Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees met May 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Jim Peck called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon a call of the roll, the following members were physically present: Mayor Jim Peck, Trustee Dave Wendt, Trustee Marilyn Johnson, Trustee Jeremy Shaw, Trustee Bob Gruenewald, Trustee Jeff London

On Telephone: Trustee Lauren Young

Staff Present: Village Administrator Jill Applebee, Village Clerk Cheryl Marty, Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart, Village Engineer Jeremy Buening, Village Library Director Melanie Weigel, Village Attorney Lisa Petrilli

Staff Absent: Public Works Director Darin Fowler, Planning and Zoning Director Ryan Raleigh Others Present: Bill Krueger, Amy Clawson, Larry Shearer, Liz Strate, Suart Strate

The Cannabis Group was not in attendance to make their presentation but will make it at a later date.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 16, 2024 2. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS

MOTION

Trustee Johnson made a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented along with noted corrections to the April 16 minutes to be made and Trustee Wendt seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Young

Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, the public has the opportunity to express views or make comments to the Mayor and Board of Trustees on agenda items or any other Village issue. Comments must be limited to not more than three (3) minutes.

Resident Stuart Strate spoke to the Board regarding the intersection at Hickory Point Road and MacArthur Road and a stop sign that was replaced. West bound traffic is blowing through the stop sign and he expressed his concerns. He asked for an LED stop sign to be placed on the west bound side (there already is one on east bound). He also noted that Route 51 street signs are not lit any more.

Resident Amy Clausen spoke regarding the stop sign accident where her car was totaled and shared her suggestions for improving safety at that intersection.

Resident Jill DeLong spoke about the same concerns as her son was critically injured at a Village intersection with a driver running a stop sign. She asked for more Sheriff Deputy enforcement of speeding along with any improvements to eliminate these accidents.

Resident Larry Schearer made a complaint regarding the condition of the bike trail along Forsyth Parkway as there are very large cracks that make it hard to ride his recumbent bike.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

1. Law Enforcement Report

Sheriff Deputy Hale spoke about the running of Village stop signs and promised increased vigilance on this. He shared that retail thefts are down and that Lowes has had special cameras installed on their lot to help deter retail theft.

2. Village Staff Reports

Mayor Peck commended the library staff for an outstanding event for children (Bluey) that had hundreds in attendance. Trustee Gruenewald asked for timeframe clarification on projects in the engineer’s report and Village Engineer Buening responded and also confirmed that there are two different types of work being done on Talon, hence the need for two separate projects. A brief discussion was held on the Route 51 project and Trustee Shaw felt residents should be updated on the current status since confusion has ensued since the traffic cones were removed. He also has received many positive compliments on the ball field conditions and how well they drain, so send kudos to the Public Works staff for their hard work.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to allow Trustee Young to participate by phone in the meeting and Trustee Gruenewald seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Young

Motion declared carried.

OLD BUSINESS

1. RESOLUTION 3-2024 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISED UNIFORM PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR VILLAGE OF FORSYTH EMPLOYEES (VILLAGE ATTORNEY LISA PETRILLI)

Village Attorney Petrilli explained the details of the revisions made to the Village Personnel Rules. She said the accrual process for earned time off is the best approach to use and overall, the policy is more generous than required. A brief discussion ensued.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the Resolution as presented and Trustee Gruenewald seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

NEW BUSINESS

1. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-7 AN ORDINANCE ADDING TERRITORY TO ENTERPRISE ZONE AND APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE ENACTING ORDINANCE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (AMENDMENT 7) (VILLAGE ATTORNEY LISA PETRILLI)

Village Attorney Petrilli explained the details of the need to add property to the current enterprise zone. The Decatur Macon County Enterprise Zone Board has approved the requests for four boundary amendments to include an additional parcel into the Decatur Macon County Enterprise Zone. A brief Board discussion ensued.

MOTION

Trustee Gruenewald made a Motion to approve the Ordinance as presented and Trustee Shaw seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

2. ORDINANCE NUMBER 2024-8 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A VARIANCE RELATING TO HVAC SCREENING REQUIREMENTS LOCATED AT 990 N. ROUTE 51 (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

Village Attorney Petrilli explained that Five Below is replacing rooftop HVAC units that will be lower than the current existing ones on the building but that the height will still not meet current code. Code has not been enforced uniformly in recent projects and likely older buildings were in place before this ordinance was created. The Planning & Zoning Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of this. Discussion ensued regarding the need for the ordinance to continue and also if in the future it should be enforced for new commercial construction. Administrator Applebee said it will be discussed during the Planning & Zoning Committee review of all ordinances.

MOTION

Trustee Shaw made a Motion to approve the Ordinance as presented and Trustee Wendt seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

3. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING OPERATING HOURS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

Village Administrator Applebee explained we have several different garbage haulers serving the Village and have received resident complaints regarding the noise and time of day pick up is happening. Our ordinance only addresses construction hours but does not include waste companies. Board discussion included comments of too many haulers and the impact on our Village roads, the fact that Forsyth is not home rule and concerns of regulating vehicles and not commercial properties. Village Attorney Petrilli was asked to research what options the Village has and Administrator Applebee will research how neighboring communities are addressing this issue. Board discussion on the topic will continue once that information is gathered.

No Motion needed.

4. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING CHANGE ORDER FOR TREATMENT PLANT (VILLAGE ENGINEER JEREMY BUENING)

Village Engineer Buening explained the change order for the water treatment plant claricone and filter maintenance. The net change to the contract price by this change order results in a decrease of $3,490.00. A brief Board discussion ensued.

MOTION

Trustee London made a Motion to approve the change order as presented and Trustee Gruenewald seconded the Motion.

Yeas: 6 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

5. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING CHANGE ORDER FOR GRAYHAWK (VILLAGE ENGINEER JEREMY BUENING)

Village Engineer Buening explained the change order for the Grayhawk Pavement Maintenance project. These changes result in a net deduction to the contract of $9,554.83. A brief Board discussion ensued.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the change order as presented and Trustee Gruenewald seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London, Gruenewald

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Wendt made the Motion to adjourn and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion. All Board members agreed by voice vote, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 P.M.

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