November 2023 Board Meeting Minutes

TOWNS COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION

Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 2 p.m.

Conference Room 2nd Floor

Present: John Clemens, Anna Denton, Joan Crothers, David Best, Jim Olson.

Absent: Larry Dietsch, Michael Courey

1. President’s Remarks/Report: John

  1. Welcome
  2. Newsletter comments: All present thought it turned out very professional looking, and commended John for the hard work he puts into it each time.
  3. Prepare for Membership meeting in January: A Letter to Editor by Mary Lynne Miller on Parrot Feather in Lake Chatuge was discussed. Commissioner has said that he has been in touch with TVA about the matter, and TCCA’s last Newsletter had a feature article on this by Callie Moore, MountainTrue. Suggestion: Talk to someone in TVA to attend Jan. meeting and discuss Health of the Lake.
  4. Newsworthy comments re: Hiaw. City Council Meeting: Regular meeting held on Tues., Nov. 7th (upstairs) was discussed. See below under Hiaw. City.

2. Board Officers reports:

  1. Secretary-Joan: No meeting in October–no quorum. September minutes were emailed. David made a motion to approve; seconded and passed.
  2. Treasurer-Larry: He emailed his report, along with a 2024 Budget. As of Oct.31st the Checkbook Balance is $3,947.86. David made a motion to approve; seconded and passed.
  3. Website Update-David: All is functioning well; Oct. minutes, Fall Newsletter, calendar of events, misc. have been added and updated as of Nov. 2023. 41 failed login attempts from 15 different countries were neutralized; our WordPress website renewed for 3 years-cost of $431.64.
  4. Membership-Anna: 38 Households, (88 individuals), 1 HOA (Ridgeview), 1 Business (GMF), Total 40. She also gave us memberships in Grace Period–42 ind., 1 Bus. (Hiaw. Economic Development). Total 26. Anna will send postcards.

3. Committee Reports:

  1. Chamber of Commerce-John: Oct. 11 mtg. Holiday Bazaar (11/4-5) had 59 vendors (3 food). The number of vendors and visitors was down. Repairs at Chamber building: old shrubs & Jap. Maple removed, new steps on back deck & new handicap ramp, windows replaced in 3 wks. & bldg. painted, repair leakage in basement, decking stained. CVB approved $11,045 for advertising; 3 new members & 1 ribbon cutting at So. Family Dental Partners, Hiaw.
  2. City of Young Harris-Jim: A public hearing will be held 11/7 to rezone former Kaiser-Dean property, now owned by John Kelley, from Residential to PUD (Planned Unit Development). Kelley wants to rename the property McTyeire Crossing: it will have 14 individual homes on individual lots/greenspace on the 21.5 ac.–not subsidized housing.
  3. City of Hiawassee-Joan: A Special Called Meeting was held before the Oct. 30th Work Session at the Senior Center, 70+ people attended. Owners of Trailful were first to tell about having problems with flooding in their lower level, esp. since repairs started at Paris Business Center (PBC). City promised $10K to fix the problem 2 yrs. ago & City Council agreed they would do that. Then City Attorney Thomas Mitchell spoke about an investigation (under a different attorney) of allegations that City Mayor Liz Ordiales signed several contracts without the Council approval and that is contrary to City Charter: paving her home road, and committing the city to an additional $1.2 million for the PBC which originally was to cost $1.2 mill. to be paid for with a loan and SPLOST money. This contract would double to $2.4 mill. The investigation will be as soon as another attorney is hired. In the regular meeting on Nov. 7th, it was voted by the Council to follow through with the investigation, hiring Attorney Miles. Economic Dev. reported that Y.H. 44 unit apartments were approved, 2025 completion date. The AirCare Med Contract was renewed, price $5,390; 7 Alcohol Licenses were approved.
  4. T.C. Commissioner.-Joan: 10/26/23 The county rate for property owners will be 10.738 mills, an 8.4% decrease over the 2022 millage rate. The growth in the real property digest will increase County tax revenues about $235K. County has had no tax increase since 2008; the School Board and City of Hiawassee also had a roll back.

Commissioner Bradshaw also withdrew the county government from T.C. Joint Development Authority “because of the economic growth in our area, this is no longer needed for the County.”

  1. T.C. Water & Sewer Authority-Jim: They said they have repaired 5 leaks, and the “Leak Insurance” of $2 will be on everyone’s bill unless they call to opt out. They discussed Parrot Feather in the lake and do not want herbicides in the water, which we all drink. However, TVA is saying they are not harmful to humans.
  2. Convention Visitors Board (CVB)-Jim: No report.
  3. Board of Education-Michael or Jim: No report.
  4. BRMEMC-Michael: No report.
  5. County Planning Commission-David: No report.
  6. County Health Dept.- Larry: Oct. 19 mtg. Environmental reports were reviewed, Nursing report & Financial Reports. Financials are in good shape with a balance of $514,533. School immunization audit shows a rate from 44%-83%, depending on the grade. This is well below the state rates, typically over 90%. Monovalent Covid vaccine, RSV vaccine and flu shots are all available at our health Dept.

4. New Business: None

5. Adjourn: Duly approved at 4 p.m.

Joan Crothers, Secretary