CALL TO ORDER: Mayor B. H. “Skip” Henderson, III, Presiding
INVOCATION: Offered by Colleen Cook – Pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Georgia
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Henderson
MINUTES
PROCLAMATIONS:
Receiving: Erin D. Griffin, Regional Program Manager
Receiving: Michael Muhammed
Receiving: Cheryl Johnson
Receiving: Lisa Thomas-Cutts, KCBC Director
Receiving: Marian Clark
PRESENTATION:
CITY ATTORNEY’S AGENDA
ORDINANCES
RESOLUTION
PUBLIC AGENDA
CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA
A Resolution authorizing the negotiation of a contract with the PAWS animal services division of PAWS Humane, Inc. (Columbus, GA) for animal care and control services.
Approval is requested to submit an application and accept, if awarded, a capital, planning, and operating grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in the amount of $165,801.00 or otherwise awarded, with a ten percent match required from the City. Approval is then requested to execute any contracts with the Federal Transit Administration and/or the Georgia Department of Transportation relating to the grant.
Approval is requested to submit an application and accept, if awarded, an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance (JAG) grant for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 solicitation in the amount of $53,407, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match requirement, to be used for eligible law enforcement, prosecution, and courts projects as defined in the grant, and to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of the award.
Approval is requested to submit a grant application and if awarded, accept funds up to $650,000 from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, with no local match required, for the operation of the Muscogee County Juvenile Court and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of the grant award and enter into a memorandum of agreement with Evidence-Based Associates, LLC. The grant period is from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Approval is requested to submit an application and accept, if awarded, a 2024/2025 Aflac Community Giving grant up to $200,000.00, or as otherwise awarded, with no local match requirement, to be used in support of the Liberty Theatre Cultural Arts Center, and to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount awarded.
PURCHASES
EMERGENCY PURCHASES
On August 30, 2024, Warden Walker notified the City Manager of an urgent need to replace kitchen equipment at the Muscogee County Prison.
The Warden explained that the food service equipment at the Muscogee County Prison has been deemed unserviceable. The prison’s food service equipment technicians have identified the following three current pieces of equipment, utilized to prepare bulk meals for the inmate population on a daily basis:
-Two (2) Convection Steamers: The facility is experiencing problem with its two convection steamers. These steamers currently do not work at all. Within the past two years, these steamers have been repaired multiple times and each time the repairs are short lived. The steamers are more than 15 years old.
-Two (2) Pass-through Warmers: The two pass-through warmers, used to keep food warm at the appropriate temperature until it is served, are more than 25 years old.
-One (1) Kitchen Grill: The kitchen grill was brought over from the old MCP location over 26 years ago.
The equipment will be purchased from Mobile Fixture & Equipment (Columbus, GA) by Cooperative Purchase, via Federal GSA Contract #07F-0154V.
Muscogee County Prison was approved $183,000.00 in the FY25 budget to replace kitchen equipment.
The City Manager approved the emergency purchase on August 30, 2024.
UPDATES AND PRESENTATIONS
BID ADVERTISEMENT
REFERRALS:
CLERK OF COUNCIL’S AGENDA
ENCLOSURES - ACTION REQUESTED
Board of Elections and Registration, August 20, 2024
Board of Tax Assessors, #31-24, #32-24 & #33-24
Board of Water Commissioners, September 9, 2024
Columbus Golf Course Authority, September 23, 2024
Convention & Visitors Board of Commissioners, August 21, 2024
Land Bank Authority, August 14, 2024
Planning Advisory Commission, August 21, 2024
River Valley Regional Commission, August 28, 2024
BOARD APPOINTMENTS - ACTION REQUESTED
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:
Armando Fernendez (Mayor’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: March 27, 2025
Tamika McKenzie (Mayor’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: March 27, 2025
The terms are three years. Board meets quarterly.
COLUMBUS IRONWORKS CONVENTION & TRADE CENTER AUTHORITY:
Craig Burgess (Mayor’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: October 24, 2025
Mayor Henderson is nominating Jay Pitts to fill the unexpired term of Craig Burgess.
The terms are three years. Board meets bi-monthly.
Women: 1
Senatorial District 15: 1
Senatorial District 29: 4
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS:
Tiffany Stacy (Mayor’s Appointment)
(Resident Member seat)
Eligible to succeed
Term Expires: November 16, 2024
This is a one-year term. Board meets monthly.
Women: 3
Senatorial District 15: 4
Senatorial District 29: 3
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS- READY FOR CONFIRMATION:
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS: Mr. Oz Roberts was nominated to succeed Mr. Rodney Close. (Councilor Thomas nominated Mr. Roberts on August 27, 2024.) Term expires: December 31, 2028
COUNCIL NOMINATIONS- THREE NOMINEES ARE SENT TO THE AUTHORITY FOR SELECTION:
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS:
Ernest Smallman, IV Open for Nominations
Eligible to succeed (Council’s Nomination)
Term Expires: November 14, 2024
Mike Welch Open for Nominations
Eligible to succeed (Council’s Nomination)
Term Expires: November 14, 2024
John Kingsbury Open for Nominations
Rotating off the authority (Council’s Nomination)
Term Expires: November 14, 2024
Councilor Thomas is nominating Ernest Smallman, IV and Mike Welch to serve another term.
Councilor Hickey is nominating Kelsea Garrett for a seat on the Hospital Authority.
*The Council submits three (3) nominees to the Hospital Authority for each seat and the Hospital Authority selects the successor for Council’s confirmation and the recommendations are as follows:
For the seat of Ernest Smallman, IV: Ernest Smallman, IV, Mike Welch and Kelsea Garrett
For the seat of Mike Welch: Ernest Smallman, IV, Mike Welch and Kelsea Garrett
For the seat of John Kingsbury: Kelsea Garrett, Ernest Smallman, IV and Mike Welch
The terms are three years. Board meets monthly.
Women: 1
Senatorial District 15: 5
Senatorial District 29: 4
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS- ANY NOMINATIONS WOULD BE LISTED FOR THE NEXT MEETING:
TREE BOARD:
Jeremy Cummings Open for Nominations
(Public Utility Representative) (Council’s Appointment)
Resigned
Term Expires: July 1, 2025
Beautie Moore Open for Nominations
(At-Large Seat) (Council’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: July 1, 2025
Frank Tommey Open for Nominations
(Residential Development Seat) (Council’s Appointment)
Not eligible to succeed
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
Robert Hecht Open for Nominations
(Commercial or Industrial Development Seat) (Council’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
Farah Dewsbury Open for Nominations
(At-Large Seat) (Council’s Appointment)
Seat declared vacant
Term Expires: December 31, 2026
These are four-year terms. Meets as needed.
Women: 5
Senatorial District 15: 5
Senatorial District 29: 6
The City of Columbus strives to provide accessibility to individuals with disabilities and who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting. If assistance is needed regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, individuals may contact the Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities at 706-653-4492 promptly to allow the City Government to make reasonable accommodations for those persons