[0:06] [music]

[0:16] It's 6:00. We going to start our uh city council meeting for

[0:22] July 20th, 2026. We're going to stand for invocation and remain standing for

[0:27] the pledge of allegiance.

[0:32] » [clears throat] >> Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come

[0:35] this afternoon in the most ominous manner that we know how. Father God,

[0:38] thanking you for all thank thanking you for the last night lying down this

[0:41] morning. You so graciously allowed us to rise. You brought us out to the city to

[0:45] take care of the business of the city this afternoon. We ask you to lead us

[0:48] and guide us in the way that you would have us to go. It's these blessings and

[0:51] all blessings we ask in Jesus Christ tonight. Amen.

[0:54] » Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[0:59] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation

[1:05] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[1:12] » Roll call, please. >> Mayor Campbell,

[1:15] » here. >> Council member Bruner,

[1:16] » here. >> Council member Figuel,

[1:18] » here. >> Council member Hall,

[1:20] » here. >> Council member Lacer,

[1:22] » present. >> Council member Mars,

[1:24] » present. and council member Ruez. [clears throat]

[1:27] » Now I'm going to open up the floor for anyone who want to come up and speak for

[1:31] three minutes. Not on property tax, just want to speak on anything. I give you

[1:37] three minutes. Anyone want to come forward?

[1:44] » No one move. Sir, close this part. >> Oh, he was about to get [clears throat]

[1:48] up, sir. >> Huh?

[1:50] » About to get up. Can you state state your name and your

[1:53] address, please, ma'am? >> My name is Linda Treywick. I live at 207

[1:58] Main Street

[2:02] » in Garden City. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay.

[2:05] » All right. Mr. Mayor, when you first came into

[2:11] office, your salary was $800 a month. And then you raised it in 24

[2:21] to $15,600 a month. That's just for you. That's not

[2:26] for everybody else. All of your raises went up, too. So

[2:31] now you're discussing the possibility of raising your pay again.

[2:41] Your vision says that thriving

[2:48] said a Can you read my own writing?

[2:53] a thriving community set on continual improving the community's quality of

[3:01] life. I don't see that not for 88%.

[3:07] So here's the thing. You have

[3:13] average one to two hours every two weeks per month.

[3:20] very rarely over that. That averages out to $325

[3:29] for you. And I don't get it. So now you're

[3:33] raising our taxes and we can't even afford to pay taxes.

[3:37] » Anything but taxes, ma'am. You know, you can talk about anything but taxes.

[3:41] » That's what I'm here for. Is this >> Well, it's not that time yet. That's why

[3:45] that's why I say I'm giving anybody 3 minutes to speak but not on anything

[3:50] except taxes for right now. >> Well, we going to get to the taxes part.

[3:55] » I'm sure. >> Okay. Anybody else want to get up and

[3:58] speak for three minutes on anything other than taxes?

[4:03] Okay. Well, we're going to close that part.

[4:06] [clears throat] Okay. And now we got three public hearings and that's on a

[4:10] military receive a public comments for the mayor and council to intensively set

[4:18] the Avalorin tax rate. Now anyone want to get up and speak on taxes? Now you

[4:24] got three minutes to come up and speak.

[4:33] Okay, you've already heard everything I got to say except

[4:39] per meeting you

[4:44] get paid $325 per meeting.

[4:49] And yet you want to raise our prices, our our taxes,

[4:56] property taxes to I don't even know what you want that for. 88%

[5:04] and you lost your mind. I mean, I'm serious about this. I can't

[5:09] afford a a tax rate. Not for 88%. And I'm sure there's not many people in

[5:16] here that can. I've said enough. I said what I want to

[5:20] say. >> Thank you, ma'am.

[5:23] Mr. >> Anyone else? Anyone else?

[5:27] » By the way, uh I just wanted to make a a point. There's been no resolution or

[5:32] motion or any paperwork at all about raising the salary of the mayor and

[5:38] council. Uh so I don't I don't know where you got your information from, but

[5:42] » I had an old line on line. >> Okay. Well, it's incorrect or you

[5:48] misunderstood it because there's been no move to increase the salary of any

[5:52] council person, >> especially not 15,000 a month.

[5:56] » Let him speak, Jim. >> Yes, ma'am. State your name and your

[6:00] address, please. Ma'am, >> my name is Amy Blackchman. I live at 73

[6:04] G um Lynn Avenue. So, I reviewed the slide deck that's online, but it left me

[6:10] with a lot of questions. It's pretty vague. I'm wondering if you can provide

[6:13] a reconciliation showing the city's total recurring revenues by source for

[6:18] fifth fiscal year 25 compared to fiscal year 26, including property taxes, fire

[6:24] fees, sales taxes, franchise fees, business taxes, licensing, permits,

[6:28] charges for service and transfers, and identify exactly how much new recurring

[6:33] revenue the city expects to collect under the proposed budget as compared to

[6:37] last year. >> Bon has

[6:42] Did you I'm sorry. Have you looked at the PowerPoint that has been presented?

[6:47] » Yeah, it's pretty big >> because there's budget numbers in there

[6:51] that show the 2025 [clears throat] and the 2026.

[6:53] » It doesn't give a bottom line comparison and it and there's like about a 4.9

[6:57] million difference over the fire fee costs that isn't clearly explained and

[7:04] it it doesn't show where they're coming from. Is it just on property owners or

[7:09] what what part of that is being, you know, being attributed to our local

[7:13] business taxes, sales taxes?

[7:19] » I think it's going to slide. >> Yeah, it's not going to

[7:24] Okay. Of the 2026 budget, only $3 million was budgeted for property taxes.

