Councilman Craig Lutz claimed that on Feb. 6 the city's $300,000 purchase of two Main Street buildings next to City Hall violated the city charter. Lutz and Councilman Chris Fetterman voted to approve the minutes. Council members Pat Zalewski, Mary Jones and Allen Bryans were opposed.
Lutz hoped for approval.
"The minutes are the official record, so how did we officially make the purchase if the minutes won't be approved for it? That's the issue," Lutz said.
Council voted Feb. 6 to buy the two buildings as investment property for the city.
Fetterman suggested leasing the Main Street property for new administrative offices was a political favor.
Bryans said at the March 5 council meeting those comments were erroneous, maybe even libelous; he does not want the minutes approved until they are factual.
DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES
If you want to sell door to door in Flowery Branch you'll have to get a license that's visible to potential customers. City Council gave final approval to Craig Lutz's proposed ordinance.
Lutz said the city now has to decide how much that license will cost.
"That fee would cover the cost that the city would incur for issuing the license and doing a back ground check," Lutz said. " After that there would be enforcement."
Under the solicitation ordinance residents can call the police if a salesperson comes to the door without a license.
SIGN MORATORIUM
City Council approved a 63-day moratorium on new signs until it gets advice on how to regulate or possibly prohibit the larger new electronic LED display signs showing up along the Interstate.
City Planner James Riker requested the moratorium to allow time to study how the sign ordinance could be updated.
" I think that Council wants to get a better understanding of how to handle billboards and large highway signs," Riker said.
Riker added there's also concern about sign appearance and motion and light displays that could distract motorists.
WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
City Manager Bill Andrew advised City Council water customers are using less, but with city growth there are more of them.
Andrew told City Council that means the city is out of compliance with the state's mandated 10 percent water use reduction brought on by the drought.
"We're having to deal with more meters and more use but individuals are using less, so it's difficult to know how we can react to that any differently," Andrew said.
Andrew added he hopes the state considers that individual water use is down 26 percent.
Flowery Branch is using 200,000 gallons a day; it needs to be using 170,000 gallons a day to comply with the state mandate.
Andrew said several Georgia cities with rapid growth also are out of compliance for the same reason.
Flowery Branch City Council
City Manager Bill Andrew
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208166