City Council Reports

Port Wentworth City Council Report

The Port Wentworth council meeting was held at the City Hall on
Thursday, April 24th, and the pre-agenda meeting started at 6:30 pm
and then into the regular meeting of Mayor and Council. Mayor Glen
Jones dropped the gavel bringing the meeting to order and Councilman
Bill Herrin led the council and guests in the prayer and the Pledge
of Allegiance. The roll call was made by City Clerk Miriam Jordan and
all councilmen were present.
Under elections and appointments for Zoning Board and Appeals
member, there were two nominations, Mr. Charles Sorgenson and Mr.
Vincent Hogan and for Administrative Law Judge, Mr. Steve Scheer was
nominated.
Under Resolutions, Ordinances, and Proclamations, Ordinance #08-08
Zoning Map Amendment Application was submitted by Radhe Krishna for a
lot on Highway 30 to rezone from R-A (Residential-Agriculture) to P-
C-1 (Planned Neighborhood Business).
First Reading. There was a 55 minute Public Hearing with four
individuals voicing negative remarks. Mr. Brian Thompson,
representing the owner of the property, told of all the positive
aspects of the rezoning and was talked into postponing this item
until the next meeting and was also asked to have the owner present
at this next meeting.
Item (B), Ordinance #08-06, Animal Tethering, second reading. This
was another lengthy discussion why an animal should be tethered for
no more than one hour daily. If a policeman spotted an animal in your
yard tethered for more than one hour, a citation would be issued to
the owners. If an animal was in his owner’s fenced yard, there should
be no reason to tether this animal.
Item (C), Ordinance #08-07, Amendments to Personnel Policy, second
reading. This item was closed to public hearing and approved by council.
Item (D), Resolution #08-12, GMA Lease Supplement for the purchase
of a Ford F-250 for Facilities Maintenance. This was approved by
council.
Also approved by council was Item (E), a resolution to Authorize
Investment-Georgia Fund 1. Another approval by council was Item (F)
Resolution #08-14, Authorization to submit a pre-application for
funding from the land and water conservation fund for rehabilitation
of Lewis Mobley Park. Mr. Mike Howard stated that it was for the ball
field.
In Unfinished Business, (A)-Acceptance of bids for Installation of
Water Sampling Stations. $42,000 was budgeted for this and the
recommendation of putting on an extra person to the department at a
$30,000 salary would save the city some $12,000. This was approved by
Council. Council approved the hiring of this new person to the
department.
In New Business, (A), Subdivision Application submitted by Fred
Williams Homebuilder Inc., for Newport Phase 2B, The Cove for final
plat. Public Hearing closed and council made a motion to delay.
(B), Subdivision Application submitted by SIVICA Communities Inc.,
for Town Square at Rice Hope for final plat was approved by council
and Public hearing closed.
(C), Specific Site Plan Review Application submitted by Rice Hope
North investors, LLC for Highway 21 within Rice Hope Development to
construct a road extension and respective utilities in a Master Plan
Overlay zoning district. Public Hearing Closed on this matter and
approved by Council.
(D), Approved by council the Development Agreement with Rice Hope
Development Inc., and Rice Hope Partners, LLC for the Market at Rice
Hope and (E) Release of Maintenance Bond for Rice Hope Lakeside Phase
1A, Lakeside Boulevard and Offsite Water and Force Mains.
Approval by Council was given to the following: (F) Acceptance Of
Maintenance Bond for Rice Hope Phase 2 Entrance Roads, Mulberry
Avenue and Market Boulevard; (G) Acceptance of Performance Bond for
asphalt wearing on Lakeside Boulevard, Mulberry Avenue and Market
Boulevard; (H) Acceptance of the Right-of-Way for Rice Hope Phase 2
Entrance Roads; (I) Pay Request # 7 (final payment) for
Rehabilitation of Pump Station # 2; (J) Agreement with Falcon
Fireworks for STAND UP FOR AMERICA DAY; (K) Agreement with the Harper
Agency for Gospel Singing at STAND UP FOR AMERICA DAY ($1800); (L)
Amendment to City of Savannah Water Agreement to provide Water
Service to the Godley Anderson Warehouse.
The next council meeting will be on May 22nd, and the public is
invited to attend.

Rincon City Council Report

Rincon City Council meeting was held Monday evening at the Rincon
Police Department Council Chambers. At 7 pm, Mayor Ken Lee brought
the gavel down and opened the meeting. The roll call was made and all
were present except for Councilman Reese Browher. Councilman Levi
Scott gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The
evening’s agenda was approved by council.
The second reading of an ordinance to amend the regulation of beer
and wine sales and to create an ordinance to allow the sale of
alcohol by the drink. Pastor Bob Rogers of Rincon First Baptist and
Councilwoman Ann Daniels both spoke lightly of the 50/50 split
between restaurant food sales and alcohol by the drink.
Jay Maupin engineer, representing Steven Mason requested approval of
Preliminary Site Plans for a commercial building and mini storage
units proposed on Highway 21 South. The property is zoned GC---
General Commercial. Council approved this site plan along with
additional plans for a deceleration lane. This request was also
approved by council.
Also approved by council was the request from Brittwood homes for
approval of subdivision of lots # 186-191 at the Villages of Towne
Park East, Phase III. Property is zoned R-11 Multi Family, and
consists of 6,840 square feet.
A petition has been filed by Sign Mart on behalf of CVS for a
variance to the sign ordinance to allow six fascia signs and four
directional signs at 412 South Columbia Ave. The property is zoned GC-
General Commercial. The public hearing was closed and council voted
to table the item because the principles were not present.
Approval was made for the second reading of an ordinance for a
zoning text ammendment which has been filed to amend article 8 of
the sign ordinance, the list of prohibited signs. Also approved was
the designation of declaration for three surplus vehicles for the
police department.
Payment request number 3 fromTerry Lee Contracting, Inc. for the
Surface Water Line in the amount of $163,317. This was approved by
council as was a request by Steve Campbell on impact fees paid to the
city due to the fact that he will be moving one structure, a mobile
home, and replacing it with a house. A credit of impact fee request
would be based on the square footage difference. This was apprroved
and a credit wil be issued.
The Wastewater Treatment Department requests the allotment not to
exceed $18,000 for the expansion of the sludge press building. Bids
to be provided. This was tabled for continuation of bids.
The newly appointed Chief of Police Michael Berry introduced to
council two newly hired officers, Scott Collins and Sgt. Mike DeWitt.
The next council meeting will be held on May 12, 2008 at the same
location, Police Headquarters Council Chambers at 7p.m. The public is invited.