[7:29] As of yet, the budget has not been changed to reflect the proposed property

[7:35] tax rate because it hasn't been approved yet.

[7:41] » It goes back to there's not a clear line by line comparison though.

[7:49] » The the 2026 budget is online. >> I've reviewed it and I reviewed the

[7:54] 2025.

[7:58] Those are my comments. Mr. Mayor, can I say something?

[8:02] » Yes. >> Um, I didn't catch your name, but the

[8:06] 2025 and 2026 city's budget is online. It's open records. All expenses and all

[8:14] income as part of the open records. That is online. It's nothing that we're

[8:20] trying to hide or anything. >> Anyone else want to come up and speak?

[8:29] I got something to say. >> Good afternoon, council.

[8:34] » Good afternoon. >> Uh, Shagari Williams, 59 Barnado Avenue.

[8:40] » Mhm. And my question to the council is uh to the finance person, the uh city

[8:47] manager, whoever um the surplus that the audit say we had, have y'all uh decided

[8:56] is there any thing that can be allocated to cut that 88%.

[9:08] » We do allocate some of our surplus appropriation of fund balance. We do

[9:12] that every year. So, we do use some of our surplus.

[9:16] » Okay. But I'm saying the auditor said and I'm Did he say 16 million surplus?

[9:22] Was that the number? >> No, he was talking about the days that

[9:26] we have the months that we have to operate

[9:29] » in case of an emergency. >> Yes, ma'am.

[9:32] » That's what he was talking about. >> Okay. So, what is our surplus? Well, we

[9:36] have a surplus and then we borrow from it to appropriate in the budget. In our

[9:41] budget, if you'll see what the revenues are, we have an appropriation of fund

[9:46] balance. If you go online and look at our actual

[9:49] budget, >> okay, I I'm listening to you.

[9:52] » Yeah, >> but you're not answering my question.

[9:56] » I asked you what is our surplus? What's the number?

[9:59] » Well, the surplus, what is our number? >> I don't know. I don't have it in front

[10:02] of me. She doesn't have it in front of her, but

[10:05] » I know from the last year for 2020 2025, we had we appropriated 3.7 million out

[10:12] of our surplus to the budget to balance the budget. And this year, we

[10:17] appropriated for the proposed budget for the adopted 3.9.

[10:23] And if you add the fire department in, when you move it from your enterprise

[10:27] fund to your general fund, we're going to have to appropriate over five million

[10:31] out of the surplus. And if you keep appropriating out of the surplus, you're

[10:35] going to use all your savings. So it's just like your personal um accounts. If

[10:41] you keep using your savings, you're going to deplete it.

[10:46] So we do offset it. >> Okay. uh you gave me some numbers from

[10:53] 2025 and I understand that if you keep taking and not replacing then you you

[10:59] drill it. I understand that. >> But what I'm saying is in for this

[11:04] military increase. >> Can't we use some of the surplus to cut

[11:10] some of that idiot? >> We still we still will be using some of

[11:13] the surplus to cut that amount. Yes, we still will be to balance the budget. We

[11:17] are not covering the whole amount with the fire department. moving over because

[11:22] you have 13 departments already in the general fund and now you're moving

[11:27] another department a major department in with over five million just about close

[11:31] to 5 million in expenditures. So you've got to increase revenue.

[11:37] Three minutes is up. >> Finish.

[11:40] » You You can finish answering the question, Rhonda. But three minutes.

[11:43] » So you do have the surplus. So we are subsidizing it. Yes, we are.

[11:48] » 3 minutes up. I I still don't feel like I got a a good answer.

[11:52] » Okay. >> Um but thank you.

[11:54] » Anyone else want to come up and speak?

[12:00] » Mr. Mr. Mayor, may I ask one question regarding the uh question that was just

[12:05] asked? If the millage rate is set at the 7.581 as proposed, how much

[12:11] appropriation of funds will be appropriated for this year at that point

[12:15] compared to what we initially had as the 3.5?

[12:18] » You're talking about if you did a lower >> right now as proposed, what will the

[12:24] appropriation of funds be? Well, at your 7.581, now this is

[12:31] just an estimate, you're still going to have to appropriate over about 700,000,

[12:35] maybe up to a million depending on on how the budget comes in. If you did six

[12:41] mills, you're still going to you're going to have to appropriate

[12:43] approximately 2.2 million. And if you did 5.5 mills, it's going to be

[12:49] approximately 2.7 million. >> Okay? And when the budget was approved

[12:53] last year, um whenever it was adopted, it was adopted with an appropriation of

[12:57] 3.538 million. Is that correct? >> Yes.

[13:00] » Yes. >> So you're looking to reduce that number

[13:03] drastically. >> Probably to around Well, it depends what

[13:07] you adopt. >> The number increased um 1.7 million. So

[13:12] it's at 5.3 right now. So we are looking >> correct. But with the 7.581 millillage

[13:17] rate, it will reduce that appropriation of funds down to about $700,000.

[13:21] Correct. >> Yes.

[13:23] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[13:25] » All right. So, state your name and your address, please.

[13:28] » Miles Gerorado, 76 Lyn Avenue. Uh, I should have got up here a little

[13:36] quicker, but y'all close it out so fast and I kind of a little bit on the tax

[13:40] situation, too. Um, I love my neighborhood. I think it's one of the

[13:45] best neighborhoods in Garden City and be so close to Savannah

[13:49] District 5. Uh, but the thing is, anytime we go to

[13:54] do something in Garden City, we got to leave the city to go shop. It don't

[13:57] matter what it is. U, the food line up here is okay. It's convenient, whatever.

