This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Statesboro City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
The mayor and all members of council were present.
Call to Order by Mayor Jonathan McCollar
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Tangie Johnson
Recognitions/Public Presentations
Presentation of a retirement award to Bernard Tracy Pless (Senior Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator)
who is retiring effective December 1, 2024, after 11 years of service.
Public Comments (Agenda Item): No one present to speak on agenda items.
Consideration of a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 11-19-2024 Work Session Minutes
b) 11-19-2024 Council Minutes
c) 11-19-2024 Executive Session Minutes
Public hearing and consideration of a motion to approve an application for an alcohol license in accordance with the City of Statesboro Alcohol Ordinance Sec. 6-13(a):
Two Guys Foodmart
Owner; Ankit M. Patel
Location: 520 Fair Road, Ste. 410
License type: Package Sales (Beer and Wine only)
No one was present to speak for or against the measure. It was approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-34: A Resolution pledging to practice and promote civility within the City of Statesboro governing body
This resolution is brought forward under the Georgia Municipal Association’s Embrace Civility initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to counteract the growing polarization and challenges caused by incivility in society by setting a positive example through the actions of elected officials at public meetings.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-35: A Resolution approving an application and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Project Framework Agreement (PFA) with Georgia Department of Transportation for the Creek on the Blue Mile project.
The City of Statesboro has received funding from GDOT for the subject project(s) to supplement the City’s original funding commitment. Due to the unique nature of this project mutually serving both the GDOT and the City, GDOT has prepared an intergovernmental agreement (i.e. PFA) that will allow the two entities to partner on the construction of COTBM bridge and trail projects. City staff seeks to attach this agreement to the application to administer and receive funding for federal-aid projects. The City’s engineering and design consultant shall accomplish the preliminary engineering (PE) activities in accordance with and pursuant to the applicable guidelines of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, hereinafter referred to as “AASHTO”, the GDOT’s Standard Specifications Construction of Transportation Systems, and all applicable design guidelines and policies of GDOT. The primary consultant engineering firm or subconsultants hired by the City to provide services on the COTBM shall be prequalified with GDOT in the appropriate area-classes. GDOT shall, on request, furnish the City with a list of prequalified consultant firms in the appropriate area-classes.
Staff recommended approval of and execution of PFA by the Mayor for the Creek on the Blue Mile projects within and adjacent to GDOT rights-of-way.
The budget impact is a matching originally pledged by the City of Statesboro, but the exact amount is unclear at this time, but could be up to $3 million for GDOT. City Manager Charles Penny said the cost of the project has increased and could be upwards of an additional $4 million.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-36: A Resolution approving submission of an application for the Georgia Reads Community Grant.
The Georgia Council on Literacy created the Georgia Reads Community Award, an award designed to recognize the importance of community approaches involving meaningful partnerships in achieving literacy goals. The Village Builders Initiative and Restoring the Breach, Incorporated desire to collaborate and expand upon financial literacy efforts for students working in Youth Connect, the City’s summer employment program. Acquiring the grant ensures students are provided vital financial literacy training benefitting them and their families while promoting economic stability, informed decision-making, and preparedness for unexpected events.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-37: A Resolution to approve the submission of an application for Youth and Community Violence Prevention Action Teams (VPAT) program grant.
In recent years, youth and community violence has increased at alarming rates, creating a public health crisis and a lasting legacy of trauma. Systemic and structural racism drive disparate health outcomes, disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other racial/ethnic minorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines youth violence as young people (ages 10-24 years old) intentionally using physical force or harm against others; and similarly defines community violence as interpersonal violence generally occurring outside the home between people who are unrelated, with youth and young adults (ages 10-34) in communities of color being disproportionately affected. In 2020, homicide was the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults aged 15-24, with more than 92% of which were caused by firearms. The City of Statesboro desires to apply for the grant since this concern impacts the work of the Village Builders Initiative, the Youth Commission, and the One Boro Commission.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-38: A Resolution to adopt the First Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for each fund of the City of Statesboro, Georgia appropriating the amounts shown in each budget as expenditures/expenses, adopting the several items of revenue anticipations, and prohibiting expenditures or expenses from exceeding the actual funding appropriated.
The amendment is to Carryforward Capital items budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2024 but not completed as of June 30, 2024. Staff recommended the approval of the proposed budget amendment.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of motion to approve a contract with InvoiceCloud for additional software for utility billing customers.
InvoiceCloud would ease the process for one-time and registered payments. It would notify customers enrolling in auto pay of expiring credit cards automatically and allow them to update it anytime. It would enable those not signed up for e-billing to receive email and text notifications automatically. The budget impact is $34,000 in savings on an annual basis.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve an award of contract with the Coastal Regional Commission to provide grant writing and administrative services for the Community Home Investment Program (CHIP)Grant.
In collaboration with Agape Worship Center and Bulloch County Habitat for Humanity, the City intends to apply for CHIP funding to allow for the redevelopment of the Johnson Street Urban Redevelopment Area. Using the Coastal Regional Commission, the City is allowed to waive the required bid process for grant application. The budget impact is $3,000. Staff recommended approval.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve the City of Statesboro & Bulloch County 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan prepared by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).
On April 4, 2023 city council approved selection of consultant Goodwyn Mills Cawood to perform the 2045 LRTP update. Statesboro and Bulloch County entered into the referenced MOU to establish a 50/50 costsharing and project management arrangement for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Long-Term Transportation Plan Update.
