Forest Acres City Council meets September 9, 2008

Attending the Forest Acres City Council meeting were Mayor Frank Brunson, Charles Fetner, Lee Holloway, Ginger Dukes, Curtis Rye, Frank Brunson, Charles Fetner, Shell Suber, and Mark Williams.

Mayor's issues

• Jordan Anderson won this year's UA Summer Shoot Out Pro Division. The series consisted of 10 races run by 70 drivers. Anderson is the first driver to win the championship two years in a row.

• Residential city signs are almost complete. Some were recently vandalized. Clean up is in progress.

• Quinine Hill Park fences and signs are almost completed.

Responses to prior Community Forum items

• The Department of Transportation is reluctant to post no parking signs on Willingham Drive because their inspector has not noted sufficient cause to do so yet. Council still has concerns due to the existing insubstantial right of way and will monitor the situation.

• Mowing of Trenholm Rd. entrance to Forest Acres has been taken care of, and the appearance is much improved with the high grass has been trimmed.

New business

• All members of the planning commission and zoning board of appeals who wish to be reappointed will be reappointed but will be held in abeyance until the other two slots are determined.

• First Reading approval was given to an Ordinance to Annex 323 Springwood Rd. TMS# 16801- 03-02 into the City of Forest Acres, SC.

• First Reading approval was given to an Ordinance to rezone 3546 Covenant Rd. TMS# 14012- 11- 02 presently zoned R- 1 and 14012- 11- 01 presently zoned R- 2 by expanding contiguous C- 3 district boundaries to encompass these parcels.

• Action on a proposal to limit digital signs within the city limits was deferred pending a public hearing scheduled for November.

• Council unanimously approved a motion to accept the request of AT&T for franchise agreement for U- Verse Service.

• The Rooftop Rhythms scheduled for Thursday, October 23 from 5- 9 pm has been approved.

• A presentation of T-Mobile related to request for cell phone tower on city property was deferred for discussion in executive session with no action to be taken until next month.

City administrator's report

• Council unanimously approved expenditure of up to $15,142 for HVAC unit replacements.

• The Brentwood speed hump survey indicates that most residents support strategic placement of speed bumps on that road. Results of the survey has been provided to the Contractor.

• Weight limits have been placed on two Forest Acres bridges: Willingham Drive and Lakeshore Drive. Vehicles are limited to less than 33 tons.

• A request for A.C. Flora High School field improvements has been received and will be taken under study.

• Council unanimously approved moving the November Council meeting to Thursday November 13 to accommodate Veteran's Day and Christmas holidays were shifted to allow City workers to have Thursday and Friday off rather than Wednesday and Thursday.

• The Wheeler Rd. property, which was denied rezoning, has been successfully divided into 9 R- 1 lots and no longer needs rezoning.

• A.C. Flora High School requested a half page ad. Council approved funds for purchase of a half page ad in the yearbook of each school in Forest Acres this year.

Community forum

• Kathy Marie Davis called about large trees in her neighborhood being cut down for several days. She wanted to know if there is a limitation on trees that can be cut down at one time. Shaun Greenwood, City Code Inspector and Arborist confirmed the person in question had approval to cut down 19 trees.

• Homer Hanberry requested no parking signs near Satchel Ford and Oak Hill. People are parking with little regard to the residents in the area. Hanberry's mail was not delivered a number of days because parents had parked across the front of his property blocking access to his mailbox. Council will send an officer to assess the situation.

• Kathy Counts requested amendment of the pet noise ordinance to allow for escalating fines for repeat offenders. She also asked the Forest Acres Police Department look into dangerous school drop off and pick up traffic in the streets bordering Brockman School.

• Carol Kososki noted that speeding on Lakeshore drive has been lessened by police efforts but that as soon as the speed trailer or the officer is gone, the speeders return to their dangerous practices.

Council was adjourned for an executive session concerning contract negotiations. Council will meet again October 14.