[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[1:32] So good evening, everyone, and welcome to our February 21st city council meeting. I want to thank everybody that's in attendance on this evening. I see some good neighbors and friends that I have not seen in a while. One of which has said that this is their very first city council meeting. So I am especially excited to have them here. Thank you so much for being present. I want to start off.
[2:02] by, in addition to saying thank you to all of us that will be joining us virtually.
[2:08] We appreciate you equally.
[2:11] I wanted to announce, as most of us know, that tonight is President's Day, and also
[2:20] that President's Day was previously acknowledged as being Washington's birthday.
[2:25] This is a holiday that honors everyone who has served in the office of the
[2:31] President of the United States of America. This holiday dates back to the 1880s
[2:38] and is used to always be held on February 22nd. But in 1968, Congress passed the
[2:49] uniform Monday holiday bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to
[2:55] Mondays. And now it is hailed on the third Monday of every February. So on
[3:03] tonight we salute all of our presidents of this great United States of
[3:08] America, and we truly thank each and every one of them for their service. Next we
[3:16] We will have our roll call, Madam Clerk.
[3:21] Mayor Vincent.
[3:22] Present.
[3:23] Mayor Protoom Stewart.
[3:25] Present.
[3:25] Council Member Bert.
[3:27] Present.
[3:28] Council Member Pruitt.
[3:30] Here.
[3:30] Council Member Reeves.
[3:32] Present.
[3:33] Council Member Thomas.
[3:34] Here.
[3:35] Council Member Barner.
[3:39] Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.
[3:42] We'll now move for the approval of the agenda.
[3:46] and may I please have a motion and second to approve tonight's proceedings.
[3:52] So moved.
[3:54] Second.
[3:55] We have a motion and second.
[3:57] We have a motion by Councilmember Pruitt and a second by Mr. Stewart.
[4:02] So thank you very much.
[4:05] Which moves us down to our next item on the agenda.
[4:18] Would everyone please vote?
[4:28] There you go.
[4:29] six in favor. Thank you so much. We'll now move down to the
[4:33] invocation and pledge of allegiance and I'm going to ask if Council member Jamal
[4:39] Bert would lead us in invocation and Council member Thomas would you kindly
[4:45] lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please stand. Heavenly
[4:56] Father, thank you for
[4:58] having us all here on this evening.
[5:00] Thank you for giving us the conviction to do the work for the community that needs to be done. Thank you, Lord, for giving us another day, that we can come to community gather, and do what your work wills us to do. No one is in this room by accident, Lord. So you want to thank you for opening the door for all of us to be here, to be healthy, and to do what we must. Lord, let this meeting go well, let us communicate clearly, and let us make sure that the needs of the people are met, so the police can stand.
[5:28] And we ask these things.
[5:30] And Jesus is there.
[5:31] Amen.
[5:34] I pledge allegiance to the God of the United States of America
[5:39] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God.
[5:44] And it is possible with liberty and justice for all.
[5:56] Next, we have on our agenda, the consent agenda.
[6:00] The consent agenda groups the routine procedural, informational, and self-explanatory non-controversial
[6:09] items typically found in an agenda.
[6:13] It also reflects items that we have previously discussed in either a workshop or a retreat
[6:22] meet as was the scenario from this past 17th and 18th.
[6:27] And we have agreed upon these items to move them to the consent agenda for vote.
[6:35] Madam Clerk, would you please sound the items of our consent agenda?
[6:41] Item A, public safety, police department request by police chief Ken Noble.
[6:47] Request to approve input a Stongle License Agreement, Item V Public Safety Police Department,
[6:56] Chief Noble, Request for the Cost of E-Sytation Licenses, Item C is an Administrative Request
[7:05] Finance Department, Mike Clark, the request for the approval of the Impact Fee Program
[7:12] from Update Amendment, D, Administration,
[7:17] Human Resources, Nick Calhoun Director,
[7:21] Request for Approval of a $15 per hour minimum wage.
[7:26] Item E, Appointment of Miss Latanya Hawkins,
[7:31] to the Planning and Zoning Committee
[7:32] by Council Member Thomas.
[7:34] Item F is Approval of the February 3, 2022 Workshop Minutes.
[7:41] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[7:43] And before we move forward, I just wanted to highlight one of the items on the agenda.
[7:50] And it is the item where we are requesting approval of a $15 per hour minimum wage for all employees in the city of McDonough.
[8:01] This has been an issue which has been brought up by many council members.
[8:07] In our last retreat, we had extensive conversation with our personnel director who basically explained how this will impact the city of McDonough, and I'm very excited as I know council members who are on this diets are excited that we are making the bold step in ensuring that we are competitive within the industry.
[8:36] and helping to maintain all of our staff persons here at the city of McDonough.
[8:44] And having said as much, I would like to have a motion for the approval of the consent agenda.
[8:52] So moved.
[8:54] Second.
[8:55] I have a motion by Councilmember Stewart and a second by Councilmember Thomas.
[9:01] All in favor, please vote.
[9:07] Six in favor.
[9:08] Thank you so very much. I'm going to pause just briefly. We have some members from the audience who are joining us, and we're going to allow you to find your seats.
[9:25] Thank you so much for being with us on this evening. Thank you very much, Council Member.
[9:30] Okay,
[9:37] it is our customary practice here at the City of McDonough to have both schedule and
[9:43] unscheduled comments and tonight we have a special schedule public comment coming from
[9:52] Collier, Hinton Jones and Miss Doreen Hinton, so if you would kindly come forward, thank
[9:59] you very much.
[10:00] Very much for being with us on this evening.
[10:24] Good evening, council. Good evening. Madame Mayor, community members. My name is Collie Henson-Jones. I'm sorry that I'm out of breath. I am here in addition to my aunt Doreen Henson, and she has a special thank you that she wants to present to council. Thank you so much. Good evening, everyone. To Madame Mayor, city council members, former council members,
[10:51] members, city leaders, staff, family, and friends.
[10:56] Thank you for allowing me to speak on this beautiful rainy evening.
[11:01] Before I begin, I want to recognize Samantha Samuels, President of the Caribbean Association
[11:08] of Georgia Incorporated, Vice President Winston Thomas, and President Emeritus Chris Scott,
[11:16] but, as well as the CAG Board of Directors present.
[11:20] It is with great honor and respect that I speak to you this evening.
[11:27] My name again is Doreen Henson.
[11:30] I'm the wife of the late Caribbean Association of Georgia Vice President and Community Humanitarian
[11:38] Garth Henson.
[11:40] It has been almost six months since his passing, and to say that he has left a hole in
[11:46] our lives would be an understatement.
[11:50] One of the things that I love most about my husband was his heart for people, which
[11:57] translated into an insatiable desire to serve.
[12:02] Garth wanted nothing more than to serve God, help God's people, and love on his
[12:09] family and friends. I want to thank each of you here today for being part of
[12:15] the continued story of Garth's legacy. We want to formally acknowledge and say
[12:23] thank you for the gift of naming the lawn at the Alexander Park Extension in
[12:30] God's honor. Interestingly enough, he and I would take walks there several times a week.
[12:38] We would listen to the stillness, enjoy each other's company, and admire the scenery.
[12:46] From time to time, he would even pick a pretty flower and place it in my hair. That's how
[12:51] much we enjoyed being there. Even today, I often reflect on how my husband and I watched
[12:58] in fascination, the building of the handsome pavilion, which now overlooks this beautiful
[13:06] lawn. In that vein, my family and I would say thank you for coming together as leaders
[13:14] and honoring my husband in this most precious and personal way. We would like to gift saplings
[13:22] things as a representation of our gratitude, respect, and admiration, with hopes that
[13:29] these saplings will be planted at Alexander Park to symbolize harmony and to symbolize
[13:37] what we can accomplish together as one.
