Public Hearing - Mayor & Council Meeting, 6:30 Pm

Public Hearing - Mayor & Council Meeting, 6:30 Pm

MINUTES

PUBLIC HEARING - MAYOR & COUNCIL MEETING, 6:30 PM

January 4, 2018

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Rogers opened the public hearing to receive public comments on the proposed 2018 budget. There were no public comments. Councilmember Bradfield made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Councilmember Almond. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

MAYOR & COUNCIL MEETING

The Mayor and Council of the City of Franklin, Georgia, met in regular session Thursday, January 4, 2018at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.All councilmembers,except for Councilmember Putzek, were in attendance.

Mayor Rogersbegan the meeting by welcoming everyone in attendance. Councilmember Almond gave the invocation and lead the pledge to the flag.

MINUTES OF Council Meeting December 7, 2017

Councilmember Jilesmade amotion to approve the minutes, seconded by Councilmember Bradfield. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

MINUTES OF Special Called Meeting November 16, 2017

Councilmember Bradfield made a motion to approve the Special Called Meeting minutes, seconded by Councilmember Hayes. Councilmember Jiles approved the motion. Councilmember Almond abstained from the vote since he was not present at the Special Called Meeting.

APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Jiles made a motiontoapprove the order of the agenda, seconded by CouncilmemberAlmond. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Finance – Finance Officer, Karen Boyd,spoke on the following report:

  1. All accounts have been reconciled to the bank. General fund revenues exceeded expenditures by more than $3,228 in December and $86,406 for the year. Once all December invoices are received and paid, we will close the year and have final numbers ready.
  1. Sales tax increased about $808from last month and was $13,772 more than last year. 2017 ended with sales tax $83,895 more than the year before. SPLOST decreasedabout $3,560 from last month and was $1,897 more than last year. 2017 Franchise Tax totaled the highest to date at $144,482.
  1. Property taxes and business license renewals are steadily coming in. We have received over $2,169 in past due taxes with the addition of including past due amounts on property tax notices for the first time.

Mayor Rogers added that although 2017 LOST numbers improved, the City still needs to stay tight with spending as it recovers from the decreased LOST revenues of prior years. Councilmember Hayes suggested rebuilding the City reserves in small increments to replace what had been taken in previous years to cover expenses. Mayor Rogers stated the City currently has a one-month reserve when it should have enough to cover six months of expenses.

Police Department– Chief Hannah had nothing to report.

Street Department –Street Supervisor, Alan Holcomb, was not in attendance.

City Attorney - David Mecklinreportednegotiations were being made in the Riverside Mobile Home Park pending litigation and he estimated a conclusion in 30-60 days. Any further details would need to be discussed in executive session.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

  1. AirEvac– Not in attendance.
  1. Auditor – Mayor Rogers gave an overview of the Auditor Bid process and the Panel’s final recommendation for Rushton & Company. Councilmember Almond made a motion to approve Rushton & Company as City Auditor for the next four years, seconded by Councilmember Jiles. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. 2018 Budget Approval–Councilmember Hayes made a motion to approve the 2018 Budget as advertised, seconded by Councilmember Jiles. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: NONE

EXECUTIVE SESSION: NONE

COUNCIL COMMENTS: NONE

MAYOR COMMENTS: Mayor Rogers invited the Council to the Heard County Chamber of Commerce Dinner on Friday, January 26.

ADJOURN: There was no further business to conduct and Councilmember Jiles made a motion, seconded by CouncilmemberAlmond, to adjourn. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.

______

Joel Rogers, Mayor

Members Present:Clerks Present:

Karen Boyd

Willie Almond, Jr., Post #2

Kevin Hayes, Post #3

Sara Alane Bradfield #4

Clifford Jiles #5

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