[14:02] No deli, no bakery. We had three grocery stores when I moved here at one time

[14:06] when Dixie was here, but way before my time. But anyway, uh 88% increase and

[14:14] the assessment values keep going up. That means more property taxes for the

[14:18] county and so on and so on, you know, and it's just my bill just went up $50

[14:24] this month. And I don't know how much it's going to go up with the 88%

[14:28] increase. I just think it's unreal to be that high. I know they're trying to take

[14:32] care of the fire department and so on,

[14:38] not take care of each other. We have services and everything.

[14:46] » That's all I have to say. >> Thank you, sir. [clears throat]

[14:49] » Anyone else want to come up and speak?

[15:01] How y'all doing today? >> Fine. You sir [clears throat]

[15:04] Elliser 5228 Augusta Road Highway 21 over there.

[15:11] So I guess what I'd like to ask is um the reason we're here. We're talking

[15:16] about this tax increase, but this has been evidently creeping up on everybody

[15:22] for some time now. I think the fire fee was implemented back in what 2009.

[15:29] Does that sound correct? Something like that. I know it's something like that.

[15:32] It's on your site. >> No,

[15:34] » excuse me. >> Oh, excuse me. Okay. Okay. Okay. So,

[15:40] what I'm trying to figure out though, so we just went through the court. We read

[15:43] everything in the papers. Garden Se was found. they have to pay X amount of

[15:48] dollars towards a lawsuit that the people that were being charged are going

[15:53] to receive 20 some odd percent of what they actually paid in which that's a

[15:59] whole different story here. But what I'd like to know is what part of this is

[16:05] Garden City? What part are y'all owning with all of this? And instead of trying

[16:09] to pass it all off to the citizens and businesses, what part are y'all owning?

[16:15] If we've got money in the bank, that sounds like y'all need to take and

[16:19] appropriate that money. Y'all need to exhaust all areas of here prior to

[16:25] passing it off to the citizens and making them pay for mistakes. And I'm

[16:32] not saying this council did it. I'm saying there may have been pre because

[16:36] 2011, I don't even know if any of y'all were on this council then. But my thing

[16:40] is is can't you can't tax your way out of a problem. I know that's what they

[16:47] want to do. You'll never tax your way out of it. You're going to have to have

[16:50] more physical responsibility and financial responsibility. And we're

[16:54] going to have to cut things that we don't need. And if you look right over

[16:58] here, right to the side, that library right there. I don't know what y'all pay

[17:02] to fund that, how it's funded, if Garden City has any kind of financial

[17:07] obligation to it, but If we have a dollar going to that, that

[17:12] don't need to be there. If we have $1 going in there. So, and the other way I

[17:17] look at this too, whether you're from a certain district or an area

[17:23] representative represented, it doesn't matter. You y'all are our mouthpiece.

[17:29] So, that means when you listen, when we come up here and we say something or we

[17:34] talk about it, you're supposed to, you're an elected official. You're the

[17:38] mouthpiece of the people that are here. Not up here for your own we're going to

[17:42] do this or we're going to do this. Doesn't work that way. That's how you'll

[17:46] get voted out. >> So, what I'm saying is the citizens

[17:53] register their complaints. You listen to them and you don't say,

[17:57] "Oh, well, we have to do this." If this needs to be put off again, it needs to

[18:01] be put off because this ain't going to sit well. We're paying for any and

[18:05] everything from a local level. >> Thank you, sir. You're three minutes.

[18:09] » There you go. Right there. I can't even talk, can you?

[18:11] » Okay. >> Three minutes, sir.

[18:13] » Yeah. There you go. That'll be one of the reasons you'll be one of them gone.

[18:17] » Thank you. >> So be it. Anyone else? on this fire fee

[18:22] on this fire fee issue. When council passed the fire fee in 2011,

[18:28] it was legal and there were courts in Georgia that upheld the fire fee.

[18:34] Unfortunately, through time, judges decide cases differently and in recent

[18:40] years a lot of judges have determined that the fire fee in the form that we

[18:45] were charging is is not proper. Uh so it's not a matter of us doing something

[18:52] by mistake initially. It's the fact that the laws have changed to which question

[18:58] the practice that was done a number of years ago. A court did not tell us to

[19:03] pay the fee. We settled the case based on the fact that we anticipated that a

[19:09] court may agree that the tax is invalid. No court has stated that we agreed to

[19:16] settle. I think the claim, whole claim was almost $5.2 million that we were

[19:22] being asked to pay. Um, and we reduced that amount, I believe, to 1.4.

[19:29] And I the council thought that was the most economical and and wise thing to do

[19:34] where you have a court that might issue an order against us for 5.2 and we have

[19:41] a chance of settling the case for 1.4. I think that if most people had that

[19:47] option, I think they would choose settling the matter for that's that

[19:51] relatively smaller amount. But the laws change and we have to

[19:58] uh counter those changes by doing things in the future and courts have stated

[20:03] that fire fees should be part of adorum taxes that we shouldn't be collecting

[20:10] them separately as a use tax. The reason that the fire protection fees came into

[20:15] effect is because a lot of jurisdictions believe that the people who used the

[20:21] fire department should be paying for it. So, the ones that had the bigger houses

[20:26] or uh were charged more fire fees than people that just had vacant lots. Um,

[20:32] but the courts have determined that no, you shouldn't do it based on that

[20:37] method. you should lump it into the ad voluorum tax and and do it that way. And

[20:42] that's what we're doing. Um so it's not a matter of anybody making a mistake.

[20:48] It's a matter of the laws changing to where we need to do things differently

[20:52] as most other cities have that same problem.

[21:00] » Okay. Anyone else want to come up and speak?

[21:05] Okay.

