[1. Introductory Remarks]
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IT IS MAY 26TH AND WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL CALL MEETING FOR TONIGHT.
UM, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, SITTING TO MY LEFT, WE HAVE OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNSEL MEMBER, MS. DELANEY K FRIERSON.
UM, I'M GONNA PUT HER ON THE SPOT AND ASK HER IF SHE'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, UH, BEFORE WE GET GOING.
GOOD EVENING AND GLAD TO SEE MY BAD.
AND SO HAPPY TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY.
FIRST UP ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, WE WILL STAND AND SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY THE PLACE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I FATHER, WHAT Y'ALL HEAVEN, HALLOW BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM CALL WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE, THE TRESPASSED AGAINST US.
LET DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE KINGDOM, KINGDOM, POWER, POWER, AND GLORY FOREVER.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[4. Approval of Agenda]
NEXT UP WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.
[5. Proclamation Proclaiming the Month of May as Mental Health Month ]
NEXT UP WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILOR RICHARDSON.
SECOND FROM COUNCIL LADY COUNCILWOMAN FRY.
I TOLD HER THIS WAS GONNA BE REALLY HARD FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT.
[6. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-08 ]
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH EIGHT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING RENTAL FEES AND CHARGES FOR THE WELDING AUDITORIUM AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.THIS HEARING IS NOW OPEN IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
HI, MY NAME IS ANGEL REED AND I APOLOGIZE, I WAS NOT AT THE LAST MEETING SO I'M NOT AWARE IF THIS WAS ALREADY DISCUSSED, BUT DID WE GIVE INFORMATION ON WHAT THOSE CHANGES WERE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THE FEES ARE? MS. CHAIRMAN, IF I MIGHT, UM, INCLUDED IN COUNSEL'S PACKET IS THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE AUDITORIUM.
UM, SINCE SECOND READING COUNCIL HAD ASKED THAT WE GO AND LOOK AT CHANGING THE FEE SCHEDULE TO ALLOW FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COUNTY TO HAVE A LIMITED, LIMITED NUMBER OF USAGES AT A REDUCED RATE.
AND WE HAVE INCORPORATED THAT.
SO, UM, UNDER CONTRACT COUNCIL WE ALLOW THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO USE OUR FACILITY, THE WELDING FACILITY, 12 TIMES PER YEAR AT NO COST BECAUSE WE, THEY, WE RECIPROCATE WHEN USING THEIR FACILITIES AND THEY USE OURS.
AND THEN EACH SUBSEQUENT USE PAST 12 IS AT A REDUCED RATE AND NOW WE HAVE ADDED TWO USAGE PER YEAR FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT A REDUCED RATE AS WELL.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE THAT'S BEEN MADE SINCE SECOND READING.
SO DO WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF WHAT THE FEES WOULD BE FOR OTHER FOLKS? WAS ANY CHANGES MADE TO THAT FROM THE LAST, FROM WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE? LIKE WHEN THEY WE LAST WERE ABLE TO? UM, YOU MEAN FOR LIKE PERSONAL USE STUFF? YES.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, WHAT WE DID, THE FACILITY, WHAT WE, WE BROKE IT DOWN IS BROKEN DOWN INTO SEPARATE CHARGES.
THE FACILITY CHARGES FOR UTILIZING WELDING DID NOT CHANGE.
UM, SO AN ALL DAY RENTAL IN THE PAST AND WE ACTUALLY DEFINED THAT A LITTLE BIT, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DEFINED, WE DEFINED ALL DAY AS 12 HOURS WAS $2,400 FOR ALL DAY USAGE.
AND THEN EACH, IF YOU GO OVER THAT IS $200 PER HOUR, 12 2400 DIVIDED BY 12 $200 PER HOUR.
SO WE HAVE AN ALL DAY RENTAL, A HALF DAY RENTAL, WHICH WOULD BE SIX HOURS AND THEN A QUARTER DAY RENTAL WHICH WOULD INCORPORATE
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THINGS LIKE FUNERALS, SHORT EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.AND THAT WOULD BE THREE HOURS.
AND THE ONLY REAL THINGS WE CHANGED WAS, UM, IF WE NEED SOMEBODY TO GO IN AND CLEAN THE PLACE UP, WE HAVE A CLEANING FEE.