[13:41] I want to close by sharing this quote, which I believe captures the spirit of this moment.
[13:48] The author is unknown, but it says, when we work together in love and unity, then we can expect Heaven's help.
[14:02] Thank you again for allowing us to be here.
[14:08] And Madame Mayor and Council, we also have a thank you letter that we wanted to present to you guys.
[14:21] I'll briefly read it.
[14:22] It says, dear Madame Mayor and City Council members, it is with heartfelt gratitude and respect that we as a family community and residents formally thank you for naming the lawn at the Alexander Park Extension in honor of the late Garth Anthony Dermott Henton.
[14:39] Garth was a more than 20-year resident of the city of McDonough, a community champion.
[14:45] He also served as the former vice president of the Caribbean Association of Georgia Inc.,
[14:51] and was a man of deep abiding faith.
[14:54] We want you to know that this honor means the world to us.
[14:57] For generations to come, the law
[15:00] Some that we, the law will represent what we can achieve as a community when we work together and support each other in love and harmony. The law will also serve as a testament to the life and work of Mr. Hinton and the spirit of collaboration and community that he held dear. We're delighted that his legacy will live on and become an integral part in the city that he served and called home. It will also be a beacon of positivity and unity. Thank you for this beautiful
[15:29] beautiful gesture and for your visionary leadership,
[15:33] respectfully the family of Garth Anthony Dermott-Henton.
[15:40] This is the second of those times
[15:41] where you want to give a thank you now.
[15:43] I want to thank you, thank you, thank you so much.
[15:47] Yes.
[15:49] Thank you so much, Henton family, for that.
[15:52] It is a very moving moment and I would be remiss if I didn't just
[16:00] I want to first of all acknowledge our prior mayor, Billy Copeland, as well as the prior
[16:11] City Council for taking the initiative to support the naming of this part.
[16:20] And for those of you who do not know,
[16:25] this whole thing came about through conversations
[16:28] organizations about the wonderful diversity that exists within the city of Macdonough.
[16:35] And we started work on naming the lawn that we're referring to as an international lawn,
[16:44] where we would highlight the diversity that we have here in the great city of Macdonough.
[16:51] There were conversations with the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, of course, the Caribbean
[16:56] an association of Georgia and other organizations about what that representation looked like
[17:03] at the lawn at Alexander Park.
[17:07] And before we had the opportunity to reach full vision, Mr. Garth left us.
[17:14] And so I think as well as the council at that time, and I believe the present council believes
[17:21] that a very fitting memorial would be to acknowledge his presence in the naming of the international
[17:32] park that initiative in naming, I'm sorry I'm about to get a little bit emotional because
[17:39] I personally knew Mr. Hinton and I knew the work that he did and his death was very untimely.
[17:48] However, that's not my decision, but sovereign's decision.
[17:54] So we want to salute him on tonight, we thank the family, and I just want to acknowledge
[17:59] First Hand in the work that he did, and we are looking forward to working with Councilmember
[18:04] Burt and following through with the naming and also with the erection of various flags
[18:12] that represent the diversity within our community.
[18:15] So thank you so very much for thanking us.
[18:20] I wanted to clap, I'm sorry, but it was very beautiful what you said and Mr. Reen, thank
[18:27] you so very, very much for being here and I see your beautiful daughter with you on this
[18:34] evening as well.
[18:35] We appreciate you and the work that you continue to do because you were an integral part
[18:41] of the toy giveaway that took place at Alexander Park during the Christmas holiday, so we salute you all as well on this evening. Thank you.
[18:52] We have several proclamations that we are conveying upon individuals, two of which will happen at a later date.
[19:06] And they are the national future farmers of America.
[19:15] Do we have anybody here for unscheduled public comment?
[19:20] That's this.
[19:21] Okay.
[19:24] Dr. Bennett, thank you so much, sir.
[19:37] Dr. Bennett and Mrs. Bennett, welcome to the City of McDonald's.
[19:46] First of all, we're excited to be here to be a part of this meeting here tonight just
[19:51] for a few moments.
[19:52] and what we're here to do is to fold.
[19:55] First of all, we want to recognize publicly
[19:58] a great achievement.
[20:09] So, when you spoke about that diversity, it speaks a lot. You're seeing, you're sitting there. And as a result of that, we would also like to take a moment.
[20:21] I, by the way, this is my wife, Margaret, I'm a pastor of the Church, Calvary Harvest,
[20:27] Baptist Church in Jonesboro, but at the same time, if I don't introduce my wife,
[20:32] then I get in trouble later.
[20:33] So, you all generally might know that as well, but I wanted to also take a moment to present
[20:39] you with something as pioneer from Dr. Alvita King, and wanted to send you an autographed book
[20:46] dealing with the King legacy and also the pirate legacy that you are outstaffed in.
[20:53] And so we appreciate what the city has done.
[20:56] We're looking forward to working with you out of mayor and the council members to make sure that we have a successful leadership in our community.
[21:05] So thank you for those things and if we could present these.
[21:08] Yes, we will, we will come down because I'm going to ask my colleagues to come with me for the next portion of our evening, which will be the conveyance of the proclamations.
[21:20] So if you would kindly join me.
[21:57] So, we thank you, I thank you so very much.
[22:01] To us is a great honor to see it happen.
[22:03] So,
[22:08] beautiful.
[22:13] Thank you.
[22:14] Congratulations.
[22:15] Thank you very much.
[22:15] You too, miss.
[22:16] We are praying for you and praying for our dear city.
[22:19] Thank you very much.
[22:25] And I accept this with a grateful heart.
[22:29] and also on behalf of my council members,
[22:32] a team made who are standing here with me.
[22:35] So the lessons to you as well, thank you.
[22:47] So I mention that we have several proclamations
[22:51] that we are presenting here on tonight.
[22:54] Two of them will be presented at a later time
[22:58] at one of the schools, but I wanted to specifically invite
[23:04] and I colleagues who are here with me now to acknowledge a very special day here in the
[23:11] city of McDonough that is in commemoration of Black History Month. This is Black History,
[23:23] recognition, and a very special way. So I'd like to call Mr. Chris Scott, Mr. Cory Peronbley,
[23:34] Mr. Rook is stored if you would step out, please, and just stand here and also cast a
[23:42] House of Member, Pam Barker.
[23:55] Applimation is in recognition of Black History Month and it is Black's Field History Day,
[24:04] the story of Black's Field.
[24:07] Whereas the precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926, in the United States,
[24:18] when historian Carter G. Woodson in the Association for the Study of Negro Life in History announced
[24:28] the second week of February to the Negro History Week as it coincided with the birthday of
[24:36] Abraham Lincoln on February 12th, and that of Frederick Douglass on February 14th, and
[24:45] whereas since February 1976, every American president has designated the month of February
[24:54] as Black History Month, and whereas the city of McDonald's.
[25:00] Wishes to continue the tradition of recognizing the history of African Americans, especially in relation to Madonna's history. And whereas in October of 2017,
[25:16] Dean Chris Scott, at the request of Council Member Candlely
[25:22] Barnard, began working with the City of McDonald to research
[25:27] and document the history of the Blacksville community.
