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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19861113CCMeeting1 Tybee Island, Georgia November 13, 1986 The Tybee Island City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, November 13, 1986 at 7:30 p.m., with Mayor Walter W. Parker presiding. Councilmembers present were: Chris P. Solomon, Kilma McCutchen, Bill Walsh, Jean C. Davis, Phil O'Dell and Paul Jackson. City Attorney Thomas J. Mahoney, Jr. was present, as was City Administrator Bob Thomson. An unusually large audience was welbomed by Mayor Parker. Elinor Minshew of Anderson & Karatassos made a presentation regarding the 198 Centennial, saying that it should be used as an occasion to revitalize the city and its environs, suggesting that the first six months be used as an opportunity to lead an internal revitalization, with the second six months devoted to a publicity campaign to change the city's image. Mayor Parker thanked her for her presentation. Mayor Parker then read a Proclamation honoring Operating Room Nurses and invited all present to an open house set for Saturday, November 15th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Candler General Hospital. Mayor Parker then opened the meeting for a public hearing at the request of Councilmember Solomon, Recreation Chairman, who wishes to apply for a Land & Water Grant. Councilmember Solomon then explained an idea for a boardwalk between 14th and 18th Streets, with small palm shelters here and there to shade people from the sun. Chris Simon, President of the Tybee Island Chamber of Commerce spoke, saying the Chamber members endorse the plan 100 %. Bob Thomson exlained the criteria for funding. Willie Mae Steele commented briefly and favorably. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Solomon announced that the Lions Club will hold a glaucoma screening on Tuesday, November 18th, and encouraged everyone to participate. Mayor Parker then invited Mrs. George McDonald and Mr. Carl Thompson, retired teachers, to come forward. A proclamation was read honoring the retired teachers in the community, following which Mrs. McDonald read a list of teachers, most of whom were present for tle occasion. Their years of service in education totaled more than 450 years. Mr. Thompson, President of the local retired teachers' association, then read rules for school teachers written in the 1800's (for ladies) and in 1915 (for male teachers). These rules were found to be very amusing by today's standards and were greatly enjoyed by all present. Tybee Island, Georgia November 13, 1986 Page Two Mayor Parker then recognized members of the Tybee Beautification Committee and members of the Tybee Island Chamber of Commerce who were on hand for this meeting. Mayor Parker introduced Ms. Irma Harlan, Director of the CEL Regional Library. Ms. Harlan introduced Ken Spriggs of The Spriggs Group, architect for the city's library facility. Mr. Spriggs showed the final plans for the new library which will be located just south of City Hall in Memorial Park. It was noted that the library will meet the 12' base flood level required and will be accessible to handicapped. Ms. Harlan invited the City Council to attend the library's 70th birthday celebration at the Main Library on Bull Street on Tuesday, November 18th at 1 p.m. Mayor Parker then presented a certificate of outstanding citizenship to Mr. Fred Kuhlman who has been instrumental in bringing some of the Beautification Committee's projects to fruition. John O'Neill spoke to tell the City Council of an opportunity to participate with Memorial Hospital in seeking a grant for an exercise area, saying the cost to the community will be very small and that he has a tentative agreement from his employer, Memorial Medical Center. He has given Bob Thomson the information concerning the grant which would be a part of a "National Fitness" campaign, and could be installed, probably by members of a local civic club, in about 1$ days. Mayor Parker thanked John for his interest and asked Bob Thomson and Councilmember Solomon to work together on the project. Mary McAfee spoke for the Tybee Island Garden Club, saying the ladies are concerned about King's Refrigeration at Inlet Avenue, both for aesthetic and safety reasons. Mayor Parker agreed that old refrigerators can be dangerous to children, adding that Mr. King has always been a reasonable person, and asked Bob Thomson to have the City Marshall request that the area in front of his business be cleaned up. Mary McAfee suggested fencing if he needs an area for old appliance storage. Minutes for the October meeting were approved as written. Bills for the month of October, 1986 were approved as follows: Water /Sewer - $10,016.36; General Government - $2,006.77; Police - $12,996.69; Public Works - $7,779.26; Fire - $2,433.38; Recreation - $980.67. Mayor Parker announced that a public hearing on a Public 1 1 Tybee Island, Georgia November 13, 1986 Page Three Parks /Conservation Zoning District had been scheduled but would be postponed due to waiting for an appropriate map to be put on display in Tybee City Hall. He invited anyone present who had come to speak concerning this adver- tised zoning