BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE
SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – September 28, 2026, 6pm
Hiawassee City Hall 50 River Street – Upstairs Training Room
COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Invocation –Scott Benton
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval agenda as distributed
- Consent Agenda
- Minutes of September 1, 2026, Council Meeting
- Minutes of September 28, 2026, Work Session Meeting
- 2026 July Financials
- Payment of the PBC Loan from SPLOST ($32,175.86)
- Mayor’s Report
- Water Worth demo
- Milage Rate discussion
- Phase 1 Water Distribution Building – Fill Dirt for Sewer Plant
- Contract for Restriping of Bell Street (28,338.00)
- Painting City Hall
- Appointment of Brett Bradshaw & Julie Payne to the DDA Board
- Adoption of 2026 Comprehensive Plan update
- Wellness Program Grant
- Attentive Program
- Disposal of two Police cars
- Department Head Report – Paul Smith and Sheriff Anthony Coleman
- Public Comment
- Executive session
- Adjournment
HIAWASSEE COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES 9-28-2026
The Hiawassee City Council met for the September Work Session in the Upstairs Training Room at City Hall on September 28, 2026, at 6:00PM. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jay Chastain. Present, in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Scott Benton, Andrea Bell, Jeff Scott, Nancy Noblet and Jonathan Wilson. Staff present were Deputy Billing Clerk Anne Wiggin, Human Resources Director Daphne Hampton, Officer Tava Morales, Police Chief Paul Smith, City Attorney Thomas Mitchell, City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick, and Court Clerk Sheryl Branson.
The Invocation was given by Scott Benton and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda was amended to include 14 A, Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Approval of the agenda as amended was made first by Nancy Noblet and second by Jeff Scott with all in favor.
The Consent agenda, consisting of minutes from September 1, 2026, City Council Meeting, September 28, 2026, Work Session, the July 2026 Financials, and the payment of the PBC Loan from SPLOST ($32,175.86) will be voted on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Mayor’s Report
We have had another very busy month for the City, and we have several projects moving forward.
Road Runner Lift Station
Phase 1 of the Road Runner Lift Station rehabilitation is complete.
I am asking Council to approve a change order so that we can combine the coating and sealing of the lift station. This will allow us to continue moving this much needed rehabilitation project forward.
Gage Road Waterline
The new 4-inch water line on Gage Road has been completed, and all of the taps are finished. This is another important improvement to our aging water distribution system.
Water Treatment Plant
Our water treatment plant has been running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with demand. I want to thank our employees for the work that they continue to put in to keep water flowing to our customers.
Chemical Costs
We have been notified that our chemical costs are going up again, this time approximately 5%. We are being told that the increase is related to rising transportation and fuel costs, with fuel prices reported to us in excess of $600 per gallon.
Billing System
Thanks to the Council, we are now in the process of changing billing companies. This will not happen overnight. It will be a process, but I believe it is important that we have a billing system that is understandable and that allows us to clearly follow how our customers are being billed.
Connection Fee Ordinance
EMI is close to completing its work on the City’s connection fee ordinance. This is another important piece of getting our utility system where it needs to be for the future.
City Engineer Selection
EMI has been selected as the City’s engineering firm. This was a formal process that we were required to complete in connection with the City’s $2 million grant.
We received five RFQ submissions. Of those five, three finalists were selected for interviews. Bonnie, Cal, and I conducted the interviews, and following that process, EMI was selected.
The Mayor appreciates everyone who participated in this process.
Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan has been signed and submitted to GMRC. There was a tremendous amount of work involved in getting this completed, but we got it finished and submitted on time.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the process and helped us get this across the finish line.
SPLOST
The upcoming SPLOST renewal is especially important to the City because SPLOST revenue is one of the funding sources available for major capital and infrastructure projects.
The City continues to face substantial needs involving water, sewer, roads, and other infrastructure. These projects are expensive, and the condition of some of our infrastructure means they cannot simply be ignored.
I encourage everyone to learn about proposed SPLOST, what projects the City plans to fund with its share, and how those funds would be used.
Employee Wellness Grant
The City has been awarded an Employee Wellness Grant through GMA. A big thank you goes to Daphne for all the hard work she put into getting this completed. These grants allow us to do something positive for the health and wellness of the people who work for the City.