The 2045 LRTP is an update to the jointly prepared 2009 LRTP. This plan provides for a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation system over the next 20 years which is crucial for Bulloch County and the City of Statesboro, given the anticipated significant population growth. It is to be used as a transportation and strategic guidance document when Statesboro and Bulloch County prepare their annual capital improvement programs
Multiple public input sessions and platforms were provided during this process, including updates to the Statesboro Mayor and City Council and Bulloch County Board of Commissioners. Bulloch County Board of Commissioners will be considering this item for approval at their December 3 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Budget Impact: Transit and Capital projects to be paid by TSPLOST
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to award a contract to Southeast Pipe Survey, Inc in the amount of $609,467.50, with approval to spend up to $1,200,000.00, to rehabilitate approximately 6,500’ of sewer main and associated manholes located along East Main Street, Fair Road and Northside Drive. This project was funded as part of the 2024 and 2025 CIP Budget (Item #WWD 14, 187, and 188) with funds from the 2019 SPLOST and Water-Sewer Fund operating income.
As part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce ground water infiltration into its sanitary sewer system we are proposing to line approximately 6,500 linear feet of sanitary sewer main with Cured In Place liners. Our Wastewater Treatment Plant experiences extremely high flows during rain events and period of wet weather. Reducing this flow will extend the life of the plant and free up capacity for other uses while reducing operational costs.
Competitive bids were obtained from five qualified installers and were reviewed by our consultants at Hussy Gay Bell Engineering. A low bid of $609,467.50 was submitted by Southeast Pipe Survey, Inc, below our total budget of $1,652,000.00.
However, we are requesting a total budget of $1,200,000.00 in order to add additional sewer rehabilitation to areas of immediate concern discovered recently. We are currently smoke testing in areas around the City and have found additional areas that require rehabilitation. The additional funds will give us the ability to address these areas.
Funds were approved as part of the 2024 and 2025 CIP Budget with funds coming from the 2019 SPLOST and Operating Income.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to award a contract to Y-Delta, Inc in the amount of $1,404,569.65 for the installation of sanitary sewer infrastructure in the Quail Run Subdivision. Project to be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds approved in the FY2025 CIP Budget item # WWD-32-H
As part of our program to extend utilities into unserved areas within the City, we have started the process to design, bid and construct a sanitary sewer system in the Quail Run subdivision. Quail Run consists of 37 residential lots. Work to be included under the contract includes:
- Installation of 2,550 LF of 8-inch gravity sewers
- Construction of 18 sewer manholes
- Installation of 4-inch PVC lateral services
- Demolition of existing septic tanks
- Construction of 25 new sewer service connections and 16 service stub
outs - Installation of Eleven (11) grinder pump systems
- Installation of 875 LF of 2-inch low pressure force main
- Connection to existing gravity sewer system
- Remove and replace impacted pavement
- Installation of new asphaltic concrete overlay of roadways
- Installation and removal of erosion and sediment controls and grading as
necessary for completion of work as described in the contract plans and
documents.
It is the recommendation of staff and of our consulting engineers, Hussy Gay Bell, to award the contract to Y-Delta, Inc. In our opinion, Y-Delta has the resources to successfully complete the project in the amount of $1,404,569.65 and is within the approved budget limit of $1,900,000.00. CIP Project WWD-32-H was approved in the FY2025 Budget to be funded with ARPA funds.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to award a design/build contract to Great Southern Recreation in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.00 for park improvements to Whitesville Park. The funding will be from ARPA funds.
In May 2022, City staff engaged Wood PLC to perform a parks assessment and concept development of Whitesville Park immediately following the acquisition of this park by the City in April 2022. Following completion of the assessment, staff made two unsuccessful attempts to secure CDBG grant funds for these improvements. As recently as January 2024, a presentation was provided to the Mayor and City Council at a work session regarding the concept and ongoing funding challenges for this project.
In September 2024 a memo was included in the Mayor and City Council’s FYI packet which identified the opportunity to fund this project with ARPA funds to ensure all ARPA funds are committed by December 31, 2024 federal deadline. Recently, the City of Statesboro issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit a design/build process for park improvements at Whitesville Park. The design/build process will allow staff to best achieve the intent of the park concept within the proposed budget amount of $1,200,000.
The RFP was advertised in the Statesboro Herald and on the Georgia Procurement Registry in accordance with Georgia Public Works Law. Three proposals were received and a review committee of City staff evaluated and selected Great Southern Recreation for this project. This firm has an extensive history of similar projects and was one of four recommendations provided by Parks & Recreation staff when we implemented the Luetta Moore Park and Rev. W.D. Kent Park improvements project.
Project to be paid from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to award contract in the amount of $36,100.00 with Georgia Safe Sidewalks for sidewalk improvements. This project, STS-31, will be paid by 2018 TSPLOST funds
The sidewalk grinding work is done using specialized equipment to remove vertical trip hazards identified by staff and contractor varying from ¼” to 2” in height throughout the City. This is a sole source award as Georgia Safe Sidewalks is the only company in Georgia authorized and licensed to use this specialized equipment and method to remove sidewalk vertical displacements and help alleviate trip and fall accidents.
This is an annual/ongoing project to ensure safe, ADA compliant sidewalks throughout Statesboro and hazard/liability mitigation for the City of Statesboro.
This project is to be paid for by 2018 TSPLOST fund.
Approved unanimously.
Other Business from City Council
Councilwoman Shari Barr offered reminders for upcoming events.
City Managers Comments
Public Comments (General)
No one was present to speak.
Consideration of a Motion to Adjourn
City council adjourned the meeting at 9:39am.
