City Council takes action on several projects
City Council March 8, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council met on March 7 to discuss several 2022 events, approve bids for several projects, and to recognize an employee of the Jasper Police Department.
City Projects
The council continued discussions on the proposed downtown bathroom project. The council was provided with drawings of the bathrooms, but Councilman Sonny Proctor raised concerns over the safety and ordinance compliance of the plans. At the recommendation of City Manager Sonia Jammes, the council voted to table the drawings and discuss them with the designer during a later meeting. After the vote, Proctor noted his desire to move the project along as quickly as possible.
Conceptual drawings for updates to the Fire Station, however, were approved unanimously by the council. Councilman Jim Looney noted that the drawings had been through both Public Safety and the Fire Department and were ready for further action.
Conceptual drawings for the Jasper Fire Station were approved by the council.
City Manager Sonia Jammes introduced an agenda item that would enter the city into a contract for work on Gennett Drive “with great pleasure and enthusiasm.” The council approved a $249,000 bid that gave an estimated completion date of 90 days after the contract is signed. Jammes said, “If it is approved tonight, then I will go ahead and get that contract signed tomorrow, and we will try and get that alleviated as soon as we can for our citizens.”
Taking action on other projects, the council also approved a $24,170 bid to dredge Cove Creek, a $24,995 bid to pave JL White Drive, and an $11,613 purchase of a wet well pump.
Events
North GA Family Partners will be hosting three of the events approved during the meeting. Super-Hero Day at Lee Newton Park, hosted on June 16, is one of the events NGFP received approval for. June Ash, NGFP’s Executive Director, says local first responders are invited to the event “to come meet our families in hopes that maybe the kids, if they ever have to have the police, or fire department, or EMT show up at their house, maybe they’re not so afraid of them.” The council also approved the organization’s Jeep Fest Camping event from Aug. 31 through Sept. 5, and a long table event on Sept. 10.
Good Samaritan Health and Wellness, a “not-for-profit, Community Health Center, which provides health services to our community regardless of ability to pay or insurance status,” also had an event approved by the council. They plan to celebrate their twentieth anniversary with a family carnival at Lee Newton Park, said Development and Communications Manager Leslie Long: “We wanted to do something for the community, just to thank our patients and those who’ve supported us for the last twenty years.” Long also said they would also like to include other non-profits at the event, currently planned for June 11.
The last set of events to be approved by the council will be hosted by Jasper’s DDA. The “Second Saturday” events are planned for May, June, July, and August’s second Saturday. Chairman Jack Dunn spoke at the meeting, explaining the DDA would host the events with the intent to bring more visitors into downtown Jasper and experience what the town has to offer.
Other Business
Interim Police Chief Matt Dawkins recognized Lieutenant Chad Childers during the March 7 meeting. He spoke about a time Childers had bought groceries for an elderly citizen who was living on a fixed income. “Chad’s generous actions speaks volume to his character … to help ease the burden of someone he knew was in need and had never met. This type of action has a huge impact on the citizens within the City of Jasper. Your selfless act is the epitome of human kindness,” he said. During the committee reports portion of the meeting, Dawkins noted that during February the Jasper Police Department experienced a 16 percent increase in answered calls with a total of 794 calls, and also experienced an increase in disorderly conduct and domestic calls.
Jasper City Council extends moratorium on residential rezoning
City Council February 8, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council extended their moratorium on residential rezoning Monday evening. The moratorium, which will expire in June of this year, is the city’s latest move to tackle a growing concern over increased development in rural communities. Like many municipalities in the surrounding area, the City Council is already in the process of reviewing and proposing changes to the city’s zoning ordinances.
Resolution No. 2022-02, entitled Extension to Temporary Moratorium, was passed by the council on Feb. 7. The resolution will extend the temporary moratorium adopted on Aug. 26, 2021 for an additional 90 days.
In part, the resolution reads:
“WHEREAS, The Jasper Water Plant and the Waste Water Treatment Plant are nearing their maximum permitted capacity, and the City Council has approved several extensive developments that will utilize further capacity at said plants;
WHEREAS, the City of Jasper, Georgia is experiencing extremely strong residential growth, and which necessitates review, study, and modification of residential densities and in order to adequately plan for and serve the residents of the City;
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Jasper, Georgia, in order to facilitate controlled residential growth within the City and to update the zoning ordinance, adopted on August 26, 2021 a temporary moratorium as to all rezonings, rezoning applications and building permits related to residential rezonings until March 1, 2022 to draft and enact modified residential provisions within the zoning ordinance;
WHEREAS, the complexity of drafting modified residential provisions and the development of a comprehensive plan of regulations necessitates a ninety (90) day extension to the moratorium.”
Speaking on the resolution, City Attorney David Syfan said, “This is just to give the committee additional time to be able to make any informed recommendation to the council for the needed changes.” Syfan also noted that the moratorium and review process should result in amendments to Jasper’s zoning ordinances. The newly extended moratorium will end June 1, 2022.
Other Business
Mayor Steve Lawrence was absent from the Feb. 7 meeting but attended virtually. Mayor Pro Tem Kirk Raffield, who led the meeting in the mayor’s absence, confirmed that Mayor Lawrence had tested positive for COVID-19.
The council also approved a purchase sale agreement between the City of Jasper and Jasper’s Downtown Development Authority. The agreement would transfer Perrow Park back into the city’s ownership. Ownership of the park, as City Manager Sonia Jammes explained, would allow the city “to demolish some of the structures on the property that are unsafe for our citizens.” Jasper’s City Attorney also noted that the city will be obligated to pay off outstanding loans on the park property. A joint meeting between the city and the Jasper DDA will be held on Feb. 15, 2022 to authorize the purchase sale agreement.
New City of Jasper Fire Department and Certificate of Occupancy fee schedules were also approved by the council.