The Town of Newborn

Council Meeting
Minutes
May 2nd, 2022

Present: Mayor Ellwanger, MPT Krieger, CP Ellwanger, CP Bratton, CP Williamson, Clerk

Elisa Rowe, Attorney Joe Reitman
Citizens: Denise Spitler, Jack Kinley, Susan Oliveto

I. CALL TO ORDER: The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7pm

II. INVOCATION:
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Lead by Mayor Ellwanger
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
April 4th council meeting: CP Ellwanger made a motion to approve the minutes from the
April 4th council meeting.
Motion: CP Ellwanger Second: CP Bratton Approved: 5-0-0
V. OLD BUSINESS:

VI. NEW BUSINESS:

A. 123 Porter Street: Update from Code Enforcement is that it needs attention
again. Attorney Joe Reitman stated that there have been more issues come up with
code violations at the Davis property. Clerk Elisa Rowe stated that Code Enforcement
officer Juan Irwin stated that he would like notices/letters go out from Joe to Howard
property (high grass), Eubanks property (still has not submitted application for
building) Mock property (no work done as stated that he would). Mayor Ellwanger
stated that he would call Mr. Howard about the grass and Joe stated that he would
send a draft lawsuit to Mock, Eubanks and the Davis’s. A motion was made by CP
Williamson for Attorney Joe Reitman to proceed as stated.
Motion: CP Williamson Second: MPT Krieger Approved: 5-0-0
B. Discussion of having a buzzer installed on the front door for safety reasons.
CP Ellwanger stated that the issue of having a buzzer installed on the front door is
due to the email exchanged with Lace Keaton of the Newton County Library. Ms.
Keaton asked when Town Hall would be open in reference to the library opening. CP
Ellwanger went on to say that there are days that Clerk Elisa Rowe is alone in the
building and has to go to the back and (before the door was kept locked due to Covid)
she would come back to her desk and people would be standing in her office and at
any time someone could look in the window, see she is not at her desk and come in
and take the laptop, etc. The buzzer would be extra security and would make the clerk
aware that someone was at the front door. Clerk Elisa Rowe addressed the issue of the
library and stated that an email was sent to Lace Keaton and she asked when Town
Hall would open, but that questions was proposed last year and when the Town came
 back and stated we would open, then the library came back a couple of months later
and stated that could not open the Newborn library back up due to Covid and staff
shortages. The email sent back to Lace Keaton stated that we don’t understand why
Town Hall has to be open for the library to open as there is a separate entrance. Clerk
Elisa Rowe added that she received a call today from a Newborn citizen who also
home schools her children and she asked when the library would open because all the
children in the area are missing it. I told her to contact the Newton County library in
Covington and she stated that she had and also had gone to the library and asked the
question and was told by an employee at the front desk that it “was not their
responsibility and that it was the cities problem”. CP Ellwanger stated that there is a
library board meeting this Thursday at 4pm and we are going to see if we can get
some citizens to attend. Mayor Ellwanger stated that he would call the contact he
spoke to last year and see if he can get any answers from him.

C. Discuss Newton County Board of Elections to handle any elections for the Town.
The yearly cost would be put in the 2023 budget; and currently waiting to hear
from Angela @ NCBOE for the cost. Mayor Ellwanger stated that at one time we
had talked to the County about the expense of running the election through them.
Clerk Elisa Rowe stated that Angela at the NCBOE has been open to talk about the
County taking it on, she has at least given me an estimate of costs, and she states that
the is an estimate only. Clerk Elisa Rowe added that 3 years ago the estimate was
around $12,000 but the cost could be anywhere from $7000 to $20,000. Clerk Elisa
Rowe added that Morgan County handles elections for Rutledge and last November
the only election Morgan County did was the Rutledge election and it cost Rutledge
under $7000 and they have more registered voters then Newborn does. Morgan
County handles not only the City of Rutledge, but they handle all of the city elections
in Morgan County. Mayor Ellwanger stated that he met with Morgan County Election
Supervisor and was told that they keep it simple and it is not hard to handle city
elections. Clerk Elisa Rowe stated that Angela did give an estimate on costs of
roughly $39,000, but you can take off run-off’s ($9000) qualifying (which Clerk can
do, $750) Mayor Ellwanger asked where we are in the process of the County handling
elections. Clerk Elisa Rowe stated that we have just started talking, getting figures
right now and we should know more at the next council meeting. Mayor Ellwanger
stated that if he needs to meet with the director, he can do that also. CP Ellwanger
stated that we will have to include the costs in the budget for 2023 so it will take
Mayor and Council to vote to put the cost in next years budget.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Susan Oliveto: Stated that she had several questions and concerns from herself and other
citizens and she would like to discuss with the Clerk/Mayor or be added to next month’s
agenda. Mayor Ellwanger stated that if he and the Clerk could not answer her questions,
then yes, please state what the questions are and you can be listed on the June agenda.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Ellwanger adjourned the meeting at 7:40pm

Motion: CP Williamson Second: CP Bratton Approved: 5-0-0