June 10, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes                                                                                                               June 10, 2025

The Mayor and City Council held their regular City Council meeting on Tuesday June 10, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Winterville City Hall, 125 N. Church Street, Winterville, Georgia.

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 6:00 pm.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Minutes:

Councilperson Metzger moved to approve the minutes of May 13, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Mosley and approved.

Old Business - None

New Business

The First item of New Business: UGA Student Presentation. Sam Toole a graduate student of UGA made a presentation of a Chatbot to help connect Winterville residents and visitors with events and services. No action was taken on this item.

The Second Item of New Business: Millage Rate/Public Hearings. Councilperson Mosley moved to set the schedule of public hearings as follows: Tuesday July 1, 2025 at 6:00 pm; Tuesday July 8, 2025 at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Johnson and approved.

The Third Item of New Business: Marigold Auditorium Steps. Councilperson Johnson moved to approve $1,960.00 SPLOST 2020 funds for resurfacing the steps of the auditorium. Work will include resurfacing the concrete, applying slip resistant striping and painting. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Mosley and approved unanimously.

The Fourth Item of New Business: Marigold Festival/Public Works Building. Councilperson

Metzger moved to approve $23,215.50 SPLOST 2020 Funds for the city’s portion of the Marigold Festival storage building. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Mosley and unanimously approved.

The Fifth Item of New Business: Cultural Center Flooring Quote. Councilperson Johnson

moved to table this item. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and tabled

unanimously.

The Sixth Item of New Business: Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Energy Grant,

Matching Funds. Councilperson Johnson moved to approve $5,000.00 SPLOST 2020 funds as a match for an energy grant. Councilperson Metzger seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

The Seventh Item of New Business: Marigold Collective Vista. Councilperson Johnson moved to approve general funds to continue paying the Vista student/employee Lydia Myers $450.00 per week through July since funding had been cut by DOGE. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger and unanimously approved.

The Eighth Item of New Business: Blacksmith Shop Windows. Councilperson Johnson moved approve $1900.00 SPLOST 2020 funds (If grant funds are not available), for windows in the Blacksmith shop. 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 May 31, 2025. These documents are available for public review upon request.

Public Safety (Councilpersons Metzger & Mosley) 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 and is planning a Community Appreciation Day event.

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

Communications – (Councilpersons Metzger) No report.

Cultural Center – Diana Hartle submitted a report.

Museum Report – Jonathan Scott gave a verbal report.

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

Library Report – Sam Watson gave a verbal report.

Clerk’s Report – No report was presented.

City Attorney’s Report – No report was presented.

Mayor’s Report – None.

Public Comments –

Announcements – The Auditorium will host Happy Hour on June 19, 2025 as a fundraiser for the Winterville Volunteer Fire Department.

Adjournment – Councilperson Mosley moved adjourn at 7:02 pm. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Metzger.

Wendy L. Bond, Municipal Clerk