August 5, 2019 — Commission Chairman Phillip Beard called the August meeting of the Buford Commissioners to order at 7 p.m. at city hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the Commission approved the meeting agenda, as well as, the meeting minutes from July 15, 2019. Due to Labor Day, the September meeting will be moved to Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 7 p.m. at city hall.
The first piece of business was for Universal Roofing & Construction located at 4226 Hamilton Mill Road. They requested a rezoning from R-100 to C-2. The request was approved with several conditions. The second rezoning request was for Kenneth Adams for property located at 4347 Old Hamilton Mill Road. He would like the 1.578 acres to be rezoned RA-200 to R-100 to build three homes on it. The request was approved with the minimum floor area of the homes to be 2,400 square feet for single-story homes and 2,600 square feet for two-story homes. The third and final rezoning request was for Bret Muetzelfeld for 505 East Main Street. He wishes to convert the property from C-2 to R-100 to renovate the home to be a private residence once more. The request was approved. Amy Dickey requested a special use permit to allow for an indoor training facility located at 5306 Palmero Court, Suite H. The request was approved.
The final subdivision plat was approved for Holland Point Retail, LLC. A sewer allocation request was approved for the Wade Orr Road tract. Chairman Beard conducted a public hearing for the new Fiscal Year 2020 operating budget. With it he discussed the proposed property tax millage rates and the 2019 property tax millage rate for both Hall and Gwinnett will end up being 12.70 mills. No one in the audience had any questions or objections to the new budget and millage rate. The Commission voted to approve both the FY 2020 operating budget and the 2019 property tax millage rate.
The Chairman was authorized to sign the 2020 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) agreement with Hall County. A special event was approved for the lawn at the Buford Community Center for October 26, 2019. The application was for the Best of Georgia BeerFest sponsored by Little Kings and Queens non-profit organization. Renovations to the Bona Road Gym were approved with Charles Black Construction overseeing the project. The renovations include making the exterior facade all brick to match other city buildings and to install air conditioning in all areas of the gym. The Commission authorized the City Manager to sign an agreement with Buford City Schools that lease vehicles to the schools for the purpose of the new school resource officers and the use of City purchased vehicles for maintenance activities.
Payment #3 was approved for the Southside Trunk Sewer project – Phase II. The Commission also approved the third payment for the SR 324 at SR 124 gas relocation project. The final payment request for the Bailey Road gas relocation project was approved.
Todd Cleveland from the Buford Community Center gave a brief update that included upcoming events, as well as, their July 27 concert was a big success. City Manager Bryan Kerlin began his report with an update on the downtown parking deck. Moreno Street between Garnett and S. Harris is still closed and will remain closed until September. He estimates that the deck is halfway complete and should be finished by the beginning to the middle of October. The Buford Waterworks power supply is being upgraded with the addition of a back-up generator power source. The generator should become operational on August 8. General maintenance and repair have been completed at the waterworks plant as well.
The new Buford High School officially opened on July 28 with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Punch-Out list items are still being completed. Various gas, sewer, and electrical projects are underway. Main Street is undergoing a project to seal the street to make the pavement last longer. This will be done in phases to have as small of an impact as possible for the local merchants along Main Street.
Three fields at the Legion fields will be closed starting on Labor Day in order to renovate them as part of the city’s promise to provide an upgraded experience at the Legion fields. The Buford Youth Athletic Association estimates 300 kids will play fall ball at the Legion fields. The baseball and softball fields that the athletes from Buford High School use will finally be converted to turf to bring it up to current standards. The stadium football field will be the remaining field with grass and will eventually be converted to turf. Commissioner Burge added that on Saturday, August 10, the kickoff to the Buford Youth Football and Cheerleading season will take place at the Buford Youth Sports Complex on Sawnee Avenue.
Chairman Beard asked the meeting attendees and the Commission if they had any further business. No one had anything to add. Meeting was adjourned.
— Staff Reports