[21:19] Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Don Mthoon and I reside at 2621

[21:24] Woodlon Avenue. and and my first comments I would like to address to

[21:29] council member Bruner in a council workshop um I don't know maybe a couple

[21:36] of months ago um you brought up the fact that um 28 years ago when your side of

[21:44] town was annexed into Garden City you were promised

[21:48] » I wasn't annexed in 28 years ago sir it's only been about 18 years I wasn't

[21:52] annexed in 28 years ago it's only been about maybe 18 years since we were

[21:56] annexed in. >> Well, it was 28 years ago. I got the

[21:59] information from the city and I actually looked online and actually um Dean

[22:05] Kicklder was the mayor and so it was 28 years ago. So you said um we were

[22:13] annexed in get we were annexed in and we were promised um water and sewer, no

[22:21] property taxes and more services.

[22:26] And in those comments I felt a little buyer remorse. So I can't say what

[22:36] would have happened with the water and sewer. I'm sure there would have been

[22:38] some cost with it for 15 years. You didn't pay anything. So to your comment

[22:47] that that side of town, this side of town

[22:51] doesn't have better services. So I took a look. So your personal residence, you

[22:57] pay $44 a year in Garden City taxes. $44.

[23:03] This group is going to decide on a millage rate of 7 and a half meals. So

[23:09] if we could change time and you were in the special services district

[23:17] and the village rate in Garden City is 7.5.

[23:22] So what would you pay if you were still in the county? Because you would pay

[23:27] county taxes and you would also pay an extra tax. So, what does that tax

[23:32] consist of? First thing you would pay is $85 dry trash fee. The second thing is

[23:41] you would lose your $40,000 homestead exemption that Garden City

[23:48] gives you. And the second thing is the millage rate for the UNC unincorporated

[23:55] county is 6.5 mills. So, you indicated you have better services. So, what would

[24:02] the county be giving you? Um, you would have county police protection. The

[24:07] county would be cutting your rideways over there. I'm sure that we've all seen

[24:11] a county maintained right away. And the fire department would be serving you.

[24:19] That's all you get. So, it's your opinion that you're paying

[24:24] $44 Garden City taxes and you get nothing for it? I can't understand that.

[24:32] Next person, Mayor. >> May I get how much?

[24:37] » Next would be Council Member B. So in September of

[24:44] 2020, he came to the senior center to speak uh tied his uh business

[24:52] experience, managed millions of dollars in budgets, and in my hand, I have a

[24:58] copy of the 2025-year budget. And in the next two weeks, I'm going to dig dissect

[25:05] that and I'm going to tell you all the wasteful money. Can you identify

[25:10] anything in that budget that you could cut?

[25:14] » Were we speaking about from five years ago?

[25:16] » 10 10 months ago. You said, "I'm going to look at the 2025-year budget and in

[25:21] two weeks I'm going to tell you about all the wasteful spending." So my

[25:25] question is, you've had the budget for 10 months. Can you identify?

[25:31] » I will. >> Three minutes up, sir.

[25:33] » Only one thing. I would like the fire chief and the police chief to come up

[25:38] and explain because Chris said he would eliminate

[25:43] » three minutes. Three minutes up three minutes up, sir.

[25:46] » I would like three minutes. >> Say, sir, I I will say my my voting

[25:49] record is public. >> Chris,

[25:51] » Michael, >> um with all due respect, uh some of that

[25:57] information is that may be correct for my homestead, but I own multiple

[26:01] properties in Garden City. I pay multiple fees to Garden City and I

[26:06] promise you I pay more to Garden City than Mr. Bthoon has paid. Uh I pay storm

[26:10] water fees of over $300 a month. I was paying the fire fee of another $200 and

[26:15] something dollars a month. And I have several other properties that I pay

[26:19] property tax to Garden City on that are way more than $46 a year. So thank you.

[26:25] » Thank you. >> Yeah. No, I was just going to say my

[26:29] voting record is public. Um, you know, as you said, I I said that I would vote

[26:32] against wasteful spending, and I think I've done that in my time on council.

[26:35] There have been, I don't know, four or five different things that have come

[26:38] across that I voted against because I didn't feel that we needed them.

[26:41] » Anyone else want to come up and speak, >> but we're going to close this part of

[26:46] public hearing. [clears throat]

[26:49] Now, we have village point, town home, final subdivision map.

[26:56] Anyone want to speak for it?

[27:04] U my name is Travis Bazemore. I'm an EMC engineering. I'm here tonight on behalf

[27:09] of the applicant. Um just here mainly to answer any questions if you have them.

[27:14] Um, don't have.

[27:27] » Good afternoon, Mayor Council. Uh, Carl of ours for planning and zoning. Um,

[27:32] this is I just like to ask um open public comments for this final plat.

[27:36] This was this came up front front of you in 20 2022 for the uh the initial uh

[27:44] plat subdivision. This is behind city hall if you know with 76 U town homes

[27:49] trying to being built. This is just public comment and for uh the final

[27:54] plat. Nothing has changed. All the infrastructure has been put in place.

[27:58] They also paid for the new roadway to extend Constantine that the city will

[28:02] take on after uh the final inspections as well as we've received all the bonds

[28:08] and warranties for this development uh initially for 30 30 months of uh

[28:13] warranty and bonds set in place. City staff doesn't have uh no concerns or

[28:18] objections on it and just recommend for approval. So just like to open up for

[28:21] any public comments. Okay. >> Anyone want to speak against this

[28:26] project? Anyone else want to speak for it? Anyone want to speak against it?

[28:32] We'll close this part of the [clears throat]

[28:35] Now we have a general development plan 129 St. Joseph Avenue recip recipant

[28:42] Jonathan Austin seeking to approve for the construction of a 6,000 square ft

[28:48] metal building petition in 4500 square ft. Anyone want to speak for that?