change to do so, but no one came forwrd. Bob Thomson gave a Planning /Development report, saying that building permits totaling $951,000. had been issued this year, representing six (6) single - family units and twelve (12) townhouse units. A letter from Senator Coleman to Commissioner Ledbetter dated October 23rd was read, in which renourishment was the subject. A letter from Postmaster Dubberly of Savannah to Mayor Parker, dated October 29th, was read, stating that the postal service now offered to Tybee is the same as any new service in any other city, regardless of population. Door to door delivery is evidently not an option under new service. Mayor Parker announced that he has issued two proclamations that he'd like to mention - one for Constitutional Amendment #1, which was endorsed by Governor Harris and which did pass in the recent election. The other was for L.I.F.E., Inc., and for this project, encouraging independence for the handicapped, he spent the day in a wheelchair. He informed everyone that it was a very hard thing to do, and that he wholeheartedly supports all we can do to make the lives of the handicapped less restricted. A resolution supporting the concerted effort of the fire department and the city to lower the city's ISO rating to a Class Four was read by Mr. Mahoney. Councilmember McCutchen moved that the resolution be adopted, Councilmember Davis seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The Resolution is attached to, and becomes a part of, these minutes. Councilmember Davis spoke of the need to refurbish the audi- torium. Mayor Parker announced that pictures of all former mayors still living will be hung in the Auditorium at the December meeting and he en- dorsed Councilmember Davis' remarks about sprucing up the auditorium before the event. A discussion of the proposal by Anderson & Karatassos followed. The consensus seemed to be that the proposal needed further study; Council- member O'Dell said that we do have excellent volunteers, but that it will be difficult to do a first class job without professional help - he further 1 Tybee Island, Georgia November 13, 1986 Page Four stated that he believes a good publicity campaign for the Centennial can benefit Tybee more than the pier as far as statewide recognition is concerned and is an opportunity to improve the image of our beach. Mayor Parker said that he knows the Chamber of Commerce is very much behind the idea of using professionals to change our image; he suggested that Councilmembers make themselves available to the citizens to hear what they have to say, and asked the Clerk and the Finance Committee to study the matter carefully before making a recommendation. After a dis- cussion it was decided that the matter shouldn't wait until the next regular meeting, and a special meeting was set for Tuesday,, November 25th at the normal time of 7:30 p.m. Mayor Parker recognized Mrs. Martha Walsh, Tybee's Branch Librarian, and thanked her for being present to accompany Ms. Harlan and others from the CEL Regional Library. Mayor Parker announced that the Tree of Love, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, would be held at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th. Councilmember Solomon remarked that the Resolution passed earlier in the meeting would result in combined savings to taxpayers of at least $90,000. if the city is able to lower the fire rate. According to Fire Chief Johnny Solomon, this should be possible within an eighteen month period. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. CLERK OF COUNC L 1 1 1 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The City of Tybee Island is exceedingly proud of its local volunteer Fire Department, and of that Department's.recjord of service to this community; and WHEREAS, the Fire Department works tirelessly to better the community through constant, continuing training and improvements, both in personnel and in equipment; and WHEREAS, These efforts were rewarded in June, 1983 by 'a reduction of ISO Fire Rating Classification from an "8" to a "6 ", and a corresponding savings of thousands of dollars in fire insurance premiums for the entire property - owning citizenry of the community; and WHEREAS, The Fire Department, and in particular its leadership, under the guidance of Fire Commissioner Kilma McCutchen and Fire Chief Johnny Solomon, has indicated its willingness, and its eagerness to work harder than ever so as to achieve an even better ISO Rating - a.Class Four (4) Rating, which would result in ever larger savings on fire insurance premiums for the city, the business, community and the home- owners; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN OPEN MEETING ASSEMBLED that the City does hareby endorse the Fire Departments recommendation that a Classification Four rating be sought, and IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY FATHERS ARE UNITED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THIS ENDEAVOR, LENDING SUPPORT TO WHATEVER MEASURESIARE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS ECONOMIC AND LIFE - SAVING IMPROVEMENT. THIS 13th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1986. CLERK OF COUNCIL MAYOR