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Santa Claus council reviews storm damage, street resurfacing; keeps $175 utility deposit
Summary
At its April 15 meeting, Mayor Donita Bowen told the council she is coordinating with FEMA and GIRMA on Hurricane Helene damage, Sikes Civil reported street resurfacing work, and the council unanimously approved minutes and agreed to keep the water/sewer deposit at $175 per meter.
Mayor Donita Bowen told the Santa Claus City Council on April 15 that she is continuing to work with FEMA and with the city’s insurer, GIRMA, on properties damaged during Hurricane Helene and that Michael Carroll of Triton Fire & Safety is continuing work on security systems to be paid from a safety grant.
The council unanimously approved the minutes of the Feb. 18, 2025 meeting after Brenda Sells moved to accept them and Monte Powell seconded. The minutes show Mayor Bowen, Councilmembers Renee Wright, Monte Powell and Brenda Sells, and Secretary Sue Grisham were present. Matt Lynn was absent.
The meeting covered routine maintenance and local projects. All lights around The Gardens have been replaced; new signs stating park rules and hours (including a notice banning motorized vehicles) are on order for park entrances. The council agreed that the train may run around the park track as an organized event at Halloween.
Contractor Larry Sikes of Sikes Civil reported that Sikes Civil, with assistance from McLendon Enterprises, has resurfaced city streets; shoulders will be filled with dirt and grass seed and striping is expected in the coming days. Sikes Civil will also add topsoil and grass seed at the park and replace the Gift Shop walkway. While work is ongoing, the council agreed to install speed bumps on Dancer Street at the park and on Rudolph Way using mounds of asphalt painted yellow.
Mayor Bowen said Zac Moore is still awaiting clearance to begin the city’s texting and email notification program and that the city has received no word from the I.R.S. about electronic payments for the city account. Bowen noted she attended an on-site FEMA inspection March 29 and that she anticipates taking an additional class later this year with Dan Beck of LGRMS.
The council was notified that Tindall will perform National Primary Drinking Water Regulation tests to monitor the city’s drinking water. Bowen said the city placed the required public notices for Homestead Exemption meetings in the Advance and that the city received a Homestead Grant check for $1,916.67.
Administrative and financial items included a GIRMA invoice for $7,035.00 for 2025 (an increase of $465 from 2024) and notification that the city’s application to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program was approved. After discussion, the council agreed to leave the water and sewage deposit at $175.00 per meter. Bowen also reported closing out ARPA-related items at the end of April and said she has worked in the RVS software to clean up accounts.
The council noted scheduling conflicts prevented attendance at the District 9 Spring Meeting on April 22. Debbie and Barry Toole raised interest in selling a lot on Reindeer Street; Bowen said the lot is zoned residential/agriculture and that planting Christmas trees would be allowed but livestock and poultry are not. With no further business the meeting was adjourned.