[29:01] Good morning or good afternoon again. Um just give you an update. This mix came

[29:05] in front of uh planning commission um and their recommendation was denied due

[29:10] to traffic concerns um existing conditions on St. Joseph's Avenue and as

[29:16] well as the commercial being on a residential area. city staff's

[29:20] recommendation. Um obviously they meet all of the zoning uh requirements, any

[29:25] zoning laws, buffers and the permitting use based on that zoning. Um so based on

[29:30] the zoning appro zoning laws, city staff has recommendation. Now there is some

[29:35] concern [clears throat] with u obviously the public on that side repeating into a

[29:39] residential area. Um we like to open for open um for public. The petitioner is

[29:46] here and property owner. I'll let him speak on behalf of him as well as um any

[29:52] anybody against opposing on that. >> Okay.

[29:57] » State state your name and address, please, sir.

[30:02] » Austin Page, 129 St. Joseph Avenue. Um I bought this property a while back

[30:08] um with the intentions of um I own own a business. I was going to run my business

[30:12] out of the property and have three other three other spaces um at it. Um, I

[30:17] bought it at a higher price because I believe it was it was because of the

[30:21] zoning. Um, so I figured I could do, you know, somewhat what I wanted to do. Um,

[30:26] [clears throat] and there was a lot of people opposing

[30:30] it. Um, at the last meeting, uh, I know it's my lot faces it's right right uh

[30:36] faces the back of the Family Dollar. They had uh and I and I know there's

[30:40] semis that pull in there that that that drop stuff off all the time. Um, also

[30:45] I'm right behind uh the uh in market. Um, and I mean half the time when I go

[30:51] over there to clean up the lot, I mean there's trash everywhere, beer bottles,

[30:54] all that kind of stuff. So I was trying to trying to trying to improve it to

[30:58] make it make it a nice spot. Um, I know somebody mentioned residential, but as

[31:02] far as zoning goes for that area, I don't even think you can build that,

[31:06] [clears throat] you know, build a house in that spot. The zone commercial. Um,

[31:09] [snorts] also down the road there's a 7200 ft

[31:13] building on a smaller lot than what I have. Um, and it's right up against the

[31:18] house. Um, I wouldn't even be close to any houses. Um, so I was just trying to

[31:24] figure out, you know, what um, you know, what I can do to to uh to actually build

[31:30] this build this spot. >> I have a question, sir. Mhm.

[31:33] » How would the ingress and degress work when it comes to like public safety

[31:38] getting into their in in the event that something happens without impeding

[31:43] normal flow of traffic in their area? >> I mean this this small 1500 foot spots I

[31:49] mean it's not going to be I mean my business myself I have four employees

[31:53] where I I would be there maybe two three days a week. I would it would just be

[31:56] basically a place to store my equipment so it wouldn't be a bunch of traffic

[31:59] going in and out of there. >> But I thought you like

[32:03] cutting down to four different units. >> Yeah, I am cutting down to four

[32:06] different units, [clears throat] >> but uh I can't speak for for what what I

[32:10] mean, but it's a small it's small 1500 foot spot, so I wouldn't I wouldn't

[32:14] think that there would be a lot of people there. I mean, I was kind of

[32:18] thinking there would be people that would use it for similar use to what I'm

[32:21] using it for. >> But there's no guarantee, sir, in

[32:25] regards to what you're going to um put in those spots. Am I correct? No,

[32:28] there's I mean there's there's like I said there's 1500 square feet. It'd be I

[32:33] mean possibly a small office or just storage for some for somebody which is

[32:36] basically what I'd use it for. >> Any idea what you'll be storing in

[32:39] there? >> Uh I'd be I own an elevator business.

[32:42] I'd be storing elevator equipment. >> Elevator equipment.

[32:44] » Yes, sir.

[32:48] » I've got a a question. Um your development goes through a city lane.

[32:55] Um, you didn't get title to that strip, did you?

[32:59] » I have not gotten title for that. >> I think that

[33:03] » I think what you're going to need to do is petition the city to abandon that

[33:06] lane and then they've got the option of selling it to you. That's the the rule

[33:11] under Georgia law, but you just can't uh cover up a city lane without actually

[33:17] getting the city to abandon it. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I think that probably

[33:21] needs to be done before we approve the site plan because your

[33:25] site plan actually has your project going over the city lane, doesn't it?

[33:30] » Yes. Yes. And I spoke with Carlos about about that before as well.

[33:35] » I'm sorry. What? >> I spoke with Carlos about that before as

[33:38] well.

[33:44] » Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Anyone else want to speak for it? Do we have

[33:49] anyone want to speak against it? >> I'm the engineer on his project. I I'd

[33:55] be happy to answer any questions related to engineering if you had if you have

[34:00] any. I mean, I'm obviously for the project. I mean, these kind of flex

[34:04] space units are very beneficial to the local economy. It allows mom and pop

[34:09] shops to be able to transition into something smaller.

[34:14] uh a lot of the stuff that they brought up at the planning commission

[34:19] uh and the reasons why they denied it, you know, were were related to

[34:24] engineering issues that we were going to address anyway with the engineering. So,

[34:28] I don't think they understood that. So, uh anyway, I'm for it. If you have any

[34:33] questions, I'll be happy to answer. >> Okay.

[34:37] » I I don't know whether the city can approve something that that goes over

[34:41] its throttway. So, >> I mean, it happens all the time in

[34:43] Savannah. I mean, we we get encroachments

[34:46] » and I've always gone before city council to get city council to abandon lanes

[34:51] before I had clients. >> We do that too. A lot of times they make

[34:55] the homeowner buy it just like you guys are happens all the time.

