The Baxley City Council held discussions on the potential ordinance concerning “Brown Bagging” during the regular council meeting on Sept. 23. City Attorney Alex Johnson stated that the council has various options regarding brown bagging which can be reduced to three basic situations, as most cities have an ordinance based on one of these three options.

Option one is to prohibit brown-bagging entirely. This option is plain. Anyone bringing alcoholic beverage into a business establishment and anyone allowing such, would be in violation of the law.

Option two would allow brown-bagging only for private functions such as parties, receptions, etc. held on a non-repeating basis where no admission is charged and no goods or services sold.

Option three would Permit brown-bagging by license. This would allow the city to control the conditions in which alcohol is consumed, much like with the present “consumption on premises” ordinances. For example, the city could allow brown bagging only in establishments which do not allow minors or obviously intoxicated persons, etc. If the requirements were violated, the permit could be revoked. Also the city would receive license fee income.

Council member Eugene Walker told them that he believes there should be a permit to allow brown bagging. Have them buy a license and the city make money off of it. He added that people are going to try to get around the other ordinances anyway. Walker made a motion to go with the third option to permit brown-bagging by license. The motion died with the lack of a second.

After much discussion, the council made a decision to go with option two, which would allow brown-bagging only for private functions. The motion was approved by a four to one vote. Council members Pat Williams, Betty Livingston, Mickey Bass and Tim Varnadore voted for option two, and Eugene Walker, Jr. voted against. A draft ordinance will be drawn up for “allowing brown-bagging only for private functions with stipulations” to bring before the council for discussion.

Special requests

Leonard Ware came before the council to express some community concerns he had. Ware asked the council if the MLK street sign could be changed to the complete spelling out of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to give proper respect to Dr. King as one of the greatest leaders in the nation. Mayor Steve Rigdon commented that no disrespect was ever intended and said it was probably written MLK because of all the letters it would take to spell out the complete name. There is a MLK Drive and MLK Avenue in Baxley and City Manager Jeff Baxley added it could be done, the length of the sign would have to be increased. The manager concluded by saying that the street signs have been MLK for over 15 years and they have never had a complaint before and at this time will leave them as they are. Ware expressed his next concern and asked the council what they are doing to bring the races together in the community and to encourage unity and progress. “I know that you have Partners in Progress,” Ware replied. The mayor responded to Ware’s concerns and explained that the city has community events that involves every race and culture. The Tree Fest and the Winter Wonderland events are examples that Rigdon referred to.

New business

The Council members unanimously agreed to adopt the resolution approving the City’s FY2008 Amended General Fund, Water/Sewer Funds and Altamaha Drug Task Force Budgets. City Manager Jeff Baxley announced that there were significant changes.

-The approved FY2008 General Fund Budget totaled $3,519,227.00; Amendments Budget totaled: +$716,414.00; and the Amended FY 2008 Budgets came to a total of: $4,235,641.00.

-The Water/Sewer FY2008 Budget totaled $1,538,400.00 in Expenditures; the Amendments Budget totaled +$428,136.00 and the Amended FY2008 Budgets came to total of $1,966,536.00. The manager announced that they have not been reimbursed a hundred thousand from the state for the widening project of U.S. 1. He also added that the Water and Sewer Budget does not have to balance.

-The Altamaha Drug Task Force FY2008 Budget, expenditures equals revenues for a total of $223,107.00.

The council then agreed unanimously to adopt a resolution approving the City of Baxley’s FY2009 Budgets.

The City of Baxley’s Fiscal Year budgets for Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2009 are hereby approved as follows: Total expenditures for the General Fund FY2008-2009 is $3,817,295.00.

Utilities total revenue: $1,429,550.00;

Water and Sewer expenditures total: $1,692,636.00, and the Altamaha Drug Task Force, revenues equals expenditures for a total of $192,280.00.

Council member Livingston made a motion to adopt a resolution setting the City’s 2008 Millage rate of 5.94. This motion was seconded by Walker and carried unanimously. The manager reported that the reduction from last year is a result from reassessment.

The council approved the second lowest bid given in the amount of $10,550.00 by Appling Motors Company for the purchase of a zero turn mower for the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The low bid of $9,975.00 given by Dixon Tractor Company did not meet specifications. Knight’s Saw also submitted a bid of $12,299.00.

A new Beer and Wine application was approved by a three to two vote for Carver’s Minit Market. Walker, Williams and Livingston voted for, and Bass and Varnadore voted against.

A public hearing date was set for Oct. 21 at 6:00 p.m. to hear public comments on an application for a zoning amendment filed by Billy Turner requesting his property located on 665 W. Parker Street be rezoned from the present Residential (RM-10) to a Business (B-2) zone. “This is not a regular monthly meeting date but it meets the 15 day requirement,” the manager said. Also another public hearing matter will be held immediately following the first zoning request as the same date aforementioned. Another application for zoning amendment filed by Genez Vaughn requesting her property located on 651 W. Parker Street be rezoned from the present residential (RM-10) zone to a Business (B-2) zone.

Old business

The council approved a first reading on an ordinance annexing property of Greg Herrin located at 476 Corey Street and establishing a Residential (R-12) zone.

City manager report

Manager Baxley announced that the construction on the pole barn for the Public Works Department is going well.

He also announced the completion of the overlay of the taxiway at the airport. The punch list has been completed and the inspection was held at 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 23.