HomeMy Public PortalAbout19740717CCMeetingSavannah Beach, Georgia
July 17, 1974
The regular monthly meeting of City Council was held this
evening at 7:00 P.M. in the main auditorium of Savannah Beach
City Hall with Mayor Michael J. Counihan presiding and a
quorum consisting of the following councilmen present: Mr.
Ernest Hosti, Mr. Richard DeLoach, Mr. Edward Fahey, Mr. Joe
Agnew, and Mr. James Bond. City Attorney Lance Smith was also
present.
The meeting was held in the auditorium and a large crowd
was in attendance. Before formally opening the meeting,
Mayor Counihan allowed the visitors and petitioners present
to speak. The first to request the floor was Mrs. Eleanor
Strain. She stated that she had understood that the new animal
ordinance would be passed and that she and Mrs. Mood of the
Humane Society were interested in making sure that the necessary
provisions were in the ordinance to compel pet owners to take
proper care of their pets.
Mayor Counihan then declared the meeting open for business
legally presented. He requested the Clerk to read the minutes
of the meeting of July 3, 1974. The minutes were approved as
read.
Councilman Joe Agnew, Chairman of Finance and General
Government, informed Council of the increasing amount of
delinquent taxes which were accumulating and becoming larger
each year. He then moved that the necessary legal steps be
taken to collect these delinquent taxes. He stated further
that these taxes should be levied upon only after proper
notification had been extended to the delinquent tax payer.
Councilman Edward Fahey seconded the motion and it was
unanimously carried.
Councilman James Bond told Council that we were also
having similar problems in our effort to collect delinquent
water bills on which the water was already cut off. Councilman
Bond informed the Mayor and Council that if these back water
charges are not collected then we had no alternative except
to increase our water rates. He then made a motion that
we write a letter to the people who were behind in their bills
and make an effort to collect these charges and if we are
not successful in this, then, in accordance with our Water and
Sewerage Ordinance, we levy on the property and collect
this money. The motion was seconded by Couuncilman Hosti
and unanimously carried.
Councilman Jim Bond announced that the City had received
a request from a group of residents in the vicinity of Laurel
Avenue, outside the city limits, for sewerage service in that
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area. He stated that he had conferred -with Mr. Hutton on this
problem_to run a sewerage line down Laurel Avenue but it was not
feasible at this time due to the high cost, which was ap-
proximately $12,000.:00. He stated further that we had plans to
re -work the majority of our sewerage lines and this area was
included in the plan. He stated it was, therefore, his sug-
gestion that we hold off on this work for the time being. _Mr.
Bond then moved that at the present time we hold off on any
sewerage line construction on Laurel Avenue until construction
starts on all of the sewerage lines that are included in the
Grant. The motion was seconded by Councilman DeLoach and
unanimously carried. -
Councilman Joe Agnew stated that it was his understanding
that the preceding Council had gone on record.as approving the
sale of the city -owned property commonly referred to as the
"Tybrisa Property." He said he therefore felt that another
motion to sell this property would not be necessary. Mayor
Counihan stated that he felt another motion, approved by the
new Council, would be in order because this Council was not
bound by any commitment of the former Council. Councilman
Agnew continued stating that he and Councilman John. Wylly had
taken a good look at the property recently and that it was
their unanimous opinion that the property should be disposed
of by a sale. He then moved that this property be sold by
the City and that to help do this two FOR SALE signs be posted
on the property -one on Sixteenth Street and one on Butler
Avenue and that anyone interested could contact City Hall
and show the telephone number. This motion was seconded by
Councilman Fahey. Under discussion, the_ question was raised
as to whether or not. an asking price be shown_on the signs.
Mr. Agnew stated that it was his opinion that at the moment
we were not in a position to set a price that we would take
for this property. He said he felt this would come about by
subsequent action and that his purpose in offering this motion
was to get as much exposure as we could between now and
September with these signs. The vote was then taken and the
motion was unanimously carried.
Councilman Ernest Hosti gave a report on the State - County
Paving Project for Van Horn Street in Fort Screven stating
that it had now received final approval and was being scheduled
for some time in the near future.
Councilman Hosti reported further on two other projects
that we had working.
(1) A Traffic Study by the Department of Transportation at
the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Highway 80 (FIRST STREET)
with the view of curbing the high incidence of traffic accidents
at that location; and,
(2) laying culverts in the 12th Street drainage ditch
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to retard the street erosion at the intersection of Jones
Avenue and 12th Street. He stated that this project was being
done entirely at the expense of the State Highway Department.