[25:33] And whereas, Ms. Scott worked to capture the four main components
[25:38] of this rich community, business, education, politics,
[25:42] and religion, and we're as Councilmember Rufa Stewart,
[25:48] who is well trusted in the Blacksville community,
[25:52] help with the introduction to key community members
[25:56] who share their stories,
[25:59] and we're as historic photographs were collected,
[26:03] and interviews were found in multiple locations
[26:07] with the citizens who share their stories of Blacksville,
[26:11] and where as Cory Crumpley spent countless hours ensuring the vision of the
[26:19] story of Blacksfield was captured through proper editing and creative design
[26:25] and where as this documentary represents significant moments in the
[26:32] Donna's history and that of her citizens and where as Mayor Sondra Vincent and the
[26:39] McDonald City Council wished to acknowledge and memorialize the important history and legacy
[26:46] of the Blacksville community. We find it fitting to premiere the story of Blacksville during Black
[26:56] history month. Now be it resolved that I signed for Vincent Mayor of the City of McDonald
[27:03] do hereby proclaim February 27, 2002 as Black History
[27:11] Veal, excuse me, Black's Veal History Day in our
[27:18] community. I further provide that a copy of this
[27:21] proclamation will be made a part of the official
[27:25] minutes of the February 21st, 2022,
[27:29] make down the city council meeting and with this where I do here by set my hand
[27:37] and cause the corporate seal of the city of McDonald to be a fix this 21st day
[27:43] of February and before I present you with these proclamations I just want to
[27:50] say how huge and monumental this day and this documentary is for the city of
[27:58] down. This legacy will live on far longer than any of us. Cam, thank you so much for being
[28:06] visionary on this project. Thank you, Mr. Stewart, for all that you did concerning the connections,
[28:14] and I know it must be very proud moment for you to be able to see the story that you lived in
[28:23] lives. Chris, thank you for sharing your gifts and your talents. We know to expect something
[28:30] great and Cory, we just could not have done it without your technical expertise and bringing
[28:37] this all together. We sincerely appreciate you because this is important to our city. This
[28:45] documentary will not only be shown in the premiere on this coming Sunday at Shiloh
[28:53] that discharge at 3 o'clock PM, but we will also share this information and have it available at our Citywide Museum.
[29:03] So blessings to you all. This is absolutely phenomenal. I don't even have the words. My words pale in comparison to what you all have done.
[29:13] so thank you so very much. And on behalf of the City of Madonna and these wonderful people standing with me, we would like to present you with these proclamations, and if you could please join us, we'll make sure and get a picture, but thank you very much.
[30:22] Thank
[30:36] you. Council, mayor. Thank you so much. This is a historic moment. And I was also friends with Mr.
[30:46] Henton. He was my big brother. So as I was coming today, I said, he must have orchestrated this
[30:53] from heaven for you all to say thank you on the day that we received this
[30:58] proclamation. It was an honor working with the people of Blacksville. I'll tell
[31:04] you some of them I was watching it today again and I was thinking I think about
[31:09] six or seven people have gone on to be with the Lord but Blacksville the
[31:14] documentary will make their legacy live on. As I look I want to say thank you to
[31:19] mayor as well because she was also one of those that agreed to be interviewed and also
[31:27] Benjamin Pruitt. I saw you on there today. Thank you so much. And just please come out on Sunday,
[31:35] you have to see this. I was watching it and tears were flowing because there's so much rich history
[31:42] right here in the Blacksville area, and I am eternally grateful to camvonner,
[31:50] council member, and Mr. Rufus Stewart for being instrumental in going in, because Blacksville is a
[31:58] community, they have to trust you with that rich history. And I knew that I couldn't just go,
[32:04] so when cam, council member cam approached me, she and Mr. Stewart got together and got us into the
[32:11] doors that we needed and got photographs that we would not have gotten on our own.
[32:16] So I thank God for this opportunity.
[32:19] Please come out on Sunday and be part of history.
[32:22] Thank you again.
[32:35] I would like to thank men, Council, for giving me the opportunity to share the story of Black
[32:42] Sweele.
[32:43] It originated and I like to share with you all how it originated.
[32:47] it originated back when I did research on my own family tree.
[32:54] And once I looked at the different people who were
[32:58] in the Blacksfield community, I was intrigued
[33:01] to learn more about who I was influential in the community.
[33:07] And how education played a big part in educating
[33:12] the African American community, the Blacksfield community,
[33:15] as religion and businesses, because when I grew up in Blackfield,
[33:21] Blackfield was a flourishing, busy city, oh town,
[33:26] like it was an incorporate, we had fish markets and barbecued stands and
[33:32] candy shops, and everyone, laundry maxing and also gas stations and lounges
[33:44] And that's the black field that I remember and I wanted to share with you all to let
[33:50] people know that there were some great people that came out of that community.
[33:55] There are some great people that came out of that community and I'm just amazed to
[34:01] know or to share the great things that they did in the city of McDonald and I can't
[34:07] not wait until you guys come on Sunday to see the premiere of it and I wish we could have
[34:13] did a longer documentary because the raw footage that we have in that is just amazing.
[34:22] And I just want you guys to just every last one I want you guys to just come out and
[34:26] see it and invite others because it's something that we have to share.
[34:30] Thank you, Mr. Stewart, thank you, Ben, thank you, Mayor Vincent, and our current council
[34:37] members for agreeing to you know show this or premiere this documentary thank
[34:43] you guys for your participation for everyone who participated in it I
[34:47] couldn't have done it without you as and especially Miss Chris thank you for
[34:53] taking my vision and Cory thank you so much I know
[35:00] I didn't know how big of a deal this is now. Back then, he didn't know. But thank you all.
[35:32] I remember the candid shop by the name of Stuart Candyshoppe, McDonald's had his own
[35:43] Candice y'all, dry cleaner, stores, real estate, it just didn't start, you know.
[35:55] We had people back in the day that had virgins and I was one that had a virgin, it was a pine
[36:05] tree, it's a Washington's Greek that was planted by my mother.
[36:12] But by that pine tree, I built a little shack,
[36:21] and that shack became a stew at Candy Shop.
[36:25] And every morning before I go to school, I open that candy shop up.
[36:31] People on their way to school, they came by and they bought candy back in the year.
[36:38] And I went to school early enough, and I got in my books because I was told a long time ago it was not
[36:50] what you came from, what you headed to, say a lot of young people.
[36:56] If you got a dream, you could dream it.
[37:00] But when you wake up, you got to put that dream to action.
[37:05] Blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed soul, Mr. Head, that one head.
[37:08] He was put to rest about a month or three weeks ago, when I ran for city council back
[37:14] in 1989, he said, now when you win, it's going to be up to you, when you say, oh, I said,
[37:23] Mr. Head, I do not own a position, I've been elected, you know, from the peoples, time went
[37:30] known with own and with own. And I've again, the every four years, you know, put my name
[37:36] in the election. And he said, now, nobody, nobody going to want to get you. I said,
[37:42] what's here? It don't work that way. But it's been 30, 30, 30, three years now. You
[37:48] know, but I don't take it lightly. I mean, you might, if you get, if anybody give a six
[37:53] clock in the morning, five o'clock in the morning. You might see a great truck or you know,
[38:00] black cat lag. You know, riding around, you know, feeling dry, you might see a person getting
[38:08] out of that cat lag, making sure I'm a senior too, making sure the other seniors won't have to come
[38:15] out to the driveway and pick their papers up, rain shots, leave the floor, I am there.
[38:23] because I don't take it lightly because back in the day somebody helped me and so I reached back
[38:30] and helped them and I love to talk to young people so I love to make sure that that you be
[38:36] the equip because remember if you don't remember anything else they folks that remember it's not
[38:44] what you come from it's what you're headed to and let nobody determine your what what's the word
[38:53] to work, your destination. Nobody. Nobody. You got to do that. And so, it's has not been easy
[39:01] because one, I'm in one time, I'm not preaching. I'm not preaching, but, but, but, but, but
[39:08] I've been one, one day I was in the class room. And I know her name, Miss Crockett, she was
[39:13] my English teacher. And I will get there early every morning in the class room, get my
[39:19] work and have together and put on like this. And she said, one day I did that. And she said,
[39:26] not today. And she said, uh, today you won't get up and you'll go respond. I said,
[39:33] we missed Miss Crockett. I told her. And today they might be laughing at me. And she said,
[39:41] Hmm, she's but what about tomorrow?