[35:01] » I would suggest the matter be tabled until the issue of the lane can be

[35:05] worked out rather than the rather than the site plan being denied.

[35:14] Is that it? >> Thank you, sir. Have anyone want to

[35:18] speak against me?

[35:22] » State your name and your address, please, sir.

[35:26] » Good evening. My name Julius Bryant. I live 15 St. George Avenue.

[35:31] And uh I'm against this warehouse or whatever they want to

[35:35] put on here. We got a one way, a oneway street. One way in and one way out. We

[35:40] don't need nothing like that up there. And everybody against it.

[35:47] I don't care what side he say. We don't need it. Period. If you going to put a

[35:51] house there, okay. But a business, no. We got a enough traffic as it is. We

[35:58] don't need it there. And I'm not the only one against it.

[36:02] Everybody on the street against it. >> Thank you.

[36:06] » Thank you, sir. Anyone else want to speak against it?

[36:14] State your name and your address, please. M.

[36:16] » Hello, my name is Angela Vaughn and I have a resident at 116 St. Joseph's. I

[36:23] agree with Julius on not having it because it's going to block up a lot of

[36:29] space and people going in and out. So, I'm against it. Also,

[36:34] » thank you. One of the things I need to point out is is that the property is

[36:39] zoned heavy commercial and when the applicant bought it, he relied on it

[36:47] being able to be used for heavy commercial. In fact, the city's

[36:50] comprehensive future use plan had it as as commercial, too. So,

[36:57] legally, uh commercial use can go on the property. Uh how he plats it out on the

[37:04] property is a different issue that the site plan would determine as far as

[37:09] buffers and setbacks and how dense the activity is going to be on the on the

[37:15] flat. City council can work on that with the applicant. But as far as his right

[37:20] to put something commercial there, I mean, he's got the right to do that.

[37:29] » Anyone else want to speak against it?

[37:34] Shagari Williams, 59 Barnado Avenue. This uh St. Joseph Street property and

[37:40] you say it's zone for heavy >> No, just this one piece,

[37:44] » right? So why don't y'all reszone that area for residential?

[37:50] Cuz if I lived on that street, I don't want to hear that noise. I don't want

[37:54] stuff coming up and down the street. And I believe don't the street flood or

[37:59] something when it's heavy rain. So y'all want to go up on taxes and

[38:04] y'all want to put noise in. How much will this new business contribute to

[38:07] this 88% to help relieve the citizens? Also the warehouses that's being built

[38:14] around Garden City, how much will they put towards to help the citizens relieve

[38:18] some of that 88%. So I'm against it.

[38:24] Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

[38:42] State your name and your address, please, ma'am.

[38:45] » My name is Tracy Campbell. I stay at 119 St. Joseph Avenue, and I am against it.

[38:51] We already have one commercial property at the end of the street, and we deal

[38:54] with a lot of traffic with that. So to put another commercial property at the

[38:58] top of the street, plus you got in market, you got Family Dollar. They come

[39:03] in and out and it's just a lot of heavy traffic. So I'm against it.

[39:08] » Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else want to speak?

[39:23] » State your name and your address, please, ma'am.

[39:29] Hello, my name is Tammy Allen and my parents reside at 115 St. Joseph Avenue

[39:35] and I grew up there and I just wanted to speak to the council

[39:40] um when they reszone that area to commercial property if I'm not mistaken

[39:46] sometime back in 1959. The residents didn't have a voice. They

[39:52] didn't tell the residents that they were going to reszone it to commercial.

[39:57] » So, and then when they put the warehouse down there because it was already

[40:02] commercial, unbeknownst to the residents, when they told them this

[40:07] meeting was going to happen, the residents were told 7:00. when they got

[40:13] here at 7 o'clock, the meeting had adjourned at had was already over and

[40:19] they didn't even get a chance to vote. So, I only think it's fair that the city

[40:24] council hear the residents uh concerns and take that into

[40:30] consideration um about reszoning as the gentleman said

[40:35] here and about putting another commercial property down there. It's a

[40:40] one-way street. you already have traffic coming and going um from the warehouse.

[40:47] You have the traffic from in market and um Family Dollar with their 18-wheelers.

[40:54] And you also have I don't know if it's a sign up there. Um I can't re remember if

[41:00] there's a good sign, any signage that says it's a dead end street because

[41:05] people constantly come down. some big trucks come down because they think they

[41:09] can go straight through to uh Bmpton Road. So, I just ask that you all please

[41:15] take all of that in consideration when you decide on this commercial property

[41:21] or even possible reszoning it. Thank you.

[41:25] » Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else?

[41:29] » So, we going to close this part of the hearing. [clears throat]

[41:36] Approval of the city council minutes concerning the minutes from July 6

[41:41] pre-aggenda section and city council um meeting minutes of July 13th workshop

[41:48] minutes. Entertain a motion. >> May I make a motion for approval of

[41:53] previous minutes? >> Second the motion.

[41:56] » Roll call vote on the motion. >> Council member Bruner,

[41:59] » approve. >> Council member Figale,

[42:01] » approve. >> Council member Hall,

[42:03] » approved. >> Council member Lacer,

[42:05] » abstain. Council member Mars >> approve

[42:09] » and Mayor Campbell >> approved. Motion carried. Res

[42:13] resolutions military.

[42:17] Uh can you read that by hearing on it please? Ma'am

[42:20] » a resolution of the mayor and council of Garden City, Georgia adopting adopting

[42:24] the adorum tax millage rate for the 2026 fiscal year and for other purposes.