Councilman Edward Fahey, Chairman of the Police Committee,
stated that he was in receipt of an application for the transfer
of a malt beverage license from Mrs. Georgia Sivils of Tybee
Marina to T. A. Bradley, III. He stated that Mr. Bradley had
been investigated by the Police Department and had received a
favorable recommendation. He also had the transfer fee of $25.00
in hand and would, therefore, move that this license transfer
be approved. The motion was seconded by Councilman Ernest Hosti
and unanimously carried.
Police Chairman Edward Fahey also reported that, as
instructed, Mr. Samuel Weatherly had undergone a physical
examination and given a clearance by the examining physician
and was sworn in as a Police Lieutenant of the Savannah Beach
Police Department on the 10th day of July and is now presently
employed on the Savannah Beach Police Department.
Councilman Richard DeLoach, Chairman of the Fire Depart-
ment, reported to Council that "beepers" for the Savannah Beach
Fire Department had been purchased by the preceding administration.
He stated that at the time this purchase was authorized, it
was the intention of the Fire Department to let the police
dispatchers be the dispatchers for the "beeper" system -but now
there appears-to be some conflict in this, he stated, since the
Police Department had now moved to Sixteenth Street and there
was no one at the Fort Screven Police Station except a jailor
and he was there only at times when they had someone in
jail. So, he said, now the problem is where should the base
station for the "beeper" system be installed. Mayor Counihan
stated that in order to resolve this problem and get the work
moving, he was referring the matter to a committee composed of
Councilmen Fahey, DeLoach and Agnew to make a study of this
and report back at the next regular Council meeting.
BILLS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS for the month of June
were approved for payment.
Councilman Bond requested and received permission to make
a statement concerning water charges and addressed it to all
Savannah Beach Water users, particularly those who live in
the area between Butler Avenue and the beach. He stated that
a lot of these folks are getting some extremely high water bills
and some of them are supposedly not even down here. Chariman
Bond stated further that the water was definitely flowing
through the meter and said he would therefore suggest that all of
the residents in this area who have been experiencing high
water bills should remove their hoses to prevent usage by
bathers coming from the Beach.
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Councilman Edward Fahey, Chairman of the Savannah Beach
Police Committee, read into the record a letter he had received
from Mr. Tom Coleman, Chairman of the Chatham County Commission,
dated July 12, 1974, concerning L.E.A.A. Funds, as follows
LETTER FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
This letter was received as information.
Councilman Richard DeLoach, Chairman of the Fire Department,
read a letter from Mr. James D. Foley addressed to the Mayor
and Councilmen following his inspection of fire plugs at the
beach. It showed some leaking, one needing replacing, one
needing moving, etc. Mayor Counihan stated that he noted a
copy of this letter was sent to the Water - Sewerage Department
and that he felt Mr. Bond and his committee would take care of
these items as soon as possible.
Mr. Dwight Davis appeared before Council complaining
about the flooding of his property when it rains. Councilman
Bond of the Water and Sewerage Department answered the complaint
stating that this matter had been turned over to the Water
and Sewerage Department and was being handled by them. He
also complained about a parking meter that is in a bad position
near his property and could cause a terrible accident there.
Councilman Edward Fahey placed on first reading an
amendment to our Code of Ordinances so as to change the day
and hour for holding the regular monthly Council Meeting from
the third Wednesday of the month at 3:00 P.M. to the third
(3rd) Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. Council accepted this
amendment on first reading.
The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Everett Stokes requesting
a refund of $915.00 for alcohol licenses purchased from the
City of Savannah Beach which he was never able to use due to
the fact that his application for state licenses were denied
by the Department of Revenue. The refund was authorized by
Council upon return of the original city licenses.
The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Bill Saxman of the
Metropolitan Planning Commission in regard to two recommended
amendments to the City of Savannah Beach Zoning Ordinance.
Council's attention was particularly called to the request by
the Metropolitan Planning Commission for a meeting with the
Mayor and the members of City Council to discuss this and
several other projects. Mayor Counihan stated that a meeting
would be set for one night in the near future.