I THINK THAT WAS ON THERE THE LAST TIME.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A FEE FOR OUR STAFF TO MONITOR THE BUILDING, KEEP THE BATHROOMS CLEANED, THE TOILET PAPER'S CHANGED AND AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S A PER HOUR CHARGE AND IT'S A PASS THROUGH COST.
UM, I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU THAT COPY OF THAT.
AND JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION JUST TO HAVE IT PUBLIC, WERE THERE ANY CHANGES IN THE TYPE OF EVENTS THAT WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE, UM, TO, TO RENT THE BUILDING FOR? NO MA'AM.
UM, WE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A PUBLIC SPACE AND WE CAN'T REALLY CONTROL THE TYPE OF EVENT.
UM, NOW WE CAN HAVE RESTRICTIONS IF, IF THERE'S LIKE NUDITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT INVOLVED.
I MEAN WE CAN LIMIT THAT TYPE OF EVENT, BUT I MEAN I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD LIMIT ANYTHING, UM, AT WELDON OTHER THAN IF IT WAS JUST SOME KIND OF PUBLIC NUISANCE OR WHATEVER.
AND IF YOU CAN SEE ME AFTER THE MEETING, I'LL GIVE YOU THE COPIES.
UH, UH, UH, MR. ACKERMAN, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS SOME RUMORS AROUND WHICH, AND I HEARD 'EM, BUT I KNOW THEY WEREN'T TRUE ABOUT THERE WERE GONNA BE STUFF USERS OF THE WEALTHY FOR FUNERALS AND CAN YOU LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE? THAT VEHICLE GONNA CHANGE THE HALF FEE ON THAT END OF THE QUESTION? UM, NO SIR.
THERE WAS NO INTENT TO STOP THE USAGE FOR FUNERALS, BUT IN THE PAST THERE WAS A SEPARATE FUNERAL FEE SCHEDULE AND IT WAS THE SAME AS A THREE HOUR RENTAL.
SO WE JUST DID AWAY WITH A SEPARATE FUNERAL AND IT IS CALLED IT A QUARTER DAY OR THE THREE HOUR RENTAL.
UM, 'CAUSE BEFORE YOU WERE LIMITED TO THREE HOUR, YOU'VE GOT THREE HOURS FOR THE FUNERAL, I GUESS FOR THE SET UP, THE ACTUAL SERVICE AND THEN THE TAKE DOWN.
UM, BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO SEPARATE ONES, ONE FOR A THREE HOUR RENTAL AND ONE FOR A FUNERAL RENTAL, THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.
AND THE, IF THERE IS A FUNERAL RENTAL, IT COMES WITH YOUR BASIC EQUIPMENT, YOUR MICS AND SPEAKERS.
SO MANY MICROPHONES AND SO MANY STANDS.
UM, NOW AND, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE AGREEMENT OR IN THE, IN THE RENTAL AGREEMENT, WE WILL, WE'LL PROVIDE THE LIGHTS AND WE'LL PROVIDE THE SOUND, BUT WE DON'T, IF YOU NEED SOMEBODY THERE LIKE PHYSICALLY OPERATING THE EQUIPMENT TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON SOMEBODY OVER HERE OR CHANGE THE SPOTLIGHT OVER HERE OR TURN THE SOUND UP AND DOWN AND MONITOR ALL THOSE MICROPHONES, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL SOMEBODY WE HAVE TO HIRE.
SO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT PERSON.
BUT OFF AND ON IS PART OF THE BASE CHARGE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CORRECT.
I'M PATRICIA PR CLA COUNTY AUDITOR.
MY QUESTION IS, UM, HOW ARE YOU STAFFING THE WELDING? ARE WE GOING TO USE COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO STAFF THE WELDING NOW OR FOR, FOR THE MOST PART, YES MA'AM.
UM, PARTICULARLY WITH AFTER HOURS EVENTS, WE'VE TALKED TO SOME OF OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF 'CAUSE THEY TYPICALLY WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WERE IN THERE ANYWAY.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER PART-TIME STAFF ON BOARD AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE THOSE PEOPLE STAFFING WELDING, WHICH IS WHAT NECESSITATES THAT ADDITIONAL LABOR CHARGE IF WE HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THERE.
SO IT WON'T BE FULL-TIME STAFF LIKE IT USED TO BE? NO MA'AM.
