Town of Bethlehem

The work session included discussion of a business license application, road work bid preparation, speedbumps in the Thornbrook subdivision, and a financial accounts review. A new policy was established for sending meeting minutes to council members within a week. The council also discussed getting power to two houses, plans to rent one of the houses for events, and the removal of a real estate sign. Finally, the addition of welcome signs was added to the agenda for future discussion.

The meeting included a public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan amendment, focusing on changes to the future land use map. An event planner presented a proposal for community engagement events driven by sponsorships. The council discussed and approved a CPL estimate for updating the UDC to align zoning with character areas identified in the comp plan. They also reviewed a CPL estimate for road work bid preparation but tabled it for further discussion. A new code enforcement officer was sworn in, and the purchase of a laptop for the Mayor was approved. Additionally, the council approved a road striping bid and an intergovernmental agreement with the Magistrate Court of Barrow County for handling code enforcement citations. An update on a property assessment was also discussed.

The council meeting addressed several key issues. Discussion included an estimate for CPL to prepare road work bids, an update to the town's purchasing policy, and the hiring of CPL for code enforcement. A playground update was also discussed, including plans for a user survey and the potential formation of a committee for input. Finally, the council reviewed financials and planned a future work session.

The council meeting addressed several key issues. Amendments were made to the minutes concerning employee pay increases, specifying that they are voted on annually. An election ordinance was approved for filling seats in the 2025 election. Changes to community room and pavilion fees were approved, increasing rental costs for both residents and non-residents. Finally, the council voted to create a Facebook page for the town, with restrictions on comments.

The work session included an update on the progress of amendments to the comprehensive future land use map, with a public hearing scheduled for the March 3 council meeting. The council appointed a Mayor Pro Tem and decided to continue using The Samuels Law Firm for 2025. Discussions included applying to be a Passport acceptance facility, renting out space for RVs during UGA football game days, and keeping the Star of Bethlehem lit year-round. Approval was given for weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings in the community room. Updates were provided on road scraping efforts, upcoming road projects, Senate Bill HB 581, tree maintenance, and the town's Facebook page. The council also addressed code violations and conducted a post-evaluation of the Christmas décor company, ultimately waiving the demolition permit fee for a homeowner.