[39:45] What about tomorrow? She's a tomorrow.
[39:48] Is they may be what's called you jealous of you
[39:53] because you still get stuff and you do what you gotta do.
[39:56] You sometimes you stutter to it and she told me what to do.
[40:00] She's way up next morning. You go that mirror. Look at yourself in that mirror. And then you take that paper that you got that you want to, you report and read that paper. Look at yourself. And I did that. I did it. Keep on doing that. And I was afraid to talk to one person. But now I can talk to 25 hundred or whatever people. So you can do what you can do. God bless you.
[40:30] You got to collect your footprints.
[40:33] Cash out.
[40:36] So thank you all for taking the time to be in this historical moment.
[40:41] This is absolutely amazing for our city and I just want to salute all of you
[40:47] and tell you how proud I am to co-labor amongst this group.
[40:52] So God bless you all and thank you.
[40:54] We can go back now.
[40:55] We
[41:26] have a request for a quick picture
[41:42] before
[42:49] we
[42:54] go on to our next agenda item.
[42:57] the other two proclamations that will be made to the various locations are the national future
[43:04] farmers of America week and in honor of career and technical education. So thank you very much
[43:15] and this brings us to item 10 public work solid wastewater treatment plant Mr. Jeremy Newton.
[43:24] Madam
[43:35] Mayor and council, thanks for having me here tonight.
[43:38] The purpose of this is to ask for approval for CC2000, which is chemical we use daily
[43:46] at the plant.
[43:48] We're going to use in this same chemical since June of 2019.
[43:52] It has recently went up in cost through the shipping and manufacturing, which brings us
[43:58] here to this meeting to ask for approval.
[44:00] I've typed up a little thing, kind of explaining about it.
[44:05] And the ever changing world of water and wastewater treatment is increasingly important
[44:09] to have the most efficient treatment chemistries to reach permitting discharge limits.
[44:14] As phosphorus limits continue to decrease on discharge permits, coagulants that enhance
[44:19] the wastewater's plant ability to remove phosphorus is critical.
[44:23] If a wastewater treatment plant persistently exceeds these permitted effluent limits for
[44:29] nutrients such as phosphorus, fines, consent orders, and loss of permit will be levied
[44:35] by the EPD.
[44:36] CC2000 is a specialty polyeluminum chloride, specifically designed and effectively, efficiently
[44:44] and effectively removes phosphorus from the plant effluent streams.
[44:47] The CC2000 has proven to be the most effective product for the wastewater pollution control plant.
[44:55] By monitoring the dose of the CC2000 carefully, the plant remains well below.
[45:04] Local government meeting. Local government meeting.
[45:08] Local government meeting.
[45:09] When basic commodities were used for phosphorus removal on the past, such as aluminum sulfate,
[45:13] which is what the water plant uses, the plant struggled to reach old permit limits.
[45:18] Now that these discharge permit limits are significantly lower, aluminum sulfate and
[45:25] completely is completely unable to provide required nutrient removal, regardless of dosage rate.
[45:33] On top of the inability to reach the limits, aluminum sulfate causes increased sludge generation,
[45:37] suppresses alkalinity and pH and it cumbers biological plant functions.
[45:43] Aluminum sulfate also requires two to three times as much amount of
[45:48] caustic soda to offset its pH and alkalinity consumption. The additional
[45:54] increase in aluminum sulfate and caustic will increase sludge generation and
[45:58] thus polymer demand as well. CC2000 allows a wastewater plant to remain well
[46:03] low paramedic phosphorus levels while reducing sludge generation and constant use.
[46:10] Thank you very much Jeremy.
[46:13] Are there any questions from the body?
[46:17] I have a few.
[46:18] Okay.
[46:19] Thank you Mayor.
[46:22] Thank you very much.
[46:24] My question really is more general questions.
[46:28] The financial impact which is I know on our agenda.
[46:34] It says purchase bi-monthly at a cost of $12,600, so is that, but it doesn't, just to be clear, is that an annual cost or is that the bi-monthly cost?
[46:46] That would be bi-monthly, okay.
[46:48] And since, and then also the, does that put us at a, does that put us at an amount that we should put this out to bid?
[47:01] because I know that the estimate came from one company.
[47:05] Where's that the only company that, well, this is a company we've been working with for years.
[47:10] There are other companies that sell similar products.
[47:12] This all in while we've had jar test, it's been proven.
[47:17] Okay.
[47:17] And then when it says that this is the staff is recommending approval of this request,
[47:23] is that your staff or, because I know without a city administrator at this point,
[47:28] Is there anyone, is there staff from any other department that's joining this mayor?
[47:34] The only other staff that would be involved is the finance department.
[47:41] If you look at the budget at funding source and the corresponding number for that,
[47:49] we're just indicating that these funds are already approved in the budget.
[47:55] Okay, I just didn't know since you're acting in the city administrative role, if you are recommending approval.
[48:03] I am recommending approval and I have simply brought this before you all just from a transparency standpoint and wanting to dovetail on our past retreat where we talked about all of the needs for the various water sectors.
[48:20] Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't know if this would be something that we could possibly maybe have an open PO
[48:28] So we're not doing this every and it wouldn't you wouldn't have to cut normally you wouldn't have to come before us with something like this
[48:36] But again, I'm trying to give you guys greater. I don't mind being here for practice and also be more transparent to the public
[48:44] but there are a couple of things that I'm hearing.
[48:47] I'm hearing the opportunity of advertising
[48:50] for a vendor for this.
[48:52] And I'm also hearing your recommendation
[48:54] to make a purchase order.
[48:56] So most definitely, we will look at both of those.
[48:59] Okay, thank you.
[49:01] You're very welcome, Jeremy.
[49:02] And thank you.
[49:03] You did a wonderful job.
[49:05] Yes, ma'am.
[49:05] I have a question.
[49:07] The 12,600 is like every other month.
[49:10] So that's roughly about $75,600 for the whole year.
[49:14] Yes, ma'am. It was past few years, around $9,000. We were spending, but it's just went up.
[49:27] There are other things like aluminum sulfate, like the water plant uses that we use way
[49:33] in the past that just didn't get our phosphorus levels down like we wanted to. With the use
[49:38] of that chemical, it would also drop our alkalinity, which is the wastewater's ability to neutralize
[49:43] acids in the water. With that, we would have to feed another chemical, a lot more caustic
[49:47] soda, which would bring our pH up. And so really, the offset, cheaper chemical, with
[49:55] having additional chemicals, it doesn't really equalize.
[50:05] Any other questions?
[50:12] May I get a motion to approve and a second, please?
[50:18] Can we have a motion to approve, motion to approve and second? All those in favor, please vote.
[50:31] There are seven in favor. Thank you very much. And thank you very much. I do want to state for the record that this is
[50:41] not an unusual expenditure for this department.
[50:46] This is just the first time that it has come before you.
[50:50] And I will take back those recommendations which you have made.
[50:56] And I will also add at this time that our city attorney is working on a purchasing
[51:03] ordinance for the city of McDonough.
[51:06] The next item on our agenda is administration, technology services, Steve Sites had to leave and he is not available to be here on this evening, but they are requesting the approval to purchase three each Cisco C240.
[51:27] The physical whole servers per our Splos5 network infrastructure phase plan submitted to Council August 2021.
[51:39] Planned and funded utilizing Splos5 network infrastructure at a cost of $38,301.6.
[51:51] Brian is here to answer any questions that you may have.
[51:56] Are there any questions from the body?
[51:59] Yes, Mayor.
[52:00] I have a question.
[52:02] This is regarding, I remember reading something about there being three different phases in
[52:10] this infrastructure or this network that you're requesting that three different phases.
[52:18] Yes, we have multiple phases for the Infrastructure Replacement Project.