AND THEN I KNOW I THINK BEFORE YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT COMMITTEE, THERE'S A COMMITTEE NOW THAT SERVES THAT THAT WORKS WITH THE WELDING.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU GET APPOINTED ON THAT COMMITTEE AND WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE? WELL THERE, THERE IS NO COMMITTEE AS OF YET, BUT THAT'S SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH COUNCIL IS DO THEY WANNA FORM AN AD HOC COMMITTEE AND LET'S HAVE AN OFFICIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE FOR WELDING OR THEY WILL DELEGATE THAT TO ADMINISTRATION AND WE'LL JUST PUT THE CALL OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR FOLKS.
BECAUSE I, I, THE, THE THINKING IS FROM THE FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO IS IF WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE COULD BRING BIGGER EVENTS IN TO HAVE MORE THINGS THAT MAY INTEREST COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND I THINK SOME FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AND THEY WOULD BE, HOPEFULLY, I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME AND THEY'D BE WILLING TO HELP TRY TO SET SOME OF THOSE THINGS UP.
SO WHEN YOU GET READY TO DO THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IT WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN APPLY OR TO
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FOR YET.
YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FAR YET? YES, MA'AM.
YEAH, 'CAUSE I SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE BEFORE WHEN THEY HAD ONE
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FOR THE WELDING, SO, UM, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THAT AGAIN.HEY, WE, WE'VE KIND OF TALKED, I MEAN WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND, AND SAID, YOU KNOW, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER GET A ONE APPOINTEE OR TWO, TWO APPOINTEES, BUT WE, WE REALLY HADN'T FINALIZED ANYTHING ON IT.
ONE MORE THING, UM, COUNCILWOMAN FRY ASKED ME, YOU NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
WHERE WERE YOU? THROUGH MISS PATRICIA
UM, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU CAN BOOK WHO, WHO YOU NEED TO CONTACT TO BOOK THE WELD YEP.
UM, ONE THING WE'VE GOT IN THE BUDGET COMING UP IS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL PART-TIME HELP THAT WILL HELP OUT WITH THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE, THE UTILIZATION OF OUR FACILITIES, UM, FOR SHELTER RENTALS.
OBVIOUSLY WE GOT THE WELDING NOW COMING ON DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
OUR UTILIZATION COUNTYWIDE IS JUST REALLY INCREASING DRAMATICALLY AND IT'S GETTING MORE THAN ONE, ONE PERSON CAN HANDLE OVER THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
SO WE WANNA COMBINE FORCES THAT WAY THEY CAN HELP OUT WITH RECREATION AND WELDING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
LAST YEAR THE CORONER'S OFFICE SPONSORED A PROGRAM CALLED CLAIN CARES WHERE WE HONORED ALL OF THE DECEDENT'S NAMES THAT CAME THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
THE FAMILIES WERE INVITED TO COME IN AND OUTTA STATE.
UM, IT WAS A BIG EVENT AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT AT WELDON AUDITORIUM.
MS. SHARON WAS THERE, THERE THEN, 'CAUSE SHE DID THE SOUND SYSTEM AND ALL.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, WOULD WE STILL, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY NOW TO HAVE THAT EVENT AGAIN ANNUALLY? UM, I I I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT AN EVENT THAT'S HOSTED AS PART OF THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY, IT'S, UM, THEN COUNCIL, WE COULD MAKE AN APPLICATION TO COUNCIL TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE THE EVENT AND THEN WAIVE THE FEES AND WE COULD FIGURE IT OUT HOW TO GET THAT PART DONE.
THAT SHOULD BE, I I, I MEAN I DON'T THINK COUNCIL, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR COUNCIL, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD'VE AN ISSUE.
UM, LAST YEAR EVERYTHING WAS PROVIDED.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE, UM, PROVIDED.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED LAST YEAR WAS THE LIVE FEE BECAUSE WE HAD FAMILIES OUTTA STATE THAT WANTED TO SEE THE, UH, PROGRAM AND I HAD TO PAY SOMEONE FROM OUT OF, YOU KNOW, OUT OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY ONLY BECAUSE, UH, THE IT DEPARTMENT WAS TIED UP.
SO WOULD Y'ALL LET ME KNOW ABOUT THAT AS WELL? WELL, AND AND WE STILL PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.
UM, THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE RENOVATION, BUT THAT SYSTEM THAT'S OVER THERE IS ANCIENT TO SAY THE LEAST.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A REPLACEMENT SYSTEM, UM, AND THEY'RE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE NOW.
YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS GETS CHEAPER AS TIME GOES ON.
UM, BUT THAT RECORDING AND STREAMING SYSTEM IS LACKLUSTER TO, TO PUT IT MILDLY.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT REPLACING THAT.
SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN THAT COULD TAKE PLACE.
UM, BUT YOU AND I CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, IF, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TECHNICIAN TO RUN THE SOUND AND ALL, AND I KNOW CERTIFIED A CERTIFIED PERSON THAT CAN DO THAT FOR FREE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEIR NAME.
UM, I'M HALLE CONYERS AND I JUST NEED A FEW QUESTIONS CLARIFIED.
YOU BASICALLY STARTED OFF WITH SAYING 12 HOURS WAS 24 A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
WELL YOU OF THE WEALTH AUDITOR, WHAT IS THE PRICES FOR THE OTHER ONES LIKE THE HALF DAY AND FOR THE FUNERAL SERVICES? SO IT'S HUNDRED AN HOUR, WHICHEVER WAY YOU HAVE, IT'S MA'AM PER HOUR.
SO 12 HOURS WOULD BE 26 HOURS WOULD BE 1200.
VERY GOOD BECAUSE IT SIMPLIFIES IT.
THE OTHER THING IS, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU WILL NEED STAFF AND THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WOULD NEED TO BE PAID.
IS THERE A SET WAGE OF HOW, HOW THAT THOSE, THEY'LL BE PAID BY THE HOUR, BUT HOW MUCH? IT DEPENDS ON THEIR HOURLY RATE.
SO THERE'D BE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ALREADY WORK FOR THE COUNTY, UHHUH,
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SO IT DEPENDS ON THEIR HOURLY RATE AND IF IT KICKS 'EM INTO OVERTIME SITUATION, WHICH A LOT OF THE AFTER HOURS AND SATURDAY EVENTS WOULD, SO, SO WE'VE TRIED TO SET THE BASE RATE SO IT'S SORT OF A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD RATE AND WOULD ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF IT AND WHICH IS FAIR.
AND THEN YOU SAID THAT SOMETIMES YOU MAY HAVE TO USE OTHERS.
SO HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE? WELL, IT WOULD BE THE SIZE OF THE, THE SIZE OF THE EVENT WOULD DETERMINE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE NEED.
UM, AND NOT ONLY THE SIZE BUT THE TYPE OF THE EVENT.
SOME, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE USING THE CANTEEN AND HAVE DIFFERENT VENDORS AND ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO, UM, WHEN WE SET UP, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES AND APPLIES FOR THE USAGE, THEN WE GET THE DETAILS ON THAT AND WE WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS TO SEE WHAT NEEDS THEY'RE GONNA HAVE.
WHEN YOU SAID THE, OH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, WHEN YOU SAID THE PRIVATE SCHOOL GET HALF PRICE, THAT ALL PRIVATE SCHOOL IN CLOUDY COUNTY? ALL OF ALL OF 'EM.
SO IF, IF, UH, SOMEONE FROM SCAR BRANCH WANNA HAVE SOMETHING THERE, THEY GET HALF PRICE.
ALSO, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEY FREE.
THE FIRST 12 USAGES FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE AT NO CHARGE.
UM, AND THEN ANYTHING AFTER 12, THEY WOULD PAY HALF PRICE.
SO 12 PER PER SCHOOL? NO, 12 FOR THE DISTRICT.
SO OUR COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWS THE COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO USE FOOTBALL FIELDS AND BASKETBALL GYMS AND DIFFERENT FACILITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
SO AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE SEVERAL YEARS BACK SO THAT THEY GOT NO COST USAGE OF THE WELDING AUDITORIUM 12 TIMES PER YEAR TO HELP OFFSET US USING THEIR FACILITIES AS WELL.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE, IF YOU PAY $2,400, THAT SHOULD BE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO USE TO CLEAN THE PLACE UP.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PAY EXTRA? SO WITH AN AUDITORIUM THE SIZE OF WELDING MM-HMM
UM, IN THE PAST, THE COST FOR, UM, CLEANING AND THE WORKERS AND ALL THAT STUFF WAS INCLUDED.
AND THEN THE COUNTY LOST MONEY EVERY TIME WE HAD AN EVENT AT WELDON.
UM, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT COST TO OPERATE THAT FACILITY.
