TOWNS COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Board Meeting Minutes
June 2, 2021, 2 p.m.
Hiawassee Garden Clubhouse, Hiawassee
1.Opening Remarks: Michael welcomed all to the meeting. No meeting in May.
Present: Michael Courey, Larry Dietsch, Joan Crothers, Anna Denton, LaJean Turner,
John Clemens, David Best, Gordy Jones.
Guest: Sheriff Ken Henderson.
Quorum: Quorum present.
2. Secretary’s Report: LaJean made a motion to approve the minutes of the 4/14/21 meeting as previously emailed to the Board; seconded and approved as submitted.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Larry reported a balance of $3,427.98 as of April & May 2021. Motion made by Anna to approve; seconded and passed. Joan asked if the Scholarship was ever given to a graduating student. Apparently not, so LaJean volunteered to check with the school as to giving it to someone at this late date.
4. Membership Report: Anna reported that Jocelyn at the Chamber helped her get a Mailchimp account. She passed around a new membership folder she created.
5. Website: David updated us on the latest changes/additions. We’ve had 16 notifications of spam hits in May—he had already deleted 172— so we discussed additional security add-on software. Joan made a motion to have David check on price, etc. for this, and take it out if no more than $60/year. Motion was seconded and passed.
6. Old Business
a. Drug Abuse Program: Sheriff Henderson talked about how things were going since his election in November 2020. Also spoke of his thoughts on our student anti-drug program and said that it should wait until school starts again in August. Because of John’s background, he was asked if he would like to be on the Committee and said that he would. Sheriff’s cell is 706-781-7521.
b. June 17, 2021 Program/assignments update: Program: Laura Ide, T.C. Health Dept.; Commissioner: Transfer Station; Frank Riley: Present Smokey Bear Award to him. Michael, order from Ingles: 18 subs cut in fourths; LaJean, pickup subs; small bags of chips; Choc. Chip cookies (separate, putting several in a baggy); water and tea, (individual bottles). Joan has a rolling cooler we can put water and drinks in, top with ice from the ice machine at the Rec. Center. Be there before or at 5 p.m. on 17th.
c. Hamilton Gardens Board Status: Tabled
d. Board Membership suggestions: We need 2 new members; David said we also need a Vice Pres. and nominated John Clemons, who accepted . The vote taken was unanimous and he was congratulated as TCCA Vice President.
7. New Business
a. Newsletter: Complete by the first part of July. Gordy: Hia. Mayor; John: Y.H. Mayor; Joan: Commissioner. Distribution problem should be corrected by Mailchimp.
8. Committee Assignments:
a. City of Hiawassee –LaJean/Joan: 6/1 mtg.: Public Hearing on the proposed construction of townhouses on the property across from Taco Bell on Hwy. 76—the same night as TCCA Membership Meeting; 2nd reading on Budget—passed; Passed Package Sale of Spirits Referendum Resolution; Approved Water Treatment Plant GEFA Loan.
b. City of Y.H.- Michael: Highest residents in Timberline Subdivision need a new pump, cost will be $150K. City Council talked about an add-on fee for those needing the pump. Mayors Park rules were put in an ordinance; the pavilion there cost $80K. They are looking for someone to straighten out their website. They have 707 families in the City and said it is cheaper to allow water leakage (possibly 100K gal./month) than to look for the leaks.
c. Commissioner-Joan: EMT’s will have a mock emergency drill at T.C. Schools, sometime this summer; Cameras at Bell Mtn. Park (cost-$4,400) linked to Sheriff’s Office; Opened bids on road improvements in July; Renewed Air Methods (Med. Helicopter) agree-ment; Changing to AT&T phone service will save $5,000 and give better 911 service.
d. T.C. Water Authority: They did raise county water rates.
e. Chamber of Commerce-LaJean: The Y.H.C. student, Jocelyn, will be leaving; July 3rd will be a golf tournament, and July 4th will be the Boat Parade.
f. CVB-John: Car Show coming to GMF; they are not in favor of fishing tournaments because participants usually fish and leave and don’t put heads in beds or in restaurants. The Ridges has paid some of their delinquent tax bill.
g. BRMEMC- No meetings held for the public.
h. County Planning Commission: No report. David Best will go to next one.
i. Health Dept-Larry: Covid statistics for T.C.: 8 recent cases and 42 deaths during the whole pandemic; 39% in county vaccinated. No rabies in the County.
9. Other Business: Pickleball will be having a nationwide tournament on Oct. 1-3 with a 200 person limit.
Adjournment: There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn duly made at 4 p.m.
Next Meetings: Thursday, June 17, 6:30 at Foster Park Recreation Center
Wednesday, July 14, 2 p.m. at Hiawassee Garden Center
/s/ Joan Crothers, Secretary