Baldwin has once again made refunds for overpayment of utility services. Monday night, the council unanimously approved two refunds for overpayment of utility services. City administrator Jerry Presley presented the requests for the refunds.
A refund of $1,501 was approved for Jennifer Taylor for property located at 1050 Homer Drive in Baldwin. Taylor, whose property is located in the city limits of Baldwin, has been paying out of city water rates from January 2000 to December 2010.
A refund of $821 was also approved for Jose Tovar, 608 West Airport Road. Tovar has been paying for sewer service from April 2006 through December 2010 at his property and he is on a septic tank.
Earlier, the council approved refunds for council member Sandi Rudeseal and another city resident.
In other action at the meeting Monday night, the council unanimously approved the following re-appointments: David Syfan, an attorney with the Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar law firm, Gainesville, as city attorney; Beth Grimes, Bates, Carter & Company, Gainesville, as city accountant; Joe Davidson, as city building inspector; and Rushton & Company, Gainesville, as city auditors.
Each of these will serve from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2011, to get the appointment schedule on the same fiscal year cycle like the city’s budget.
“We will make appointments again at the end of June,” Mayor Jerry Neace said.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
•the council approved the first reading of the city’s 2011 election ordinance. The city election will be held from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the lower floor of Baldwin City Hall. Council seats for Post 1, 2 and 3, currently held by Beverly Holcomb, Sandi Rudeseal and Rodney King respectively, will be on the ballot. The qualifying fee is $35 for each council seat. Qualifying for the positions will be held on Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., except for a one-hour lunch break beginning at 1 p.m. each day, at the Habersham County Probate Court office, located in the Habersham County Courthouse, 555 Monroe Street, Clarkesville. The last day to register to vote in the November city election is Monday, Oct. 10. Presley recommended that the City of Baldwin continue allowing Habersham County to handle its city election. “They will draw up a contract to present to us on this,” Presley said.
•in a 3-2 split vote, the council approved the renewal of the 2011 beer and wine license for Harry Caudell, Baldwin Package Store. Council members Beverly Holcomb and Robert Bohannon voted in opposition to this.
•the council met in closed session for approximately one hour to discuss personnel. When the meeting was re-opened to the public, the council: 1) approved a rate increase of 25 cents per hour for Scott Gailey, water distribution employee, bringing his salary up to $13 per hour; and 2) approved a rate increase of 50 cents per hour for Billy Joe Thompson, water distribution employee, bringing his salary up to $8.50 per hour.
•Presley advised the council that Rick Chafin is asking the city to restrict the use of the 7.09 acres he donated to the city to conservation uses or greenspace. “Mr. Chafin stated if this is not done in order for him to obtain a credit from the state it would be very costly to him. He would not have made the donation if he had know this,” Presley said. This issue will be on the agenda for the council meeting set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24.
•Charles Alexander, Smoke Rise Drive, addressed the council about the issue with getting the road cleared following the recent snow and ice storm. Alexander said, “Every bit (of Smoke Rise Drive) is in the City of Baldwin.” Alexander stated no work was done on the road and some of the people living there spent five days not being able to get out the road. Neace advised this would be dealt with. “I received several calls about this myself,” Neace said.