[52:23] This is we're still in the first phase and we are trying to acquire these devices now because
[52:32] Supply to put on is very unable to get the equipment we need on the we're have it on we are requested now we
[52:40] Might negate it to the
[52:42] Air Quarter for quarter
[52:44] Okay, it's a total amount for for all three phases 38,000 301
[52:50] No, this is just for these three servers.
[52:52] Whether three servers?
[52:53] Yes.
[52:56] And so will there be a cost for the other different phases?
[53:00] And if so, how much?
[53:01] Well, different equipment.
[53:04] So we need, we're still in the first phase.
[53:09] We have multiple equipment in each phase.
[53:12] We already bought the Cisco servers, which is still in this phase.
[53:16] And it's not going to come till maybe third quarter.
[53:20] We had purchased also storage network,
[53:25] SAMS, which we already got, those when we put them in place.
[53:30] We are looking for the servers now so we can,
[53:34] we're not finished on the first phase yet, but this is a part of it.
[53:40] Okay, so then the first phase is like 38,000 I think, and I think phase two is 20,000.
[53:47] No, first phase is 20,000.
[53:50] Well, this phase, you're talking about this.
[53:55] This is just, this is 38,000 is just for those three servers.
[53:59] Okay, like 13,000, 7,000.
[54:03] Okay, and then the phase one, two, and three are different costs.
[54:07] Different?
[54:07] Yes, we have different amounts for each phase, yes.
[54:11] Okay, so are you, so you're just talking about just the 38,000?
[54:15] Yes, just 30,000 just for this and then the other three phases you'll you'll come to us later for those costs.
[54:22] Yes, ma'am.
[54:22] Okay. Thank you.
[54:25] Any other questions for Brian and I will just add this is funded under SPLAS5, which means we've already approved this particular expenditure for these updates in our system.
[54:41] but one of the things that the IT director wanted to do was to get out front with placing the order because we continue to have a problem with supply chain.
[54:53] So this is the reason why it is before you on this evening.
[54:58] We're wanting to make this...
[55:00] We have a request at this time so that when it is time for implementation, we will have received those items. Brian, is there anything else that you want to add? Our existence, servo, we have right now. We're going to, we're not going to be selling them. We're going to move them. Make a disaster recovery platform, which we're going to be, if there's a disaster in the area and we lose this building, we can function.
[55:29] from another location. So these three are existing servers will be positioned around this city, different sites so we can function if this is best.
[55:48] Councilmember Thomas, any additional questions?
[55:51] No.
[55:51] Okay.
[55:52] Thank you.
[55:53] All right. So you've heard from Brian.
[55:56] I have a motion.
[55:59] Bless you.
[56:00] May I have a motion to approve in a second?
[56:04] So moved.
[56:04] Second, this is in motion by Councilmember Pruitt, second by Councilmember Thomas.
[56:12] All those in favor, please vote.
[56:21] I'm missing one light, Mayor,
[56:26] seven in favor.
[56:30] Thank you very much, Mayor and Council.
[56:33] We will allow you time to get back in your seat.
[56:36] Ryan is the producer for this show tonight, and so he's the one that's operating all the
[56:43] and we thank you for your service and your dedication.
[56:48] Thank you very much.
[56:51] So, next on our agenda is item number 12,
[56:56] and this is coming from the Finance Department,
[56:59] and I just want to, while Ms. Deborah Upshall,
[57:03] who is the Assistant Finance Director,
[57:07] while she's preparing to present to you on this evening,
[57:10] I just want to acknowledge her as being the person who is responsible for this budget.
[57:17] She prepares this annually.
[57:19] I think she has done an amazing job.
[57:23] These line items that you keep seeing on your budget, you can go to our website,
[57:28] pull this document down and go specifically to that line item on the budget and
[57:35] And see where these items that we are bringing before you have been paid or is coming out of
[57:42] will be paid for.
[57:43] But in addition to that, we are still working on better transparency for the citizens creating
[57:52] and presenting information in such a way that it is easier to access and it's easier to understand.
[57:59] and Deborah has been working diligently on that, and I just want her to share the request that she is bringing forth to us.
[58:09] I'm so excited, so please go right ahead.
[58:13] Thank you Madam Mayor and Council.
[58:16] Tonight, it is my request for purchase of the ClearGov platform.
[58:22] Within this platform, it covers five sections of the total budget process.
[58:27] It will allow us to be more interactive and more data driven.
[58:33] Moving away from that basic paper product to a beautiful website where you can also print your budget book.
[58:43] It gives us the opportunity for transparency, which allows the community to be engaged and always connected.
[58:51] I do have two videos, kind of short videos, to kind of give you just an overview of what the platform will be bringing forth this change that we are looking for.
[59:05] This is the second budget year and I am looking forward to us being more interactive and more data driven and the constituents and everyone will have the opportunity.
[59:19] and the department has to even be more engaged.
[59:23] It will allow them the opportunity to work on their budgets,
[59:27] isn't if they want to be in the same assignment.
[59:31] But I will be watching.
[59:33] And I can tell at what level,
[59:35] in what degree that they're working on.
[59:38] So this is my presentation tonight.
[59:41] The first video is just an overview of the total budget cycle itself.
[59:46] and then the second video will pick up on the transparency.
[59:52] I will like to state this. I did look at three other companies.
[59:56] Claire Gubb, Gabe.
[1:00:00] So, us the tools that I think would be more beneficial to what we're moving towards. Gravity,
[1:00:09] they were based in Canada and they did not have a person in this region if we had any problems.
[1:00:17] We would have to wait. There would be no wait time. In the video, you will see the aphoretta.
[1:00:23] Here, county is also on board in the city of Milton.
[1:00:28] Those are the cities that are highlighted.
[1:00:30] This platform also gets us prepared to present this budget book for GFOA.
[1:00:39] During the process last year, there were some changes within the requirement.
[1:00:44] And I noticed that this system readily made all their clients budget book
[1:00:53] in presentation prepared and ready for submission to GFA, I'm sorry, GFOA so
[1:01:01] that we could get those, you know, claps on the back and you've done a great job
[1:01:07] and you're doing what you, you know, the standards that have been established.
[1:01:11] So we'll start the video and you have any questions I'm here to answer.
[1:01:16] Budgeting cycles are critical time-sensitive processes that can take thousands of hours
[1:01:22] to manage and require input from dozens of internal stakeholders.
[1:01:26] Relying on Excel to manage this process is time-consuming and cumbersome.
[1:01:31] It also leaves you one formula mistake away from a budgeting disaster.
[1:01:36] After months of hard work, the final product is usually a long PDF that is difficult to digest
[1:01:42] and is quickly outdated.
[1:01:43] At ClearGov, we believe there is a way to budget better.
[1:01:49] The ClearGov platform starts by providing web-based forms for departments to submit personnel,
[1:01:54] capital, and operating requests directly into an easy-to-understand dashboard.
[1:01:59] You can then quickly create multiple budgeting scenarios and forecasts that can be shared with committee members.
[1:02:05] ClearGov transforms your budget communications into dynamic, interactive websites
[1:02:10] that are instantly updated and can be shared via social media.
[1:02:14] We call this platform, Budget Cycle Management.
[1:02:18] Design specifically for local government, it works with any ERP
[1:02:22] and is comprised of five products, each designed to streamline a specific phase of your budget process.
[1:02:29] Capital budgeting automates the way you collect capital requests,
[1:02:32] prioritized projects, and create multi-year budget scenarios.
[1:02:36] Personnel budgeting enables you to easily forecast salaries, benefits, vacancies, and
[1:02:42] more to provide more accurate staffing costs.
[1:02:45] Operational budgeting brings everything together and streamlines the review and approval
[1:02:50] process across every department and every account.
