Walnut Grove public meetings in 2023

City Council

The Council approved a rezoning request for a mixed-use project on Walnut Grove Parkway and voted to roll back the millage rate to 4.928 to prevent a tax increase. Other actions included approving a gas station exterior and appointing the City Clerk as the official records keeper.

• Denied Emerald Cove Paving bids; formed committee of Council members Miles and Moncrief to negotiate with engineering companies
• Approved rezoning on Walnut Grove Parkway with Planning and Zoning conditions
• Appointed City Clerk as official records keeper and adopted record retention policy
• Approved Walnut Grove Gas Station exterior with condition that rear canopy matches front canopy
• Approved updated ethics ordinance (second reading)
• Sent 2012 Zoning Ordinance text amendment back to planning and zoning for further review
• Approved millage rate rollback to 4.928 to maintain current tax levels
• Waived first readings for the Nuisance Ordinance and Parliamentary Procedure ordinance

City Council

The City Council approved several board appointments and waived first readings for multiple ordinances to expedite public hearings. The council also voted to remove a rezoning application from the agenda and tabled a master plan proposal.

• Approved Library Board appointments for Pierre Dupervil, Pamela Hobbs, William B. Oglesby, Linda Pilgrim, and Sarah Tushshere
• Approved appointment of Joel Henderson to the DDA
• Removed Forest Glen rezoning application from agenda (2-1)
• Waived first reading for Ethics Ordinance
• Waived first reading for Dial Farms exterior frontage appearance
• Waived first reading for Reliant Homes sewer variance (Case #WGV-23-02); public hearing set for July 13th
• Tabled Hall Consulting Master Plan proposal until a more robust presentation is given
• Waived first readings for Zoning Ordinance text amendment (B&B in Agriculture) and City Clerk Open Records retention schedule

City Council

The City Council held a work session to discuss the budget, zoning, and city operations. Members agreed to stick with the previously created sewer upgrade plan and adopted the GMA Code of Ethics form.

• Agreed to stick with the existing sewer upgrade plan
• Agreed to use the GMA form for the Code of Ethics Ordinance
• Approved modification of the amended agenda

City Council

The City Council approved a new sign ordinance following a public hearing to address constitutional defects in the previous version. The council also approved the consent agenda, which included previous meeting minutes and specific invoices.

• Approved new sign ordinance (motion by Erica Miles, seconded by Stephanie Moncrief)
• Approved consent agenda including April 13 and April 27 minutes
• Approved $6,892.50 invoice for Precision Planning and Zoning Committee
• Approved $7,068.00 invoice for Southern Sanitation

City Council

The City Council held a work session to review the Town Center Concept, sewer expansion recommendations, and a sign ordinance. No final votes were taken on these items, as second readings and budget presentations are scheduled for May 11.

• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)

City Council

The meeting scheduled for April 24, 2023, was canceled. No decisions were made.

City Council

The City Council approved a zoning change for Matt Rutledge with a restriction against industrial and manufacturing uses. Council also accepted the first reading of a new sign ordinance and approved a hardship variance for David Johnson.

• Approved Matt Rutledge rezone with added restriction prohibiting all manufacturing or industrial uses (Tie broken by Mayor)
• Approved first reading of new sign ordinance to replace current definitions and permitting process (Unanimous)
• Approved hardship variance for David Johnson regarding a driveway easement
• Approved motion to request engineering costs and RFP for milling and repaving Emerald Cove subdivision (2-1)
• Approved modified agenda to include employee increases (Unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda with Southern Sanitation invoice moved to new business (Unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved an extension of the sign moratorium and adopted an amended dog ordinance. A first reading for a rezoning request for a 11.929-acre parcel was accepted, while the Emerald Cove paving project and financial reports were postponed or tabled.

• Extended sign moratorium to June 30, 2023 (Unanimous)
• Accepted amended dog ordinance (Unanimous)
• Appointed Bobby Moncrief to the Planning and Zoning Commission (Unanimous)
• Accepted first reading of rezoning request for Matt Rutledge parcel (Unanimous)
• Postponed Emerald Cove paving project (Passed; Linda Pilgrim voted no)
• Tabled financial reports for CPA review (Unanimous)

City Council

The council conducted a work session to discuss several pending ordinances and a rezoning application. No substantive votes were taken on the items discussed, as the meeting served as a preliminary review for future action.

• Approved the meeting agenda (unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved Precision Planning as the zoning administrator and scheduled a special called election for November 2023. The council also accepted the first reading of the animal control ordinance and appointed Rachael Davis to the DDA. Several items, including the Forest Glen rezoning and Planning & Zoning appointments, were tabled.

• Approved Precision Planning as zoning administrator (Unanimous)
• Approved RFP Master Plan to be sent back to P&Z with timeline and steering committee changes (Unanimous)
• Set special called election for November 2023 (Unanimous)
• Accepted first reading of animal control ordinance (Unanimous)
• Appointed Rachael Davis to the DDA (Passed; Council member Pilgrim opposed)
• Tabled Planning & Zoning appointments until next meeting (Unanimous)
• Tabled Forest Glen rezoning application for further discussion
• Moved January 12 and January 26 minutes to the next meeting (Unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved an amended agenda to include a special election and an executive session for land acquisition. Several items, including the Zoning Administrator and Animal Control Ordinance, were deferred to the February agenda. The council also discussed a Master Plan RFP and potential rezoning for tiny homes.

• Approved amended agenda to add executive session for land acquisition (Unanimous)
• Approved amended agenda to add Special Election to Old Business (Unanimous)
• Approved motion to enter executive session (Unanimous)
• Approved motion to adjourn (Unanimous)

City Council

The Downtown Development Authority voted to recommend Rachel Davis to the City Council for appointment to the DDA. The board also discussed potential land acquisitions and the status of the city's Master Plan.

• Approved amended agenda to remove minutes and officer vote (unanimous)
• Recommended Rachel Davis to City Council for DDA membership (unanimous)

City Council

The City Council reappointed the City Clerk, Deputy Clerk, City Attorney, and Municipal Court Judge. Stephanie Moncrief was elected mayor pro-tem. The council tabled the decision on a special election to the February meeting.

• Approved reappointments of Dawn Lummus (City Clerk), Sonya Cox (Deputy Clerk), Tony Powell (City Attorney), and Samuel M. Barth (Municipal Court Judge) (Unanimous)
• Elected Stephanie Moncrief as mayor pro-tem (2-1)
• Tabled special election discussion to February meeting (Unanimous)
• Denied appointment of Bureau Veritas as zoning administrator (Motion died)
• Approved amended agenda to include executive session (Unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including Dec 8, 2022 minutes (Unanimous)