092120 Virtual Study Session Mins Adopted • North
Augusta
Sown Carolina"S Rwei fron t
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Robert A. Pettit, Mayor
J. Robert Brooks, Councilmember
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember
Fletcher L. Dickert, Councilmember
David W McGhee, Councilmember
Eric H. Presnell, Councilmember
Kevin W Toole, Councilmember
ORDER OF BUSINESS
• VIRTUAL STUDY SESSION
The virtual study session for the City Council meeting of the City of North Augusta of September
21, 2020, having been duly publicized, was called to order by Mayor Pettit at 6:00 p.m. and
streamed online for public viewing at the City Facebook page: "City of North Augusta— Public
Information" and City YouTube page: "City of North Augusta Public Information." The study
session recessed at 6:58 pm to enter the regular City Council meeting and reconvened at 7:49 pm
then adjourned at 8:30 p.m..
Per Section 30-4-80(e) notice of the meetings was sent out by email to the current maintained
"Agenda Mailout"list consisting of news media outlets and individuals or companies requesting
notification. Notice of the meetings was also posted on the outside doors of the Municipal Center,
the main bulletin board of the Municipal Center located on the first floor, and the City of North
Augusta website.
Members present were Mayor Pettit, Councilmembers Brooks, Carpenter, Dickert, McGhee,
Presnell and Toole.
Also in attendance were James S. Clifford, City Administrator; Rachelle Moody, Assistant City
Administrator; Kelly F. Zier, City Attorney; Cammie T. Hayes, Director of Finance and General
Services; Thomas Zeaser, Director of Engineering and Public Works; Richard Meyer, Director of
• Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Ricky Jones, Manager of Information Technology and Sharon
Lamar, City Clerk, Mitchell Murchison with Cranston Engineering Group, P.C. and Joe Lucas
with Pope Flynn, LLC joined the meeting as presenters.
Minutes of Study Session of September 21,2020
ITEM 1. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Items on the September 21, 2020 Council
• Agenda- Council Discussion
City Administrator, Jim Clifford, led Council's discussion of the September 21, 2020 regular
meeting agenda. Council members asked questions and shared thoughts about items of new
business on the agenda.
ITEM 2. ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS: Preliminary Downtown Greeneway
Connector Design Council Update and Discussion
Mitchell Murchison of Cranston Engineering Group, P.C. presented the final concept design for
the Downtown Greeneway Connector. The plan is very similar to that suggested by Studio Main.
Tom Zeaser, Director of Engineering and Public Works, added comments about proposed
decorative lighting and undergrounding utilities. Work on the project could begin in late 2021 of
early 2022. The projected cost estimate is $1,134,900.00 with a 20% contingency.
Councilmembers shared their comments of support for the plan.
On the motion of Councilmember Toole, second of Councilmember Presnell, Council agreed
unanimously to recess the study session at 6:58 pm to enter into the regular City Council meeting.
The study session reconvened at 7:49 pm following the regular City Council meeting.
ITEM 3. CITY PROPERTY: Lease/Purchase Agreement of Lot 3/Country Club Hills-
Council Discussion
• Jim Clifford, City Administrator, briefed Council on the poor condition of the house on Selisa
Drive. Councilmembers discuss the pros and cons of continuing to lease the property. It was the
general consensus to not enter into another lease.
ITEM4. PARKS RECREATION AND TOURISM: Amphitheater Boat Dock—Council
Discussion
Jim Clifford, City Administrator, informed Council about a recent teleconference he had with
Senator Tom Young and Representative Bill Hixon regarding the future amphitheater boat dock.
Rep. Hixon believes there may be more funding available in the county "watercraft funds." The
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently backlogged and has the City to prepare a
plan for their approval. DNR recommends an aluminum dock build by a commercial builder.
Councilmember Presnell shared a quote and drawing from a local contractor for a simple six slip
dock. Council discussed the need for a quality product that can be made for personal craft and
perhaps larger crafts at a later time. Mayor Pettit reminded Council the project is more than a
dock. It includes waterfront access, landscaping,permits, etc. Jim Clifford agreed to continue to
research a nice dock and look for the additional funds. Councilmember McGhee wants to be sure
to "keep the throttle on" and keep the project moving forward.
The study session adjourned at 8:30 pm.
• ITEM 5. LEGAL: Executive Session—Request of the Mayor
In compliance with Section 30-4-70 (a) (2) the Mayor requested an executive session for the
purpose of:
Minutes of Study Session of September 21,2020
• (2) Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements and proposed sale
or purchase of property, the receipt of legal advice where the legal advice relates to a pending,
threatened, or potential claim or other matters covered by the attorney-client privilege,
settlement of legal claims, or the position of the public agency in other adversary situations
involving the assertion against the agency of a claim
Discussion is related to unpaid MID taxes.
At 8:31 pm on the motion of Mayor Pettit, second of Councilmember Dickert, Council agreed to
enter into Executive Session. Also in attendance with Council were Jim Clifford, City
Administrator; Rachelle Moody,Assistant City Administrator;Kelly Zier, City Attorney;
Cammie Hayes,Director of Finance and General Services; Sharon Lamar, City Clerk; and Joe
Lucas, Pope Flynn, LLC.
At 9:49 pm the motion of Councilmember Presnell, second of Councilmember Carpenter,
Council agreed to adjourn the Executive Session. Upon returning to open session, Council did
not take any action on matters discussed in Executive Session.
APPROVED THIS5th DAY OF Respectfully submitted,
wM,W
Sharon Lamar
• Robert A. Pettit, Mayor City Clerk
•