[42:30] » Entertain a motion. >> Mr. Mayor, before we entertain a motion,

[42:34] I'd like to speak for a couple of minutes if that's okay.

[42:38] There you go. Good. I I I've had concerns with this. I mean, I've I've

[42:42] gone back over it. I had to sit in the office with the city manager to try to

[42:46] understand exactly where this uh proposal would go as far as

[42:53] where all of that money would be allocated. And I have concerns on it

[42:57] with there's been an appropriation of funds every year for the last several

[43:01] years. And most of the mayor and council that's here now adopted the uh budget

[43:08] for last year with an appropriation of funds of $3.538 million. And you adopted

[43:14] one the year before that with $3.312 million with the expectations that the

[43:22] revenues were underestimated. the expenditures were overestimated and

[43:26] you'd make up for that uh appropriation of funds. And now we're looking to,

[43:32] you know, it was said that this millage rate increase was necessary to cover the

[43:35] fire fee um loss, which was the $1.46 million um which would not require

[43:41] anywhere near that type of millage rate to cover just that loss of revenue. Um,

[43:46] so I kept asking, hey, where is the rest of uh, you know, this almost uh almost

[43:53] $5 million, $4.5 million increase over what was anticipated uh, from when you

[44:00] created the budget for 2025. And it came down to that it was going to be covering

[44:06] the appropriation of the prior year's funds or the majority of it down to I

[44:11] think uh we just said $700,000 would be what was left in that appropriation of

[44:15] funds. So why is it that now it's a big concern to cover the majority of that

[44:21] appropriation? I mean it was not a problem at the end of last year whenever

[44:25] the budget was voted on to have, you know, $3.5 million and appropriated

[44:30] towards the budget. So, why is it a problem now that all of that has to be

[44:33] covered? Why couldn't we consider a little bit lower

[44:37] millage rate increase um to cover the actual loss of revenue and and maybe

[44:44] consider bringing it down a little bit? I think even at 5 mills. Um, city

[44:49] manager, you said it would bring it the appropriation down to 2 something

[44:53] million at 5 mills. Is that correct? >> 5.5 mills.

[44:57] » Okay. 5.5 mills would bring it down to >> about 2.7. That's an estimate.

[45:03] » Okay, which is, you know, getting close to a million dollars less than what was

[45:07] adopted already. So why do we need to go to

[45:11] 7.581 and cover that if if we were thinking we would be okay with

[45:17] appropriating $3.5 million to begin with. So um

[45:22] that's that's my question and comments on it. you know, would would there be a

[45:27] consideration of possibly going to a little bit lower increase on the mill

[45:31] rate versus, you know, going straight to a 7.581?

[45:37] » We'll [clears throat] entertain a motion and every man b his

[45:41] heart. >> Mr. Mayor, can I say something?

[45:43] » Sure. >> Um, Mr. Bruner, you are correct in what

[45:46] you were saying. However, if you remember, initially we talked about 8 ms

[45:51] before we came up with the um come down to 7.5 ms, but

[45:58] I did a calculation on some of the properties that I own in Garden City. I

[46:02] have an empty lot. And right now on that empty lot, I pay

[46:06] $23.95 tax per year on that empty lot. I do not

[46:11] have any homestead exemption on that uh because there's not a home there. My

[46:17] fire fee, I was paying $6.50 per month on fire fee, which comes to

[46:24] $78 a year. The $78 plus the $23.95 comes to $11.95

[46:31] a year. Now, I know this doesn't apply to everyone situation, but it applies to

[46:37] a lot of situations. If my property tax goes up to proposed amount of 7.581%,

[46:44] I'll be paying a total of $726 per year rather than paying the $11,

[46:52] which is actually saving me in this incident on this piece of property $30 a

[46:59] year. There are a lot of citizens, senior

[47:04] citizens that have the homestead exemptions and would fall in this

[47:08] category. Now, there are some people that will not fall in the category, but

[47:12] this is structured so that the higher, more expensive homes and businesses

[47:17] would pay more. And our citizens are accustomed to

[47:23] having fire protection, police protection, storm water drainage, water

[47:29] and sewage, recreation. They've become accustomed to it and we've got to

[47:33] continue to provide it. A lot of people have said, "Cut the budget. Go into the

[47:38] savings." If you go into our savings, the city will lose its bond ratings.

[47:43] Which means if we go to get loans, if you've got a good bond rating, we get a

[47:46] cheaper rate. Had a get a better chance of getting the loans. If our bond rating

[47:51] is down, we lose that opportunity.

[47:56] It is a gut-wrenching decision to make, but it has to be made. And I would like

[48:01] to provide our citizens with the service they are accustomed to using.

[48:05] » Mr. Mayor, I will interject something as well before we take the vote. Um, as

[48:11] everyone has of opinion, of course, and I just want to point out sitting up here

[48:17] being elected to make decisions to be the voice for the people. We hear the

[48:21] people. We hear exactly what you're saying. No one likes to talk about tax

[48:27] increases, including me. I'm a resident of Garden City, too. Pay taxes. Just

[48:32] like Councilman Hall mentioned, everybody has their rate and all their

[48:36] factors. But again, you have the homestead exemptions, you have other

[48:41] exemptions like the school taxes. Those could be waved after a certain age. You

[48:46] have the disability taxes that can be waved on your um tax assessors

[48:51] um statements if you qualify. But again, these are different angles that you can

[48:56] go through in order to get those I call those expenses offset. But again, it's

[49:02] our responsibility to ensure that this city is able to continue to provide the

[49:08] essential services to our citizens rely on every day. With the elimination of

[49:13] the fire fees, we've talked about that, how that went about, how that started

[49:17] and everything, we still need to consider cost of living increases, cost

[49:22] for staff, cost for benefits, cost for equipment, all those things taking

[49:28] effect. Just like you get a cost of living increase on your social security

[49:31] checks or just like you get a cost of living increase on your um jobs for

[49:37] wages, all those things pay a factor. We have to look at that being a city. So

[49:42] with people looking at what we can cut and what we can't cut, we cannot sit

[49:48] here and be stewards of your monies and say that we can vote to discontinue

[49:56] those services you're used to. It's just no way. And yes, we've looked at all

[50:00] angles that everybody's addressed as far as cutting budgets. That's been looked

[50:04] at at the beginning. Okay? Of course, you're going to look at that first.

