
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alt — Taking care of city business at the Moreland Town Council meeitng on Tuesday are, from left, Mayor Josh Evans, Town Attorney Mark Mitchell and Councilman Allyn Bell.

By W. WINSTON SKINNER winston@newnan.com The Moreland Town Council will hold a hearing on its 2012 budget on Feb. 28. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the town hall at the Moreland Mill. The date was set to allow the council to hold the hearing in time to vote on the issue at its March 6 council meeting.

The council also discussed raising business license fees. Councilman Dick Ford advocated raising the fee from the current $25 to $50. The current fee "doesn't pay for our time and paperwork to issue a license," Ford said. The higher fee would "help our revenue flow a little bit without killing anybody," he said. Councilman Allyn Bell suggested a compromise of $37.50 for the license. Town Attorney Mark Mitchell said the town needs to update its business license ordinance to be "consistent with current state law." It was agreed to have Mitchell draw up a new ordinance for consideration by the council. In other business: • The council approved a bid from McWaters and Son for patching part of Railroad Street. Cost of the project is $6,500. • Howard Wilson, chairman of the Moreland Cemetery Trust, gave a report on progress at the new cemetery property. "You'll see they've completed clearing the land. They have cut a road connecting the old cemetery with the new part," he said. The road still needs to be graveled. • The council discussed raising the amount it pays to Sam Whitley for cutting the town's grass. Mayor Josh Evans said Whitley has been paid $150 per cutting for several years. "He does a great job," Bell said. "He uses his own equipment, doesn't he?" Councilwoman Carmen Brown asked, drawing an affirmative response from Evans. Bell said Whitley's pay should be handled through the budget, and Brown agreed. "I think it's a great idea, though," Brown said of a raise for Whitley. "I hope it works out." • The council asked Mitchell to put together specifications for bids on maintaining the town's rights-of-way. He also was asked to word a letter to go to Brian Shelton of Five Star authorizing him to proceed with putting a new roof on most of the mill building. The two-story part of the building, which is set for major renovations, will not get a new roof right now. Five Star will be paid $41,200 for its work on the rest of the complex. • The council discussed an ongoing problem with trucks turning around in the city. Evans said David Millen, the district engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation, has offered to help. Local resident Troy Payne suggested an Interstate 85 sign in the city may be misleading truckers and having them turn onto a city street. Payne's wife, Crystal, said the trucks will cause major damage to streets not built for them. "They're going to cost the town of Moreland a lot in the long run," she said. • Carol Chancey, who has been working with the town to promote tourism, gave a brief report on the Feb. 4 visit to Moreland by the Blueprints team from the Georgia Institute of Technology. "They're all graduate students," she said. Chancey said Katherine Moore, who coordinates the Blueprints program, will be sending a timeline that will be forwarded to the council. "I look forward to the creative things these young people are going to come up with," she said. "They were really interested in the town and asked lots of questions. I'm excited about their help," Evans said. Chancey said the Georgia Conservancy connection has also led to free services from landscape designer Claire Perko. Perko has some ideas for the planned community garden "that will make it more attractive" and economical, Chancey said. • Brown said she would see if she could save the town money on new tables for the Moreland Mill. She said she has some contacts with wholesalers. The council had discussed spending about $400 to buy 10 tables. "We might be able to get more for the same money," Brown said. • Charles Carmical talked about repairs needed to the mill's plumbing system. He said the metal pipe on the rear of the two-story section should be removed and replaced with plastic pipe. "It's not even attached to the wall anymore," he said. He also recommended tearing out old bathrooms in the museum area. Cost of the repairs will be about $1,200. • The council voted to buy two "No Skateboarding" signs from the county to be placed on the outdoor pavilions behind the mill. The signs will be made by the county and will cost $14.67 each. The town will have to post the signs. There have been concerns about damage and possible injury from skateboarders at the pavilion. "I've seen bicycles around in there, too," said local resident Joyce Evans. • The council voted to reimburse Chancey about $70 for paint used to redo the sign at the old Grizzard Museum location. • Councilman Jeff Burgess asked that council members call or send a confirmation email when receiving an email from another town official. Sometimes messages are sent, and "we don't know if you got it or you didn't" he said. • The council also discussed the Lewis Grizzard Memorial Trust and heard a report from Evans on his participation on the recent Mayor's Day in Atlanta.

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