UM, WE JUST SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RENOVATING IT.
UM, WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE FORM OF ACCOMMODATION.
I MEAN HOSPITALITY TAXES TO PAY FOR THAT WELDING IS SET UP AS WHAT'S CALLED AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
IT'S A BUSINESS, IT SHOULD BE SELF SUPPORTING.
SO WE NEED TO COVER THE COST OF OPERATING THAT FACILITY.
PART OF THAT COST IS HAVING THOSE, THOSE WORKERS IN THERE WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED.
SO IT'S NOT, WE HAVE PEOPLE HIRED ALL THE TIME AND THEY JUST SIT AROUND WAITING ON AN EVENT.
YOU ONLY PAY FOR 'EM AND THE COUNTY ONLY PAYS FOR WHEN THERE IS AN EVENT.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, I'LL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO
[7. Ordinance 2026-08 ]
ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH EIGHT, CONSIDERATION OF THE THIRD AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH EIGHT AND ORDINANCE AMENDING RENTAL FEES AND CHARGES FOR WELDING AUDITORIUM AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.I HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL SECOND.
[8. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-07 ]
HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH SEVEN AND ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27 BUDGET FOR THE CLATON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TOO.I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
SINCE NO ONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO, WE CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING NOW AND MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 2026
[9. Ordinance 2026-07 – School District Budget ]
DASH OH SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH SEVEN AND ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR OF 20 26, 20 27 BUDGET FOR THE CLATON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER[00:20:01]
MATTERS RELATING THERE TOO.SO, MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.
ALL OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES.
[10. Ordinance 2026-09 ]
2026 DASH OH NINE.CONSIDERATION OF THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH NINE AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF A NONEXISTING TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND IN ONE OR MORE SERIES IN ONE OR MORE YEARS WITH APPRO APPROPRIATE SERIES DESIGNATIONS, INCLUDING A TAX EXEMPT SERIES AND A TAXABLE SERIES.
Y'ALL CAN READ ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
I GOT A MOTION
MR. CHAIRMAN, I CAN HELP OUT WITH THAT.
YEAH, WELL HELP OUT WITH THAT BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION.
SO, UM, BACK SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY ISSUED SOME INSTALLMENT PURCHASE REVENUE BONDS TO FUND THE BUILDING PROGRAMS THAT'S GOING ON.
RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT APPROXIMATELY $15 MILLION.
AND BEING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC REVENUE SOURCE PLEDGED FOR THOSE BONDS, THE COUNTY EACH YEAR HAS BEEN ISSUING BONDS TO MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ON THE IVRB.
THAT ORDINANCE USUALLY COMES UP IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER, AND THE BONDS ARE THEN ISSUED IN JANUARY TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS, WHICH BEGAN IN MARCH AND THEN IN AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED ABOUT THE EXACT SAME TIME I CAME ON BOARD.
UM, WE WERE WORKING ON SOME OTHER NUMBERS, TRYING TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT TO SEE IF THERE WAS A WAY NOT TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THAT THAT WINDOW CLOSED AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO, TO AVOID ISSUING THE BONDS.
SO WHAT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY BEEN DONE LAST NOVEMBER? WE'RE DOING IT NOW.
UM, WE MADE THIS THE APRIL BOND PAYMENT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WE NEED TO REFUND THAT MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, AND THEN THIS ALLOWS, THIS IS GO AHEAD AND PREEMPTIVELY DOING IT FOR NEXT YEAR SINCE IT'S ALL GONNA BE DONE SO CLOSE TOGETHER.
SO THIS WOULD BE TWO YEARS WORTH OF THAT.
UM, AT OUR JANUARY MEETING, I MEAN OUR JUNE 8TH MEETING, OUR CFO MR. GIBBONS HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO PUT A FEW LITTLE TWEAKS ON IT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE DEBT SERVICE PICTURE'S GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
UM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE HOW ALL THIS COMES INTO PLAY AND HOPEFULLY 28 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR.
WE NEED TO DO THIS IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT THE WAY WE THINK WE'VE GOT IT GOING.
UM, SO FOR RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE SCHEDULED DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, WE NEED TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ISSUE THESE BONDS.
UM, AND THIS WILL COME INTO PLAY FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS WHY IT SAYS END ONE OR MORE YEARS.