[1:02:53] Digital Budget Book transforms your traditional budget book into an interactive website and
[1:02:59] saves you thousands of hours while communicating your budget more effectively.
[1:03:04] Transparency is a unique civic engagement platform that delivers easy to
[1:03:08] understand information and gathers input from residents to help better inform
[1:03:12] your next budget cycle. Visit cleargov.com to learn more about our powerful
[1:03:17] platform and how to budget better.
[1:03:24] I would like to stay in between the next video.
[1:03:28] The capital budgeting platform will be instrumental.
[1:03:33] until definitely when we go into the T-splash and all those other capital,
[1:03:40] those capital, excuse me, budgets that we'll be working on in projects.
[1:03:47] We'll be able to compile that information and
[1:03:50] the citizens will be able to look at what make up the different projects.
[1:03:56] How much are we spending?
[1:03:58] where are we within that project as for a levels of completion or in completion.
[1:04:06] So it allows us to provide a lot of information.
[1:04:12] You can also, you can manage the information that you would like to be presented.
[1:04:19] But I think those five units that fall within that budget cycle,
[1:04:25] It's quite instrumental in how we're progressing in the budget process.
[1:04:30] In the daily operations because you have the operational side.
[1:04:35] And you also have the personnel budget team that's always changing with the hiring or leaving a personnel.
[1:04:43] And so the second video is basically showing you what the citizens will see.
[1:04:49] This is the transparency component of the entire platform.
[1:05:02] It allows you to collect, create, and then communicate your budget in a format that's easily digestible for all stakeholders. So we create these easy-to-use infographics. We've got a couple examples here to show you exactly what I'm talking about. So as an example here, we're looking at the city of Alparetta's fiscal transparency profile. You can see that the navigation is very simply just across the top here.
[1:05:31] and then we can drill into any specific section.
[1:05:34] So the first shot you'll see here is the demographic snapshot,
[1:05:38] just basically providing some context.
[1:05:41] You know, what is the makeup of your community
[1:05:44] and hopefully help kind of solidify why you're making
[1:05:47] the key budgetary decisions that you are for your community.
[1:05:52] Then we'll break out the financial overview.
[1:05:54] You know, we're going to show very easily understand format,
[1:05:57] you know, your revenues versus your expenditures and then provide a trending graph of historically
[1:06:04] how the community has done with its budgets to actual spend and you can control how many
[1:06:12] views, how many years you want to display in this view. So let's drill into expenditures,
[1:06:18] show you this in a little bit more detail. You have complete control over the level of detail that
[1:06:23] that you want to provide in these expenditure data views as well.
[1:06:28] So anyone who is interested, you know, if you share with the public, they would have
[1:06:34] the ability to, if you wanted to, be able to enter their property tax bill.
[1:06:38] And then they can have their, the budget actually broken out by departments so they can see
[1:06:43] how much of their tax bill is going to each one of these respective departments.
[1:06:47] Now you may also just choose to, we're seeing the total budget aid and the extended amount
[1:06:52] to date as well. Different views here, interactive views for you to easily be able to see exactly
[1:06:59] the amounts that are going to each respective department. And then you can come in and be able
[1:07:04] to drill down specifically into any particular department and see how the actual spend is tracking
[1:07:14] to the original amount that was budgeted. So we can see the budgeted amount, what's been
[1:07:19] expanded to date. Again, multiple ways to kind of get this, see this view at a bird's
[1:07:25] eye view here, real easily, real quickly. And you can control, you know, who has access
[1:07:32] to this information, right? If you want to just use this as an internal reporting tool, you
[1:07:37] can do that. You don't necessarily have to share this with the public, but it's available
[1:07:41] if you wanted to. So, it's completely up to you. So, just want to make sure that you are
[1:07:46] aware of that and we can we can drill down to the account line item detail if we wanted to. So
[1:07:52] again, you have full control of how you want to display your actual to budgeted spend as well.
[1:07:58] So you want to use this for reporting.
[1:08:02] Thank you, Deborah. Thank you so much. I think that's I think
[1:08:05] I believe that what our public is asking of us is is more transparency, more of an ability to
[1:08:13] interact with the data and so I want to highly commend you for the work that you did
[1:08:20] and coming up with a product that was not only comprehensive but making sure that it was
[1:08:26] simple and user-friendly. So thank you so very much. I want to now open up the floor for any questions
[1:08:35] Is that the council might have?
[1:08:42] Yes, sir.
[1:08:44] This is no discount as far as your expertise, but I'm always interested.
[1:08:50] Every time we're having a meeting, I'm always like, I don't hear what the attorney says.
[1:08:53] What is Mr. Clark, Michael Clark's position on this software?
[1:08:58] He's looking for it to us progressively moving forward.
[1:09:02] Like I said, the process from last year, budget cycle, that was my first budget cycle.
[1:09:09] But it has been very intense, very choppy, not consistent.
[1:09:16] And during the last budget process, we had the untimely passing of Euretha.
[1:09:24] And so when that transpired, I was trying to find,
[1:09:29] whoever I could to fill the large hall she'll have.
[1:09:36] This gives, I don't want to say one stop, but
[1:09:41] it will cut down on the time of staff and
[1:09:48] it kind of centrally locate.
[1:09:50] We can place the information in that will give us the trends that will give us the historical data.
[1:09:58] and give us the...
[1:10:00] Current situation of where we are daily. You can pull the information daily, you can pull it
[1:10:08] bi-weekly, you can pull it however I do recommend. I would like for it to be if IT is in agreement
[1:10:17] for the information, you know, we can mutually agree as exactly how much information and how
[1:10:25] soon we'll be bringing the information in, but going forward, this is quite a benefit.
[1:10:31] I didn't have anyone that could lift the box of the budget process that I have in my
[1:10:39] office, but it was a lot of work, a lot of paper, and if we simply just, because it's compatible
[1:10:48] with Enco, so it's going to pull in all that data for me as opposed to me having to do
[1:10:53] this Excel spreadsheet, and it's quite long for every fun that I oversee in every line item.
[1:11:01] And then I had to send it to another person. And in some way within that transmission,
[1:11:06] a formula could have gotten erased, and you have to repeatedly go back and go back.
[1:11:12] So this gives us the opportunity to put the information in and safeguard it.
[1:11:20] because you'll have however many administrators you would like to oversee and it's readily available
[1:11:29] and so it's just I consider quite progressive, glad that we're moving forward in this direction.
[1:11:40] Thank you. I see Council Member Peruit has a question, but before we move on I want to add
[1:11:47] to what council member Reeves has asked.
[1:11:50] I've had extensive conversations with Mike,
[1:11:53] the finance director, as well as Steve,
[1:11:57] well, Steve's not here, but Steve Sykes,
[1:11:59] because as a practice, what we've been doing
[1:12:02] is to make sure that we are pulling down
[1:12:04] departmental silos.
[1:12:07] So anything that has to do with IT, Steve is reviewing it.
[1:12:11] I wouldn't have brought this on the agenda
[1:12:14] and done this. My can't reviewed it and my definitely supports this program and was really pushing for us to bring it forward this budget cycle.
[1:12:25] Instead of waiting until the next because we are currently going through the budget calendar and trying to prepare for our June deadline.
[1:12:35] Thank you. Thank you. I must also mention that the process will take about six, eight weeks.
[1:12:41] And that's probably doing the same time, we'll be finishing up the budget.
[1:12:45] We get the information and hopefully we'll be able to move forward with this fiscal year, 23 being in the platform and what you see now.
[1:13:00] Yes, member Peruit.
[1:13:01] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:13:02] Thank you very much.
[1:13:04] You're welcome, thank you.
[1:13:04] I would agree the output is simple, the output is beautiful, but I know also the output is only as good as the input.
[1:13:14] I know you mentioned that it feeds in from encode, but are you, do you have no reservation on the ability to use the software?
