Minutes of June 23, 2005 Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM at the Laurens County Public Library by Harold Cline, President.
Announcements from the Executive Board:
1. Thanks to Tidbits for publishing an announcement of our meeting. Also, a meeting notice was submitted to the Courier Herald. Please check our website for meeting announcements.
2. A letter to the editor was printed in the Courier Herald. We plan to submit other letters to the editor to inform the community of our activities and to bring issues of importance before the public.
3. Please sign our email distribution list if you have not already done so. Also, use the online form to report issues to the city government. City government contact information and the report form are located on our website. We have created an informational flyer for posting on community bulletin boards. If you want one of these flyers to post, please let us know. Members were encouraged to contact neighbors without Internet or email access to keep them informed of our activities.
4. A new house is being built at 402 Ramsey. 201 N. Elm is now a residence. The house at 709 Euclid has been rented as a residence. Also, Mike Nemzek reported that Save-a-Life on Euclid Avenue is moving and the property is supposed to return to single family residential zoning. Gil Gillis discussed his purchase and renovation of the house located at the intersection of Ramsey and Stonewall. Harold Cline reported that the City Council postponed consideration on the Curry request for rezoning the property across from Susie Dasher School due to Southside neighborhood opposition. If you see any rezoning signs in our neighborhood, please let an executive committee member know.
5. The city removed several abandoned vehicles and appliances from the neighborhood after they were reported using our online form. The city will take action if neighbors report problems but it is best if done in writing. Remember an abandoned car does not have a current license sticker.
6. Several yards have been cleaned and shrubbery cut. Also, the Identification Committee is moving forward with designs for a neighborhood flag.
7. If you wish to have a picture of your house displayed on our website, let us know. We will take pictures and let you choose which one to display. Rebecca Cline suggested that each month the website should feature a home in the neighborhood utilizing pictures with historical background information. Members were very supportive of that idea.
8. Check out the community forums on dublin-ga.com and dublinbuzz.com.
9. Melanie Gunn, Rick Gunn, and Harold Cline attended the zoning appeals board hearing on the variance for Atlantic South Bank. The board granted a variance of six square feet for a sign to be placed on Highland Avenue. Capital City Bank has already been given a variance for signs on their property in the Bellevue Historic District. Harold Cline will try to attend future City Council and Zoning Board meetings to represent the interests of our association.
The association authorized the executive committee to seek a change in the time for posting rezoning notices on properties from 15 days to 45 days. We will suggest additional ways for the city to inform community residents of rezoning requests such as posting notices on the city�s website, mailing notices to neighborhood residents and positioning signs to be more visible from major streets.
The president will send a letter to the City Council requesting that the city clarify the legal status of the service alleys in the neighborhood. The City Council will be asked answer questions such as who is responsible for maintaining the alleys, what can adjacent property owners do with the alleys (fencing, landscaping, etc.). Also, we will request an explanation of the procedure for closing the alleys.
The executive board is looking at ways to reduce cross neighborhood traffic, limit speeding, and improve neighborhood security. The board will survey neighborhood opinion on the following measures. If support is found, the board will discuss one or more of these measures with city officials.
1. The closure of Euclid Avenue and South Elm Street where they intersect Academy Avenue.
2. The closure of Coney Street where it intersects the railroad.
3. Placing several additional four way stops along Stonewall.
Members discussed the need for more street lights in the neighborhood. The executive board will find out what the procedure is for requesting more street lights.
Harold Cline suggested several ways to increase security around our homes. His suggestions will be posted on our website.
Members discussed establishing �Neighborhood Clean-up Days� as a neighborhood project. Also, it was suggested that residents carry a trash bag around with them when they are walking through the neighborhood to pick up trash.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