SO WE DO IT THIS YEAR AND THEN DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? MM-HMM.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE APPROVE THIS ORDER.
WE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
[11. Budget Presentation – Nelson Gibbons, Finance Director ]
OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM MR. NELSON GIVENS, OUR FINANCE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.AND I'LL SAY, UH, WELCOME MS. KAY.
SO FOR TONIGHT'S BUDGET WORKSHOP, UH, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL WORK SO BADLY WANTING ME TO DO ANOTHER 45 MINUTE PRESENTATION.
I GOT STRICT INSTRUCTIONS NOT TONIGHT.
SO IN ALL HONESTY, SINCE THE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET, WE HAVE HAD A GRAND TOTAL OF NET CHANGES OF $620.
SO THE BUDGET SINCE NO CHANGES TO FIRE, NO CHANGES TO LIBRARY, UH, NO CHANGES TO DEBT SERVICE, UH, SINCE WE LEFT OFF AT SECOND READING, UH, OUR BUDGET WAS 31 MILLION 8 88, 8 50.
TONIGHT WE HAVE NET CHANGES THAT REDUCE THAT $620.
SO AS FAR AS ANY MAJOR CHANGES, MAJOR CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED, THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN ANY, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH A FEW OF THEM.
UH, THE FIRST ONE, WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE HERE ON EXPENSES, IT WAS $13,500.
SO WE HAVE FINALIZED A CONTRACT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING A NEW TIMEKEEPING SOFTWARE.
SO IN THE PAST TIME, SHEETS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, IT'S ALL BEEN DONE ON, ON PAPER.
UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN, WE TOOK A LOOK AT SEVERAL
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DIFFERENT SOFTWARES.UH, THE ONE THAT WE LANDED ON, WE REALLY LIKE, UH, IT'S GONNA BE AN ANNUAL COST OF $13,500.
SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT NOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S GONNA BE AN ANNUAL RECURRING, UH, UH, AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS COMPANY.
SO ULTIMATELY WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS IT'S GOING TO SAVE SOME OVERHEAD.
UH, IT'S GONNA CUT DOWN ON SOME TIME TO PROCESS THE PAYROLL AS WELL AS, UH, IT SHOULD BE ULTIMATELY A, A SAVINGS ON, UM, OUR, OUR PAYROLL COORDINATOR.
SO, UH, MISS DOROTHY, HOPEFULLY SHE'S GONNA ENJOY IT AND APPRECIATE IT.
SO THAT WAS ONE MAJOR INCREASE, $13,500.
UH, WE DID HAVE A FEW EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GONNA BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME TRAVEL AND TRAINING AND SOME, UH, CREDENTIALS.
THIS YEAR WE HAD SOME TRAVEL AND TRAINING EXPENSE THAT WENT UP.
UH, ONE THING WE DID TALK ABOUT LAST MEETING AS WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME CHANGES THAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR WHERE WE REQUESTED DETAILED BACKUP FROM ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR EACH LINE ITEM.
IF THEY SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR 20,000, WE HAD THE BACKUP FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF THAT 20.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS 5,000, 1000, 10,000, WHATEVER.
SO WE DID DISCOVER IN MOST OF OUR MEETINGS OR IN SEVERAL MEETINGS WHERE SOME ITEMS HAD BEEN DOUBLE BUDGETED, WE FOUND ANOTHER ONE TODAY.
SO WE SAVED $10,000 ON ANOTHER EXPENSE THAT NORMALLY IT WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, BUDGETED IN ONE DEPARTMENT.
WE MOVED IT TO ANOTHER THIS YEAR, THE $10,000 WAS DUPLICATED, SO WE SAVED $10,000 THERE.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER, THAT WAS ANOTHER WIN FOR THE, THE DETAILED REQUEST.
AND, UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE GOT ONE NEW EMPLOYEE WHO'S GONNA BE, UH, WHO'S GONNA BE COMING IN AND THEIR PAY IS GONNA BE STARTING OUT AT THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF SALARY.
SO ULTIMATELY THE NET OF ALL CHANGES.
CURRENTLY, THE, THE BUDGET HAS REDUCED $620 FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
WITH THAT, THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED FROM FUND BALANCE, IT'S REDUCED $620 AT THIS TIME.
SO THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE SECOND READING TO FIRE LIBRARY DEBT SERVICE.