[1:13:25] I have no reservation as opposed to the last software that we had just for the transparency.
[1:13:33] It was very manual and I had to do this extensive template and when I tried to download that template,
[1:13:43] the data just did not flow from the template back into that platform.
[1:13:52] one. So you don't anticipate that with this. I'm sorry, sir.
[1:13:57] You don't anticipate that happening with this program.
[1:14:00] I have spoken with Harry County with the person that she said she basically went from
[1:14:09] several people and she manages and she's one person. I've looked at the information that
[1:14:15] hearing county provides, and how you can, like I mentioned, you can go within a line item and fully pull the detail.
[1:14:26] But as long as the information is flowing from without me manually doing it, I see no problem.
[1:14:38] But if there is, then I quickly will figure out what the problem is.
[1:14:43] because if the numbers, once the numbers flow over, then they should match what I see an encode back into this platform.
[1:14:54] So,
[1:14:57] I don't have any reservations.
[1:15:10] I'm really proud and excited about the fact that a system that we've already invested in, in code, is able to communicate directly with this product.
[1:15:24] So this is, this is definitely a step in the right direction.
[1:15:30] Any other questions?
[1:15:32] No question, just a comment.
[1:15:34] I'm in Miss Debra, official office, every other day.
[1:15:39] And she is a plus, she makes a, because I'm solving trouble right now.
[1:15:44] But I'm going to get out of trouble tomorrow with her, but make sure the books stay balanced.
[1:15:56] I think it's noted as being the HR side of things personnel and so there's a good connection
[1:16:06] there and HR department is on board and excited and yes, Nick is here, but yes, it will
[1:16:16] So in a great with the human resources side, he will be able to be it changes his information
[1:16:23] to encode and it transfer over or he places the changes within clear guard and it transport
[1:16:31] or export back into encode.
[1:16:35] So you have the, I hate to use my hand, but you'll have this full circle.
[1:16:41] It's not just one component.
[1:16:43] So, you have your operational side, you have your capital budgeting, you'll have your transparency, and you'll have the latter part that I'm
[1:17:02] overlooking personally, of course, and your budget book.
[1:17:05] Okay, and all of the apartments, when they're doing their budgets, it's basically a bad word to use, but dumps into your budget.
[1:17:15] They can either key their information in code, it'll transfer in, or like I stated, if they're wanting to work on their budget while the St.
[1:17:26] Sama, they can get on that laptop and they can key in their information.
[1:17:32] And I can have them already available as to where they are in their budget and I don't have that in code.
[1:17:41] And I can send them reminders that personnel is due by this Friday, please make sure you keep in your information or whatever whom other department is.
[1:17:55] And I have the option of also once they finish, I can close it so that if they're telling me their members are good, it's closed.
[1:18:04] So it gives me more of a visual eye as to if everyone is doing what is needed to be done.
[1:18:17] Okay, great.
[1:18:17] So the process will flow smooth and we'll get to the final destination on time.
[1:18:27] There is a yes ma'am, I got you next.
[1:18:31] There is another component to our agenda item summary.
[1:18:36] When there is a concern from another department,
[1:18:40] we've implemented a system where it says other departmental review.
[1:18:46] And so if there are concerns or challenges of any nature,
[1:18:49] then that information will be included for you all as well.
[1:18:54] So you can make a better and more informed decision.
[1:18:58] But there will be some additional information coming to you specifically from human resources
[1:19:06] because while this works from a budget tarry standpoint, there is an additional need
[1:19:13] on the human resources side.
[1:19:15] So Councilmember Thomas, I think I may have answered my own question.
[1:19:20] I was looking to see if, I see the price of 25,000, it looks like it's annually.
[1:19:25] I was wondering if it included training for the users and that type of thing.
[1:19:31] Yes, ma'am.
[1:19:32] Within the six weeks of implementation, you will have two weeks of forming the committee team and training during the entire process.
[1:19:45] So there will be on-site training for all department heads to get them familiar as to how the system works.
[1:19:50] and from that point they have any questions there will be you know help
[1:19:57] test that's available for their questions or
[1:20:00] Just send me a little text or chat through this platform and we can, you know, ask the questions and concerns that come forward. Is there any way that we can purchase this or we have to, it has to be a subscription type situation of 25,000 plus 3%, I think every year goes up something like that. It, it is, but looking back at the, the last, the last program we had.
[1:20:28] And I hate to say this, but you get what you pay for sometimes.
[1:20:38] The platform we had, it was an expensive, but it did not give us a product.
[1:20:49] And the end result that we needed.
[1:20:52] that just by researching Afrieta and looking at the information that they had available, how I was able to go into each line item and look at the detail, how I was able to look at their projects and look at the detail of each project in the level of completeness or what rows were involved in the project.
[1:21:18] So, it provides us more, and it will answer those questions that anyone they have, be at
[1:21:28] Department Head, the community, and they can simply, if it's a community, has a question,
[1:21:34] they can simply send me a question, and it's routed through and it'll come to the designated
[1:21:43] person and we send back, you know, the response.
[1:21:47] So, it gives us the capability to, for where we are now, and the room to grow because we
[1:21:54] have a lot of projects that are coming forward, and this is one of the best tools that
[1:22:00] we can highlight those projects and give the information and keep everyone engaged in
[1:22:08] everyone knowledgeable. So is there an option to purchase it? No ma'am. I don't know. I think with Steve stated
[1:22:19] the first year and then to that you come to a decision but the cost is the $25,000 and it
[1:22:29] It incorporates those five areas, if you want it to take out an area, then it changes.
[1:22:40] You see the operational on your service order at the very near the bottom.
[1:22:45] It's broken out as cost per platform, be it budgeting, personnel budgeting, or
[1:22:52] capital budgeting, digital books.
[1:22:54] So you can change it to what you need, but if you're needing off five in which we're moving
[1:23:08] in that direction we're growing and there are a lot of projects, this is a recommendation.
[1:23:17] Like I said that I did look at digital, I spoke to digital, no one within the area utilized
[1:23:24] digital. I also looked at another company and it's just it didn't fulfill all
[1:23:33] their needs that we were that we would be meeting going forward.
[1:23:41] Thank you. Any other questions? No more questions? I will ask for a motion and
[1:23:49] second please. So moved. We have a motion and second to approve the
[1:23:56] request coming from our assistant finance director. All those in favor, please vote.
[1:24:14] I may be missing a light. Council member Thomas, have you voted?
[1:24:18] Yes.
[1:24:19] It's not showing on my side. I apologize. There we go. Seven in favor. Thank you.
[1:24:24] Thank you so much. We have that ongoing problem of this old nurse calling system that we're
[1:24:30] going to have to look at, replacing. But thank you very much. I wanted to just take
[1:24:37] chair's liberty now and just mention the fact that at the bottom of the agenda you'll
[1:24:43] see something that says good governance and it says guiding principle number two, physical
[1:24:49] responsibility, accountability and transparency.
[1:24:53] This particular product gives us all of that with the addition of...
[1:25:01] So, we are thrilled that we are able to meet those, those requests which have come from, from our public. So, thank you very much, Deborah. I know you don't get out of that office much to do this and it took a lot, but you did a great job. So, thank you very, very much for being here on this evening and for making that presentation. The next item on our agenda is administrative
[1:25:29] facilities and asset management. And we have Mr. Steve Morgan, the director of that department.
[1:25:40] Thank you, sir.
[1:25:44] The item we have on tonight would be for like
[1:25:51] a metal awning building.
[1:25:53] It's going to cover a roll off dumpster which holds grit that is created down at wastewater.
[1:26:00] These are items that are picked up before it goes into treatment.
