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The Magee Board of Aldermen met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Dale Berry called the meeting to order, and it was opened with prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board approved the agenda and the claims docket.
Brett Duncan updated the board on budget matters.
Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray praised the work his crews have been doing and thanked them publicly for their hard work and willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.
Alderman Patrick Brown expressed his concerns about the professionalism of the people who are working to replace water meters throughout the city. Other aldermen agreed.
Police Chief Denis Borges reported to the board that he had received quotes for repairs at the jail and for the purchase of a Dodge Durango, as well as an application for a full-time dispatcher. He requested an executive session to discuss the application.
Board Member Sammie Tebo commended Borges for the transparency he has presented to the public about ongoing police matters and asked the chief to work with Tim Bray to compile a list of all vehicles and the state in which they are.
Fire Chief David Craft reported the city was prepared for the potential threat of recent storms. He told the board they are considering painting fire hydrants gray and using reflective tape that will be easily seen at night. He believes it will save the city money in the long run. He also informed the board Tommy Warren has met all the requirements to be a volunteer fire department and asked that the board approve him as a volunteer and give him the duty to act. The board requested they be provided with an application for review.
Alderman Brown requested Craft look into a fixing a leaning fire hydrant in Trinity Village.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre also thanked city employees for their work, preparation, and communication during the recent hurricane.
“Everyone was organized, and everyone was willing to step up,” she said.
She informed the board that the zoning board recommended approval for conditional use at 398 Hwy. 149 to be used as a church. The board approved.
She requested approval for publication for two upcoming hearings. The first is for the building across the street from City Hall. The hearing will be held on October 8.
“It’s a very exciting project,” Aguirre said. “He has a lot of really creative ideas that will revitalize Main Street.
She told the board it would be a more than half-a-million-dollar project. The board approved the publication of the hearing.
Secondly, she asked the board to approve the publication of an amendment for parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas, as well as an amendment for the city’s fence ordinance. During the discussion that followed, she referenced a fence that is down between Subway and a residential building. She also said Subway has other violations and she has tried to reach out concerning them.
“There does need to be a fence between those two,” she said.
She told the board she has visited on several occasions, sent letters, and called with no response.
“They are a franchise, but their manager is here,” she said.
About the parking of commercial vehicles, she said, “We don’t have commercial vehicles covered in our ordinance. That’s the point of the amendment.”
“We have parking covered,” she continued, “but we don’t have anything saying you can’t put commercial in residential.”
Alderman Brown said, “It’s gonna conflict with our ordinance because we allow commercial vehicles on our streets.”
“The police have the authority to weigh the truck for that,” Brown said.
The problem discussed was what happens when a truck impedes traffic. The police department can ask them to move or weigh the truck, but it does not have scales.
Aguirre said if the ordinance exists she will find it.
The fence ordinance in question gives people three options, according to Aguirre.
“If your fence is falling down, you have three choices. You can fix it, you can remove it, or you can replace it,” she said.
The ordinance would set “the standard for what is conforming, and what is not conforming,” she said.
Aguirre also explained that citizens would be given six months to a year to address non-conforming fences.
The board approved the publication of the part of the amendment concerning fences.
Aguirre told the board the police and fire departments had helped with two situations concerning animal control and public health and safety. She thanked the department for their help.
Crazy Day will be held on October 26, 2024. Aguirre asked the board to approve the use of the Community House for a gospel sing held by the city’s preservation commission. The board asked City Attorney Wesla Sullivan to draw up an agreement to protect the city in the event of damage to the building.
Alderman Grubbs asked Aguirre what the status of Charlie Valadie’s application and was told the city is waiting to hear back from PERS.
Mike Berry told the board that a survey had been done to prepare for C-Spire to put an antenna at the airport. He also asked the board to approve the company for purchasing fuel so he could work to get a contract in place. The board approved the supplier recommended by Berry and permitted him to go forward with developing a contract for their review.
The board approved the final passage and adoption of the city’s updated liquor ordinance. They also approved the publication of the ordinance.
The board approved a lease agreement for Beauty from Ashes and Pastor Jeremy Smith. The lease agreement term is only until the end of this board’s term so future boards are not bound by it. Smith requested that future lease agreements be yearly.
Sullivan told the board she hopes that future lease agreements will reflect upgrades Beauty from Ashes has made to the property. The city also received a check for $65,900 from Beauty from Ashes. Sullivan said Smith did not know the city had not been paid and has put measures in place to prevent such problems in the future.
The board approved the lease agreement.
Sullivan reminded the board that the usage agreement for the PriorityOne Senior Center did not apply to daily usage and programming but to others who wish to rent the entire property for events.
Police Chief Borges informed the board that state law prohibits commercial vehicles from parking on city streets because they impede or hinder traffic.
“It’s gonna be unlaw for 18-wheelers to park on the side of the road, whether they are loaded or not,” he said.
The board entered an executive session to discuss personnel matters.
