HomeMy Public PortalAbout19860508CCMeetingTybee Island, Georgia
May 8, 1986
The Tybee Island City Council met in regular session
at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 1986 at Tybee City Hall. Mayor
Walter W. Parker presided and the following Councilmembers were
prssent: Jean Davis, Paul Jackson, Phil O'Dell, Bill Walsh,
Kilma McCutchen and Chris Solomon. The City Attorney, Thomas
Mahoney, and the City Administrator, Bob Thomson, were also
on hand.
Mayor Parker welcomed an unusually large crowd and
first introduced the president of the Optimists, Mr. S. J. Orsini.
Mr. Orsini explained that the Tybee Optimists' motto is "Friends
of Youth" and that the local organization has been helping Tybee
youth for 25 or 30 years. The club,pr.esented two checks for
scholastic excellence: one for the outstanding student at St.
Michaels' and one for Tybee Elementary School. The winners
were John Kelly for St. Michaels and Janice Weis for Tybee
Elementary.
Mayor Parker then introduced the Outstanding citizen-
ship Award, speaking briefly of Mr. Jim Sheley's community ser-
vice, and then calling on Paul Jackson, who mentioned Mr. Sheley's
many accomplishments, including his work for the local museum,
the VFW, American Legion, cancer and heart funds, the Tybee
Jubilee, and his outstanding contributions to Trinity Methodist
Chapel, and the Easter Sunrise Service. Mrs. Marjorie Harris
spoke toosay that he is also the best- dressed man on Tybee,
and this statement drew another round of applause. Mr. James
Petrea, Mayor of Thunderbolt, attended the meeting to see this
Award presented, but came in a little late, because he had a
committment at a PTA ;meeting in Thunderbolt.
Mayor Parker then called on Dan Browne, Superintendent
of Fort Pulaski and President of the local Museum Board, to
accept a:. Proclamation declaring a "National Preservation Week ",
1
1
Tybee Island, Georgia
May 8, 1986
Page Two
May 11 through 17, 1986. Mr. Browne explained that the week
will be celebrated here by the Tybee Museum's hosting of an
exhibit called "Sentinels of the Sea" highlighting lighthouses
and that the local lighthouse will be open at no charge next
Saturday.
A Proclamation declaring May 12 through 16 Municipal
Clerks' Week was read. This was accepted by the City Clerk,
who named all area City and County Clerks, and the local office
clerks, who share this recognition.
Tom Drayton of Domino's Pizza was the first visitor
to appear before Council. He circulated copies of an application
for a business license, saying that his firm would like to sell
pizzas by the slice on the beach. Questioning disclosed that
a temporary shelter, such as a tent, was planned. The City
Attorney spoke of Health Department requirements over which
the city has no control, saying that a permanent location is
usually required by them before issuing a food permit. Council-
member O'Dell suggested that there are plenty of buildings for
rent, and invited Mr. Drayton to come on down to Tybee, at least
for the summer. Mr. Drayton spoke of his doubts as to whether
a permanent market is here, and Mayor Parker closed the discussion
with the statement that there is nothing the city can do until
a county permit is checked on.
Mayor Parker then invited John O'Neal to speak for
the Chamber of Commerce President, Chris Simon, who could not
be here. He introduced a plan called "Welcome Wednesdays" and
asked the City Council to approve it.
Mrs. Bettye McLlendon was the next speaker. She com-
plimented the administration on its first six months, saying
that she realized the many problems being faced by the elected
officials, and also saying that she appreciates the solid founda-
tion this administration has formed and is looking forward to
great progress.
Tybee Island, Georgia
May 8, 1986
Page Three
Dr. Paderewski, a resident of 10th Street, complained
that littering is so bad it can't seem to be controlled; he
objected to bringing any kind of licensing onto the beach, saying
it would make the littering worse, and asked if help to pay
extra workers could be obtained from state or county. He asked
that the logo begun by Jeanne Hutton "Leave Only Your Footprints"
be used again, and compared beach users to dogs, in their lack
of cleanliness. Mayor Parker explained that the city is now
trying to hire extra police for weekend duty, that some littering
cases are being made, and that a beach patrol is being used.
The beach has been crowded, however, and it's possible that
the patrol is not getting as far as 10th Street before making
cases and returning to process them. The City Attorney, who
is also Court Recorder, explained that the court has constantly
made a practice of making young people caught littering do weekend
cleanup rather than have their parents pay a fine, and that
the city is constantly seeking state funding. He suggested
all citizens help by keeping these concerns before the legislative
and county officials. Mrs. Jeanne Hutton spoke to say she is
concerned that the city is not saying a firm "no" to people
wishing peddling licenses - she believes peddling is illegal
according to our local ordinances, and wishes the Council would
not entertain the hopes of those seeking such licensing. George
Spirides spoke of the need for more public restrooms along the
beach. Marjorie Harris spoke favorably of the ducks in Jaycee
Park, offering to pay for others if the city will obtain them.
Mayor Parker opened the meeting for business legally
presented.
Minutes of the April meeting were approved.
Bills for the month of April were approved as follows:
Water /Sewer $28,157.08
Gen. Govt. $12,433.56
Police $12,640.08
1
1
Tybee Island, Georgia
May 8, 1986
Page Four
Public Works /Sanitation
Fire /First Responder
Recreation
$17,941.46
$ 922.93
$ 2,521 .76
9
Bob Thomson made his Zoning Administrator's report,
saying that building is up, with $560,000. in new construction
and renovations - nearly all single family and remodeling. This
more than doubles last year's figures for the month of April.
He also reported that the Planning Commission recommends approval
an apartment /hotel -type complex on Miller and U.S. 80, further
recommending that an engineer be hired by the city to supervise
the project. Councilmember Walsh moved that the recommendation
be accepted, with Councilmember Davis seconding. City Attorney
Mahoney cautioned that the motion should reserve the city's
right to make a final decision concerning supervision, engineering,
and related matters, and that the applicable codes of the city
must be complied with. This stipulation being acceptable to
all, the motion was then unanimously passed.
Code Section 8 -2 -12 (Electrical Code Adopted) was
offered for amendment, read by the City Attorney, and accepted
on First Reading by motion of Councilmember Jackson, with a
second by Councilmember Walsh. Because Councilmember Solomon
and others had a few technical questions regarding this code,
the second reading was deferred to the June meeting.
Councilmember Jackson moved that the city accept the
Chamber's proposal for "Welcome Wednesdays" and Councilmember
Solomon seconded. Councilmember Walsh questioned how much in
profit the city stands to lose from allowing free parking on
Wednesdays. Mayor Parker explained that exact figures are not
available, but since operational costs will be lowered for that
day, and since parking revenues are up 30% over last year, it
is not expected that the city will feel an adverse impact from
this cooperation with a Chamber promotion. He suggested that
Tybee Island, Georgia
May 8, 1986
Page Five
Councilmember O'Dell's idea of limiting the approval to a trial
period for the month of June be followed; the program can then
be continued if successful. This was unanimously endorsed
by Council.
Mayor Parker announced that a Lions' Club Blood Drive
will be held on Friday, May 9th. And also reminded everyone
of the Hurricane Preparedness Meeting /Seminar for May 15th at
7:30 p.m. hoping that a large turnout will be on hand, especially
those who have moved here in the past year or two and who have
not seen such a program previously.
The meeting was adjourned.
1
1
CLERK OF COUNCIL