[50:08] That's not going to be after the fact. But as an elected official, it's my duty

[50:13] to make these difficult decisions. And I know they're difficult. And I recognize

[50:18] the impact this increase is going to have on some taxpayers. But again, we're

[50:22] here to vote on what's going to make the city of Garden City grow. What's going

[50:26] to make it continue to be the place you want to work, live, and play. Again,

[50:31] we've got a great police department, so you want police services. You're going

[50:36] to want fire services. You're going to want the new recreation complex, those

[50:40] services, and I know everybody's looking at what Garden City don't have, but

[50:44] again, if we continue to grow and build this city, we'll get those things

[50:47] eventually. They they left. They were here, excuse me, and they left us for

[50:52] whatever reason. But again, they will be back because again, we are pushing and

[50:56] we are looking for all other avenues to bring back the grocery stores other than

[51:01] the one grocery store. We're looking at bringing back some more restaurants. Of

[51:06] course, we can't guarantee anything. People have to want to come to Garden

[51:09] City, but we have to make it attractive for them to come want to come to Garden

[51:13] City. So, please, ma'am, please, sir, please understand that this decision

[51:17] we're about to make is not easy. We all recognize that. Thank you so much,

[51:21] » Mr. Mayor. Citizens of Garden City, this is a tough

[51:25] decision. Uh I was restless ever since last week

[51:29] because I know [cough and clears throat] a lot of citizens that will be affected

[51:35] by this. you know, a lot of seniors, even people in my age group who will be

[51:41] affected by this for various health reasons that they they won't be able to,

[51:47] you know, sustain the regular lifestyle they they they have now. However,

[51:55] everything around us is getting higher. We cannot as a city want to be better,

[52:03] want to grow and everything with the subpar level we was at before. If you

[52:08] take a look at Port Wentworth Pula, everybody around us is growing for many,

[52:15] many, many years. If you read the digest, we have been rolling taxes back.

[52:23] » So in retrospect, we are behind. Mhm. >> We have to catch up and we have to be

[52:30] great stewards of the money in order to in order to even just maintain

[52:36] » if we we can't stay at the same level and maintain Garden City. It just won't

[52:41] work. Especially talking about the going into the the balance and you know taking

[52:47] away from the savings, we'll be broke before we know it as a city. So we have

[52:51] to increase and make things better. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[52:55] » Thank you. Entertain a motion. >> Make a motion for approval.

[53:00] » Second the motion. >> Roll call vote on the motion.

[53:05] » Council member Bruner. >> Council member Figale.

[53:10] » Council member Hall >> approve.

[53:13] » Council member Lacer >> approve.

[53:15] » Council member Mars >> approve.

[53:17] » And Mayor Campbell >> approve. Motion carries.

[53:22] Resolution Village Point Town as final subdivision. Can you read it by hand on

[53:27] it, please? M. >> A resolution of the mayor and council

[53:31] approving the final subdivision map for the subdivision of a 17.69 acre track

[53:37] located at zero Constantine Road into 76 proposed town home lots owned by Simco

[53:43] at Mosswood LLC. >> Entertain a motion.

[53:48] Make a motion that we approve the resolution for the Village Point Town

[53:51] Homes final subdivision map on Constine Road.

[53:54] » Second. >> Roll call vote on the motion.

[53:57] » Council member Bruner, >> approve.

[53:59] » Council member Figale, >> approve.

[54:00] » Council member Hall, >> approved.

[54:02] » Council member Lasser, >> approved.

[54:04] » Council member Morris, >> approve.

[54:06] » And Mayor Campbell, >> approve. Motion carry. Resolution,

[54:09] general development plan for 129 St. Joseph Avenue. Can you read that by

[54:14] heading only, please, ma'am? A resolution by the mayor and council

[54:17] approving the general development plan application of Ashley Mosley as

[54:21] authorized agent for Jonathan Austin for the construction of a 6,000 ft² metal

[54:26] building partitioned into four 1500 ft² units to be used andor lease for heavy

[54:33] commercial use on a project site measuring 0.42 acres at 129 St. Joseph

[54:38] Avenue in Garden City, Georgia. >> Make a motion to table this for further

[54:42] discussion. >> Second motion.

[54:45] So what they're going to do is they're going to table this until pent notice.

[54:51] They're not going to make a decision tonight.

[54:54] Enter enter entertain a motion on it. >> Motion has been made.

[54:58] » Yes, sir. >> Roll call vote on the motion.

[55:00] » Council member Bruner >> approve.

[55:02] » Council member Figale >> approve.

[55:04] » Council member Hall >> approve.

[55:05] » Council member Lacer >> approve.

[55:07] » Council member Mars >> approve.

[55:09] » And Mayor Campbell >> approve. And motion carry. Entertain a

[55:12] motion for adjournment. Make a motion to adjourn.

[55:16] » Second. >> Meeting is ajourned.

[55:31] [music]

July 20, 2026 - City Council Meeting

Transcript