Ellijay City Council November Meeting

News

The Ellijay City Council held their monthly meeting on November 21 at the Ellijay City Hall. Topics on the agenda included the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.), Employee Compensation and the Harrison Park Multi-trail bid.

During the workshop prior to the official meeting, there was a lengthy discussion about the L.O.S.T. The L.O.S.T. negotiations are required by state law every 10 years according to the census. Revenue from the tax is divided between Ellijay, East Ellijay, and Gilmer County. The current rate is 17 percent for the City of Ellijay. The county has made offers for their percentage of the L.O.S.T. In August, the county made the first offer for 6.753 percent via a hand-delivered letter by Commission Chair J.C. Sanford, at which time the council decided to give Mayor Al Hoyle the authority to negotiate. The council wanted to increase its percentage to 20 percent. At last night’s meeting, Hoyle said that the county’s counter offer was 15 percent, following a 14 percent written offer. The commissioners made a request to Hoyle to hold a special meeting to discuss the L.O.S.T., but Hoyle advised the commissioners that the regular meeting was November 21. Hoyle asked the Council members if they feel that a meeting is needed in conjunction with the commissioners to discuss the L.O.S.T. Council member, Ruth Caudell, made the comment that 2 percent was going to be major for “us.” Hoyle responded that 1 percent was $38,000-40,000, while 2 percent is around $80,000 per year. The decision was made to continue negotiating and shoot for 17 percent. Once negotiations end, arbitration will begin. If the county and the city can’t come to an agreement on a percentage, the matter will go to court. The deadline is December 31, 2012. The changes will become effective in January 2013.

Employee Compensation was added to the agenda per request of David Westmoreland. While the employee bonuses are worked into the city’s budget, Westmoreland stated that “We are not employees.” He believes that policeman, such as the ones in attendance, are employees. But the city council members are not employees so therefore they are not entitled to bonuses. Caudell commented that their employees have not had a raise in “several years,” and that she didn’t have a problem with the council not receiving compensation. If the “employees received compensation, at the end of the year it would show our appreciation for the hard work they do.”

Citizen Brian Linkous

During the public commentary, Citizen Brian Linkous brought up the point that the signs advertising downtown merchants on lampposts were outdated. Linkous stated that there are “easily 16 businesses that are no longer represented by the signs hanging from the lampposts.” Linkous believes that this is “very confusing for tourists who travel the streets who don’t know what they are looking for.” Linkous suggested changing this soon, “at least remove the ones that are no longer in business, just so we don’t mislead people when they come into town.” Better Hometown members, Mona Lowe and Terri Palmieri stated that this issue is being resolved. Lowe asked the council if anyone remembered that there was a $25 fee added to business licenses to cover these signs. Hoyle verified this, adding that for the fist time it was free, then it was $25 from then on.

Once the official meeting was underway, Caudell made a motion to add a special Executive Session as a last item to the agenda. The motion was approved.

Council member Katie Lancey made the motion to accept the Harrison Park Multi-use trail bid from CBS Contracting for a total of $132,404 for installation of an EnviroGrid for 1.15 miles of trails. This means that $72,101.50 is what the city would pay with the addition of $60,302.50 for the grid fabric and hooks. There is a grant for this project, but the city has to match a portion of it. Hoyle stated that this amount was $30,000 cash, the amount that the grant called for. Caudell asked if it was in the budget. Hoyle replied that it was not in the budget. Caudell hesitated, but then voted in favor. Nothing was discussed concerning funding for that portion of the project since it was not in the budget.

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