The City Clerk then introduced Mr. Bob Savadge, former
Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission
who had requested time on the agenda of this meeting. The
Clerk stated that Mr. Savadge was now the head of his own
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Planning Agency, Metroplan, Inc., and had been commissioned
by the merchants on 16th Street to do a traffic study for
them of the 16th Street area. He stated that his purpose in
addressing Council this evening was to bring to light for the
.benefit of the Mayor and Council some problems in traffic
circulation which exist in the Savannah Beach central business
district. Mr. Savadge stated further that he was appearing
before Council as a professional planner and did not want to
get involved in any Savannah Beach politics -past, present or
1 future. He stated that he was appearing before them, hopefully,
to be able to make some recommended modifications in the
Savannah Beach central business traffic flow. He stated that
these changes, if adopted, could affect all the people of
Savannah Beach (not just the 16th Street Merchants) and could
also affect the revenue accruing to the Town. Mr. Savadge then
distributed copies of his recommendations; together with a map
of the area, to the Mayor and Councilmen and explained the study
and recommendations in detail. Following this detailed_pre-
sentation by Mr. Savadge, Mayor Counihan thanked Mr. Savadge
for his presentation' and stated these recommendations would
be taken under consideration. •
City Attorney Lance Smith informed Council that near
the end of the term of the previous Council he was requested
to look into the problem of the dillapidated and_run ®down
housing on the beach, that which was unsafe and considered a
health hazard and unfit for human habitation. He mentioned one
case where the owner of the run -down property lived out of
'town, he had written her about it and had the letter returned
marked "unclaimed" and most of the others contacted just
ignored his request. He stated that, as a result of this,
he met with Mr. Tom Coleman, Chairman of the Chatham County
Commissioners, in an effort to get some assistance in this
regard. He stated Mr. Coleman advised him to put this
in :the form of an official request, which has been done, that
he would make available a health officer from Chatham County
who would be put on the pay roll of Savannah Beach on a
temporary basis for the purpose_of surveying and determining
which property needed to be condemned and the owners notified.
Mr. Smith stated that the purpose of this report was to let
Council know that he had made written request of the County
Commissioners for this help and merely wanted to bring them up
to date on what was being done about this.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
to the next regular or special called meeting.
CLERK OF COUNCIL
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I, SAMUEL WEATH RLY, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge
the duties devolved upon me as a police officer on the Police Department of
the City of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia. That I will faithfully
execute and enforce the laws and Ordinances of the City of Savannah Beach,
and of the State of Georgia to the best of my ability, skill and knowledge;
that I will support and uphold the Constitution and Laws of the United
States of America and the Laws of the State of Georgia, SO HELP ME GOD.
Sworn to and
befo e - thi. 10th d. y •f JULY ,1974
SAMUEL WEATHERLY
inn. LANCE SMITH h I Judge
Savannah Beach •• •er's Court
J. TOM COLEMAN, JR.
CHAIRMAN
IMISSIONERS
WILLIE E. DROWN
FRANK O. DOWNING
CLEVE FOUNTAIN
WALTER W. MATTHEWS
ROBERT L. McCORKLE
ALBERT A. SADLER
L. SCOTT STELL. JR.
J. E. LAM3RIGHT
COUNTY ADM INIBTRATOR
ANTON R. SOLMeti, JR.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
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COMMISSIONERS of CHATHAM COUNTY
P. 0. BOX 8161
SAVANNAH. GEORGIA 31402
July 12, 1974
Mayors of Incorporated Municipalities
Within Chatham County
In Re:
LEAA Grant Applications
GEORGE A. MERCER, IU
VICE•CHALI M.AN
Gentlemen:
For your information and for LEAA grants and matters relating ,
thereto, it is hoped that the following information will be help
ful.
The Georgia Crime Commission in Atlanta which approves, dish .
approves, or modifies grants has a contract with the Coastal Area
Planning and Development Commission of which Chatham County is a
part, under the terms of which all grant applications forwarded to
the Commission must be routed through and be submitted by the CAPDA
in Brunswick.
However, because about 65. per cent of the entire population
of the CAPDC and most of the grant requests originate in Chatham
County, the governing authorities of the county and City of Sav
annah have reached an internal agreement within the CAPDC regard-
ing LEAA matters origination within Chatham County.
By this agreement, the Metroplitan Planning Commission through
its criminal (justice planner will provide service to all agencies
within Chatham County. This includes information on grants avail-
able, preparation of applications, conforming with eligibility
reguirements, etc. When an application =has been completed it will
be forwarded by Troy Coleman, MPC criminal justice planner, to
CAPDC in Brunswick for review and forwarding to the Commissiondn
Atlanta.
Adherence to this procedure will facilitate and expedite the
handling of grant applications.
Copy:
Howard Bellinger MPC
Vernon Martin CAPDC
Sincerely, Q�
rW- •°°)', Ct' ao
. Tom Coleman Jr,