[1:26:04] but your sands, gravels, coffee grounds, egg shells,
[1:26:10] cause it's bad for your machinery, the pumps,
[1:26:13] and so this needs to be constructed
[1:26:15] to hold that container plus the tractor
[1:26:17] that we use to actually dump into the container,
[1:26:21] and then when it's full, they pick it up
[1:26:22] and bring us another one.
[1:26:24] The company we're buying this from,
[1:26:26] they're going to install it also,
[1:26:27] so that's a turnkey project there.
[1:26:33] Thank you very much, you'll notice again
[1:26:36] that this is an item that affects waste water, as well as our new facilities and assets management department.
[1:26:47] The amount is $8,245, which normally would not come before you, but it is on the agenda because we are establishing our new facilities and asset management department.
[1:27:03] And we would actually be transferring funds from one department in the same line item for that department over to another.
[1:27:15] So are there any questions that any council member has?
[1:27:23] Just I would make a comment or it may be a question, but my understanding is, is it actually per treatment, I guess, regulations?
[1:27:31] We need to have this cover to keep the product dry I can't sit there and get wet that's correct sir
[1:27:37] Yeah, we can't put it in your yard
[1:27:39] Thank you so much council member Reeves. Are there any other questions?
[1:27:49] So may I please have a motion to approve the request?
[1:27:55] Council member Reeves motion
[1:27:57] Second. Second. Second by Council Member Burke. All in favor please vote yes.
[1:28:13] 1 fiquei I'm missing
[1:28:15] in Frayfsky.
[1:28:16] I'm sorry 7 cases, oh thank you so very much. Thank you for presenting on this EV.
[1:28:25] I will say for the record you are doing an amazing job in your capacity so we thank you.
[1:28:31] Thank you very much for the work that you are doing.
[1:28:35] and I will say you're free to go, I will say before I guys I don't know if
[1:28:44] y'all are gonna leave now that you've had had this approved Billy Jeremy
[1:28:50] and Brandon there is a photographer in the lobby so if you guys want to
[1:28:55] picture please stop by be a great head shot promise not to put it in the post
[1:28:59] office or anything like that, but feel free to do that, okay? And I do want to say for
[1:29:07] the purpose of the public and information, everything that has come before you has
[1:29:14] been budgeted. Not only tonight, but since January 3rd, we are just doing some very heavy
[1:29:21] evaluation on what is needed to move the city forward and both a fiscally responsible way
[1:29:28] in a transparent way and in an efficient way.
[1:29:32] So when we are putting on the agenda the line item, that is for the purpose of making
[1:29:38] sure to fall that our departments have consulted their budget and also that the public knows
[1:29:45] where to look if they are interested in any additional information.
[1:29:51] So we will continue within that same vein.
[1:29:55] the next item on our agenda.
[1:30:00] That is executive session. We have no executive session items on tonight so that moves us down to city administrator update. As was stated earlier, I am serving presently in the capacity of city administrator. We have advertised this position. We have a number of applications which have come into the city. And we are currently meeting the personnel director
[1:30:31] is currently reviewing those applications and will be making recommendations to us in terms
[1:30:38] of time for interviewing and all of the other things that goes along with selecting someone
[1:30:46] for that position.
[1:30:48] Not only are we advertising for the City Administrator position but also for the Finance Director
[1:30:56] as you know, the end of this month will be Mike's retirement date and we are very sorry
[1:31:05] to lose him, but we definitely understand when these decisions are made, so we will
[1:31:15] be doing other things in terms of recognizing him, but want it to let you know that we are
[1:31:21] doing that in addition to planning a city, city of Macdonough, I started to call it a
[1:31:31] hell fair employment fair. So we are looking at trying to be very forward in making sure
[1:31:42] that the public understands that we have the hiring sign out front. We are advertising
[1:31:49] for positions across the spectrum for our city, these are not new positions, these are positions that have become vacant as a result of COVID and other reasons, but we are ramping up our efforts to make sure that we are basically marketing ourselves in a number of areas so that we can get these positions feel.
[1:32:15] I cannot compliment staff enough in terms of how they have worked harder with less.
[1:32:25] They have definitely stepped up and really, really pushed especially when we're talking
[1:32:32] about our water departments and also our highway and safety department.
[1:32:39] I believe that these areas have been hit harder than any others.
[1:32:45] And that's not to minimize what has happened over in public safety as it relates to fire and
[1:32:51] police, but we have had some progress with getting individuals hired and
[1:32:58] they are in the process of being oriented for those positions.
[1:33:02] So I thank you, I thank you for those of you who are not here.
[1:33:07] We haven't missed a beat, we have not, in fact, we have become better in the process.
[1:33:14] And so every comment, whether it is critical or whether it is complimentary, it is taken
[1:33:21] into account, because that's how you employ continuous improvement.
[1:33:27] And that is one of our philosophies here at the City of McDonough is to just continue
[1:33:33] to get better every day.
[1:33:34] Okay, so I thank you all and that brings us, let's see where we are.
[1:33:46] That brings us down to almost the close of our agenda where we have our city clerk comments.
[1:33:54] None mayor.
[1:33:59] All right, we'll start with to my left with Councilmember Thomas.
[1:34:03] Do you have any comments?
[1:34:05] And then we'll follow down the line.
[1:34:11] You want to wait till the end or do you want to go know I need you said that earlier, but that's okay
[1:34:20] Just want to thank everyone for coming
[1:34:21] Appreciate your your presence here
[1:34:27] Councilmember Varna. Yeah mayor
[1:34:30] Councilmember Stewart you preached enough tonight
[1:34:36] Remember prayer not for me mayor. Thank you
[1:34:42] I just wanted to comment on a arbitrary and you know what a great time of progress that
[1:34:51] we had and of working together and making a lot of decisions and learning together.
[1:34:57] So that was a great opportunity.
[1:34:59] and I was
[1:35:00] I'm glad to be a part of it, and glad to be a part of McDonald's progress in history. Yes, yes, absolutely. Same thing, he said basically great retreat, and I'm just ready to see where we go for the city. This is a great team up here, so I'm really happy to be here.
[1:35:17] I'm just blushing under my man. I'm so excited, y'all. These are really some great individuals that you all have elected,
[1:35:25] it and we are having a tremendous time and getting to know one another and trying to figure out how we move our city forward in the best possible light because that is our goal to move forward and to move forward together and we know that we cannot do it without having our staff
[1:35:49] have underburden every policy that we make so we have been so fortunate thus far and I suspect that that trend will continue and it will get even better.
[1:36:05] I know we probably look like we're in mourning tonight with all of the black that we're wearing but I think everybody looks absolutely amazing.
[1:36:13] One of the things that we're trying to do is to make sure that our citizens know who we are.
[1:36:22] And there are often times that citizens come to the city of McDonough.
[1:36:26] They have no idea who their officials are or how to reach them.
[1:36:31] So we're going to take some pictures tonight.
[1:36:34] We're going to put them up downstairs and we're going to share them and
[1:36:37] other arenas to make sure that people know who their elected official is and where they
[1:36:47] can contact those individuals.
[1:36:49] So we are here to serve.
[1:36:51] We are here to do what the public has asked us to do.
[1:36:56] And I'm really, again, very honored to be working with each and every one of you.
[1:37:02] And, Jim, I want to thank you for hanging in there with us for two days.
[1:37:08] We know that you don't work specifically for the city of McDonough, but you were here.
[1:37:13] You were here.
[1:37:15] And we appreciate all of the action steps that you took away from that two-day retreat.
[1:37:21] And we're looking forward to the different policies that are going to come back before us.
[1:37:26] So thank you for being here for us.
[1:37:29] We appreciate you.
[1:37:30] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:37:31] Thank you very much.
[1:37:31] Yes, sir. Okay. All right. So if there's no other, is there any other business or all
[1:37:38] hearts of minds clear? Okay. Having said so, thank you again for being here on this evening.
[1:37:46] Meeting adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.