TOWNS COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Board Meeting
Towns County Courthouse Conference Room 2nd Floor
Monday, September 9, 2024, 2 p.m.
Present: John Clemens, Larry Dietsch, Joan Crothers, Anna Denton, Jim Olson, Michael Courey, David Best, Andy Williams. Guests: Leslie Howard, Tonya Schober, David Lamon.
1. President’s Remarks\Report – John
a. Welcomed and introduced the guests, who are interested in membership.
b. Special meeting in Sept./Oct. Warnock & Scott. John talked to Scott and he said he was reluctant to come to GA since he represents NC; call was not returned from Warnock.
c. Vote on Caleb’s project, Guardians of Freedom: After discussion, a vote to support was unanimous. How we will do that will be decided after a discussion with the local VFW. d. Community Request to John: Sheriff & Hiawassee Chief conflict vs security on school property has been questioned. We all agreed they would work together in any emergency at school. John, Michael, Anna and Andy will attend Sheriff’s work session 9/10.
e. Newsletter: John sent out a draft; members had suggestions and these minutes will be included.
f. The Board regrets that Joe Liguori has resigned this month and Steve Harper resigned last month, both because of other commitments. They will be missed.
2. Board Officers Reports
a. Secretary’s Report- Joan: Minutes of June 2024 Meeting that was emailed (no meeting in July); motion made to approve as corrected, seconded and passed. Correction was to restate voting re: Andy Williams as a member; his info. is: Cell-678-469-7412, 819 Hiawassee Estates Dr., Hiawassee GA 30546; [email protected]
b. Treasurer’s Report-Larry: August balance in checking account was $4,029.37; Income-dues $50; Expenses- Annual Mtg.-$110.70.
c. Membership Report-Anna: 2024 Report shows 115 Individuals, 69 Households, 4 HOA’s, which is one more household and one more HOA than last month.
d. Web site Update/Maintenance-David: Home page is current; Calendar of Events up-to-date, and Aug. Minutes posted. LaJean Turner has passed control of the TCCA gmail account to David, [email protected]
3. Committee Reports (significant issues) June & July
a. Chamber of Commerce-John: Chamber will put the TCCA rack card in the tourist’s packets they send out. Holiday Bazaar November 2 & 3, 2024; Scottish Highlands Games 2025 – They are moving to TC- June 7 & 8 2025 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and ball fields.
b. City of Hiawassee-Joan: 8/26 Accessory Structure Ordinance had several changes re: name now Ornamental Structures which were defined and standards set. A city resident complained that two Stop signs removed from a nearby intersection, now dangerous and need replacement–Police Chief & Council disagreed. City conducting lead service line inventories over several weeks–dig up, photograph & document. Large water leakage at Fairgrounds still being investigated. Paving patches soon on Chatuge Way and Oakmont St. Paris Bus. Cntr. per Denise McKay: Back wall and front facade will need work costing $52,915. Furniture cost: $64K.
c. City of Young Harris-Jim: No report.
d. Towns County Commissioner-Joan: 8/20 Frank Riley, Exec. Dir. RC&D, spoke on Wildfire Protection Plan and Firewise. Teresa Stephens, T.C. Food Pantry, spoke on lack of support, i.e. food shortage @ NE GA Food Bank (Backpack Program–weekend food for low-income children–is cut). Commercial properties are being reassessed–the County is penalized if assessments are not at Fair Mkt. Values. Enchanted Valley moratorium on construction is extended by 30 days due to questions on sewer capacity and density–this area is a floodplain & has flooded in the past.
e. Towns County Water & Sewer Authority-Jim: 8/20 The Frog Pond project is ahead of schedule. Only 130 updated water meters are left to be changed. Parrot feather treatments appear to be working very well. There is a new, invasive concern with snails. A rate study is underway. A new truck was purchased for $37.5K. The state-mandated Asset Management Plan is approximately 80% accomplished and is expected to be complete in 3 – 4 wks. There has been a suggestion that a separate line item appear on bills to indicate “compliance costs’ from government mandates that the Authority must pay, but cannot control. For 2024 alone, those costs exceed $250K. Search for lead pipes on their lines the next 3-4 wks. If you suspect a leak, call the Authority.
f. CVB-Jim: Motion to increase the amount of minimum reserve to $20K as a contingency buffer for unanticipated budget demands was approved. Grant applications and guidelines changes and deletions were presented. Considerations of applications to be actively encouraged beyond the Georgia Fairgrounds & Chatuge Chamber to serve other qualifying “non-profit” organizations was approved. Bureau presented a new slogan and symbol for “Georgia’s High Point” promotion which can be seen at the T.C.CVB website.
g. BOE- Michael: 7/1 Supt. Berrong renewed another 3 years. S.O. contract renewed for School Resource Officers on campus–BOE pays 75% of contract for traffic control and Resource Officer ($19,659); the County pays 25%. 2 local grads approved for Middle Sch. baseball head coach-Zeke Gribble and Middle School boys & girls basketball – Kendall Floyd. 7/31 Ag facility has a delay, footings for the bldg. have to be re-engineered, putting completion to Jan. ‘25. Grant does not pay for the $400K site prep. costs. Yr.-to-date: Sales Tax $294K, E-SPLOST $522K, Ad Valorem $6 Mil. Ag facility has a delay, footings for the bldg. have to be re-engineered, putting completion to Jan. ‘25.
h. BRMEMC-Michael: 8/30 Their annual meeting will be Sept. 14, Harp Rec. & Commencement Center, YHC, 10 a.m. lunch and business meeting with door prizes. Added 1,058 new electric meters bringing total meter count to 58,228.
i. County Planning Commission-David: Members gave their approval on several items.
j. Board of Health-Larry: Next meeting in October.
4. New Business Submitted from Board Members: None
5. Adjourn: Motion duly made, seconded and approved at 3:35 p.m.
Next Meeting: October 14, 2 p.m. (To be determined)
Joan Crothers, Secretary