JANUARY 8, 2002

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on January 8, 2002, with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke:  Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, William E. James, John J. Miller, Jr., Michael F. Moorman and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Police Chief, Douglas R. Pond; Attorney Ridley Bain; Members of the IDA: John D. Clary and Russell Slayton; Mike Gallaher and Chris Hill of Atlanta Pulp & Paper; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert, and the press.

 

Mr. Hardy opened the meeting with prayer.

 

Roll was called and a motion was made by Mr. Moorman to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as received, suspend the reading and file.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

Mayor Clarke stated that there would be a change on the agenda.  Mr. Ridley Bain would come before Council with two petitions.  Mr. Mike Gallaher would give a report on the new industry coming to the Industrial Park and then it would be necessary to go into Executive Session with the IDA on a legal contractual matter.

 

                        REZONING REQUEST AND PETITON TO CLOSE STREET

Mr. Bain stated that he had a petition for Council for rezoning of lots and a petition to close an unopened street and two alleys that intersects with Union Street.  Mr. Bain presented Council with a drawing of the proposed lots and street closing.  Regency Development Associates, Inc. has options on 34 lots belonging to Butler Lumber Company and hope to build apartments.  They are asking to have the lots rezoned from R-1 to R-3 and to close an unopened section of Grove Ave. and two alleys. They plan to build 4 buildings with 8 units in each.  The apartments will rent from $375 to $450 and will not be subsidized.

 

Mayor Clarke stated that the matter would be taken up under new business.

 

                                    ATLANTA PULP AND PAPER

Mr. Gallaher of Atlanta Pulp & Paper gave an update to Council on his company moving into the Industrial Park.  Mr. Gallaher reported that two trailer lots of equipment had been moved into the building known as Extraction Technology.  Mr. Gallaher stated that they would pay their water bills on time and would install a meter for the sewer usage.  Mr. Gallaher stated that they will pay $8.50 per hour with a 20% benefit package and train their employees as they rotate their employees so everyone knows all parts of the business.  Atlanta Pulp & Paper accepts all kinds of paper and can handle 550 tons per day.  They can receive 20 to 25 truck lots per day and hope to bring in by rail later.

 

                                                EXECUTIVE SESSION

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Miller to go into Executive Session with the IDA for legal contractual matters.  This motion was carried by all ayes.

 

                                    RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

After a lengthily discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Miller to return to Regular Session.  This carried by all ayes.

 

                                                CERTIFICATION

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman certifying that no items were discussed other than that stated in the motion and no action was taken.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

                                          TOBACCO MONEY GRANT

Mr. Dean reported that the application for the tobacco money grant for next year would be going out on January 15th .  This money would be used for a tank site at the new town shop and to run a 12” water line from Cattail Road to the new shop.  The Town and the IDA are jointly applying for this money.

 

 

                                    NO INCREASE IN WATER RATES

Mr. Pecht reported that there would not be an increase in water rates at this time.  Mr. Pecht also stated that any rate increase would not have been a result of Extraction Technology and if they had not been here we would have probably had to raise rates 10% instead of 5% last July.

 

                                    WATER / SEWER PROJECTS

Mr. Pecht stated that Council was given copies of water and sewer projects that needed to be completed.  Mr. Dean had met with a representative of Virginia Resources and was looking at getting a loan in order to complete these projects.

 

The fire and police reports were in the packets.

 

            GARBAGE PICKUP ON MEADOW LANE AND ROLLINGWOOD

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to provide garbage pickup on our regular garbage days to residents of Rollingwood and Meadow Lane that have requested this service at a charge of $10.00 per month. Mr. Miller seconded the motion.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James, Miller and Pecht.  Voting nay:  Moorman.

 

                                                COURTHOUSE DREAM 2000

The plans for the CourtHouse Dream 2000 project were delivered to VDOT before Christmas but were not reviewed until Monday, January 7th.  Chris Guvernator is working with VDOT on some problems they had.

 

                                                            THANK YOU

Mayor Clarke thanked Joyce Moorman, on behalf of the Town and himself, for the Christmas wreath she provides each year.

 

                                                PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills in the amount of $28,499.61 as presented and charge to the proper accounts.  This carried by all ayes.

 

                             ADVERTISE FOR JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman to advertise for a joint public hearing on February 12th  with the Planning Commission on the petition to rezone lots on Grove Ave. from R-1 to R-3 and to advertise for a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission to close unopened section of Grove Ave. that intersects with Union Street.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

                                    ADJOURN UNTIL JANUARY 14, 2002

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to adjourn the meeting until Monday, January 14, 2002 at 5:30 p.m.  This carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________MAYOR                         _____________________ATTEST