UM, THIS WEEK, I'D SAY PROBABLY THE NEXT TWO DAYS ARE GONNA BE PRETTY CRITICAL.
UH, WE ARE GONNA BE TAKING A LOOK AT OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MORE THAT HAVE COME IN.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO COME IN, BUT ONE GREAT BIG ONE THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON WAS THE HOMESTEAD.
A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION CAME IN THIS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS SINCE LAST WEEK.
SO WITH THAT, OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WE'RE GONNA BE SITTING DOWN AGAIN TO LOOK AT OUR PROJECTED REVENUES THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AND TO TIGHTEN THAT UP FOR THE BUDGET JUST IN CASE WE NEED TO MAKE ANY, ANY ADJUSTMENTS FOR, UM, ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
UM, SO REALLY TRULY THE, THIS WEEK IS GONNA BE KINDA LIKE THE FINAL LEG OF THIS MARATHON.
SO FOR WELL NOW FOR WALT AND, UH, MISS BETTY AND, AND OUR TREASURE MATT EVANS BEING IN THE ROOM WITH ME PROBABLY FEELS MORE LIKE A IRON MAN TRIATHLON.
UH, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH A MARATHON, BUT UH, BUT THIS WEEK IS GONNA BE BIG.
SO, UH, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FINAL LOOK AT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH, I'D SAY IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MORE LIKE THE 10TH TIME.
WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE DID NOT MISS ANYTHING ON THOSE.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE EXPENSE SIDE.
SO THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 26, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHERE WE PROJECT.
WE'RE GONNA END UP BY THE END OF JUNE.
NOW WE ARE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY MORE PURCHASE ORDERS OR, OR MAJOR ORDERS COMING OUT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE SORT OF TRYING TO CUT OFF THE EXPENSES AS BEST WE CAN ON MAY THE 30TH.
SO DOING THAT, WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE ANY UNEXPECTED EXPENSES COMING DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
SO WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING IS WE'RE GONNA SEE OUR EXPENSE PROJECTION THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE GOT BUDGETED IN FISCAL YEAR OF 27, WE MAY GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THOSE NOW.
SO SOME OF OUR CAPITAL EXPENSES, IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND ORDER THOSE THINGS OR PURCHASE THOSE THINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE BUDGETED IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR OF 27, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THEM NOW IF WE CAN.
SO GOING FORWARD, LIKE I SAID, THIS WEEK IS GONNA BE BIG AT OUR MEETINGS WITH Y'ALL IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS LEADING UP TO THIRD READING.
IF, IF WE DO HAVE ANY CHANGES THAT ARE NOTABLE TO THE BUDGET, WE WILL INFORM YOU ALL THERE AND I'LL HAVE MORE PACKETS FOR YOU THERE.
THE PACKETS THAT I GAVE AT SECOND READING, UH, LIKE I SAID, AS FAR AS CHANGES, IT'S ONLY BEEN A REDUCTION OF $620.
SO ONCE WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS WEEK
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AND WE LOOK AT THE REVENUES AGAIN AND, AND LOOK AT OUR EXPENSES AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A DECISION ON IF THERE IS ANYTHING BUDGETED NEXT YEAR THAT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO NOW.AND IF WE DO, WE WILL INFORM ALL OF YOU ON WHAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE.
AND I DON'T THINK I HAD ANY OTHER UPDATES AS FAR AS THE, AS FAR AS THE BUDGET WENT.
THERE ARE TWO MORE QUOTES THAT WE ARE WAITING ON FOR NEXT YEAR.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A PLACEHOLDER IN OUR IT DEPARTMENT.
UM, I EXPECT WE'LL HAVE THOSE HOPEFULLY BY TOMORROW.
I DON'T REALLY EXPECT ANY CHANGES TO IT, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE OUTLIERS THAT WE'RE KIND OF WAITING ON.
SO NOT MANY CHANGES SINCE SECOND READING.
I WANTED TO DO A BIG PRESENTATION
SO IF, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH NOW? AND IF NOT, UH, Y'ALL ALL KNOW YOU CAN CALL AT ANY TIME OR EMAIL ME AT ANY TIME AND I'LL SHOOT YOU BACK AS SOON AS I'LL AS SOON AS I SEE YOUR EMAIL.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A MOTION.
MOTION FROM COUNCILOR RICHARD, SECOND ONE.
ALL OPPOSED? THANK YOU'ALL VERY MUCH.