July 8, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes                                                                                                               July 8, 2025

The Mayor and City Council held their regular City Council meeting on Tuesday July 8, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Winterville City Hall, 125 N. Church Street, Winterville, Georgia.

Mayor Ferrelle swore in Timothy Pierce-Tomlin in as the newly elected official to council.

Attendees:

Mayor Dodd Ferrelle, Bruce Johnson, Melissa Metzger, Jonathan Mosley, and Municipal Clerk Wendy Bond. City Attorney David Ellison was unable to attend.

Mayor Ferrelle called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Minutes:

Councilperson Mosley moved to approve the minutes of June 10, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and approved.

Old Business - None

New Business

Councilperson Johnson moved to amend the agenda to include two (2) additional items at the end of the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and unanimously approved.

The First item of New Business: Mayor’s Presentation. Mayor Ferrelle presented Winterville

Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Gabriel the key to the city honoring him for 30 years of service with the fire department.

The Second Item of New Business: Millage Rate. Councilperson Metzger moved to adopt the millage rate of 2.9. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and unanimously approved.

The Third Item of New Business: IGA with ACC Tax Commission. Councilperson Pierce

Tomlin moved to authorize Mayor Ferrelle to sign the Athens-Clarke County intergovernmental agreement with the City of Winterville for Collection of Municipal Ad Valorem Taxes, on behalf of the city. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Mosley and unanimously approved.

The Fourth Item of New Business: Winterville Fiscal Audit. Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin moved to adopt the 2024 Fiscal Audit presented by Morris and Waters, LLC. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and adopted unanimously.

The Fifth Item of New Business: Change Order Soil Compression Test and Subsequent work. Councilperson Johnson moved to approve $6,138.00 for footer repairs + $1,875.00 soil

compression report for a total of $8,013.00 SPLOST 2020 funds for the blacksmith shop

renovation. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and tabled unanimously.

The Sixth Item of New Business: LMIG 2026. Councilperson Johnson moved to authorize Mayor Ferrelle to submit an application for the LMIG 2026 $32,537.44 grant and approve the city’s portion of the 30% match. (TSPLOST funds). This grant will help fund the Smithonia curve project. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and unanimously approved.

The Seventh Item of New Business: Tree Pruning Quote. Councilperson Mosley moved to

approve $6,000.00 TSPLOST 2023 funds for New Urban Foresty to trim 40 memorial trees lining the Firefly trail. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Johnson and unanimously approved.

The Eighth Item of New Business: City Council Seat. Councilperson Metzger moved to table this item until further action is required. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and approved unanimously.

The Ninth Item of New Business: Committee Appointments. Councilperson Metzger moved to approve the committee appointments as presented:

Finance Committee, Johnson and Mosley;

Public Safety, Metzger and Pierce-Tomlin;

Public Works, Mosley and Johnson;

Communications, Metzger and Pierce Tomlin.

The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and unanimously approved.

The Tenth Item of New Business: DDA Appointments. Councilperson Metzger moved to

appoint Heidi Spratlin, Matthew O., Isaac Wier, Dianne Greene and Virginia Ball to the

Downtown Development Authority Committee, pending resignation of the four (4) current

members. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and unanimously approved.

The Eleventh Item of New Business: Increase of Matching Grant Funds. Councilperson

Johnson moved to approve an additional $2500.00 SPLOST 2020 funds (total $7500.00) if the city is awarded a $75,000.00 GEFA Energy Grant. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and unanimously approved.

The Twelfth Item of New Business: Cultural Center Flooring Quote: Councilperson Metzger

moved approve up to $38,229.00 SPLOST 2020 funds to repair the Cultural Center floor. The

motion was seconded by Councilperson Mosley and unanimously approved.

Committee Reports:

Public Finance – (Councilpersons Mosley & Johnson): Councilperson Johnson stated Clerk Bond has prepared statements through June 30, 2025. These documents are available for public review upon request.

Public Safety (Councilpersons Metzger & Pierce-Tomlin) Councilperson Metzger gave a verbal report.

Fire Department – Chief Michael Gabriel submitted a call report and gave a verbal summary of the prior month.

Police Department – Chief Young gave a verbal report. The Community Appreciation Day event will be July 16th. The new speed limit signs should be installed soon.

Public Works – (Councilperson Johnson and Mosley) – Bruce Johnson gave a verbal report.

Communications – (Councilpersons Metzger and Pierce-Tomlin) The Gazette is on its way.

There’s a lot going on in the city!

Cultural Center – No report.

Museum Report – No report.

Marigold Market & Food Hub – Sarah Hovater submitted a report.

Library Report – Sam Watson submitted a written report.

Clerk’s Report – No report.

City Attorney’s Report – No report.

Mayor’s Report – None.

Public Comments –

Announcements – Family friendly Bike ride coming up to raise money for the Firefly trail and

amenities.

Adjournment – Councilperson Mosley moved adjourn at 6:35 pm. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger.

Wendy L. Bond, Municipal Clerk