Employee Safety Training
RMP conducted advanced confined-space training and gas -monitor training for our employees. Everyone that attended learned how to correctly operate the gas monitor and how to properly rig the tripod used for confined-space operations. This is the first time this level of hands-on safety training has been conducted inside the City for our workers. Everyone learned a lot, and we even managed to have a little fun while doing it. But there is a serious purpose behind this training. Our employees work around confined spaces, water and sewer facilities, gases, equipment, and other hazards. Giving them proper training and equipment can save a life. I am very proud that we are making employee safety a priority.
Mayor’s Leadership Academy
The Mayor attended the Mayor’s Leadership Academy this month. It was an intensive three-day course, and he learned a great deal. Just as importantly, he was able to make some very valuable contacts with other municipal leaders and professionals. Those relationships and contacts can be extremely valuable when we are looking for information, resources, or solutions for Hiawassee.
Southern Corrosion
We had a Zoom meeting with Southern Corrosion. We are still in contract negotiations, and he will keep the Council updated as those discussions continue.
Kudzu Control
The Mayor met with a company called Veg Care to discuss kudzu control. We are looking at what options may be available to better control some of the problem areas we are dealing with.
Georgia Bass Nation
The Mayor met with Nathan Noblet and Tony Beck, President of the Georgia Bass Nation. They discussed the possibility of bringing a high school bass fishing tournament here around November 27. The discussions were positive, and he will keep everyone informed as they continue. They also discussed the possibility of an invitational event in the future. These types of events have the potential to bring fishermen, students, families, and visitors into our community.
Towns County Water Department
A meeting with the Towns County Water Department has been scheduled for October 15. He will update the Council following the meeting.
September 11 Ceremony
Our September 11 ceremony went very smoothly. It was a very heartfelt event, and he wanted to thank everyone who participated and everyone who came out to remember those we lost. He spent most of his life as a first responder, this ceremony means a get deal to him personally.
We should never forget the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, members of our military, and civilians whose lives were lost or forever changed by September 11. God bless each and every one of them, and God bless those who continue to serve.
In closing you can see that it has been a very busy month. We are making progress, but we still have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, particularly with our water and sewer infrastructure. The Mayor appreciates the Council, our department heads, and especially our City employees who are out there doing the work every day.
We will continue working on these projects, looking for funding opportunities, improving employee safety, and doing everything we can to take care of the City of Hiawassee.
Next on the agenda is the Water Worth demo. – Emily Daitl with Water Worth presented preliminary, continuously updated long term financial models for water, wastewater and water treatment. The models use available data and can be revised as new information or grant awards emerge.
The water baseline uses actual data from 2024 and 2025, with possibly 2026 actuals, the forecasts from the fiscal 2027 budget. Operating expenses and contracted services rise 3% annually. The proposed debt service is tied to master metering, well drilling, and distribution-system upgrades. The largest modeled expense falls in the fiscal year 2028 for distribution upgrades. The model also assumes $400,00.00 a year for capital reinvestment from fiscal 2029 onward, inflated at 2% annually.
The borrowing assumptions are about $380,000.00 in fiscal 2027 and about @,000,000.00 in fiscal 2028 to support major capital work.
The model defines a minimum cash level equal to six months of operating expenses and contracted services plus 120% of annual debt-service payments. Without the revenue increases, expenses rise above revenues after new debt service and capital reinvestment begin. Then water fund’s cash position trends down as reserves are used. A 3% year-over-year increase in water-sales revenue beginning in fiscal 2028 keeps the cash position relatively steady and helps match inflation in operating and capital costs.
The wastewater model includes proposed debt service for lift station rehabilitation, a floating aerator, and other capital needs. It shows major expense in fiscal 2027 for the sanitary-sewer valuation survey and lift-station rehabilitation.
The model assumes $275,000.00 a year for future capital reinvestment, inflated by 2% annually. Revenues include wastewater sales, other operating revenue, developer contributions, and borrowed funds.
Cash grew slightly in fiscal 2025 and 2026. It then trends downward as debt service and the capital reinvestment budget take effect. The model applies 20% revenue increases in fiscal 2028, 2029, and 2030, followed by a 3% annual inflationary increase from fiscal 2031onward. The larger early increases keep cash from falling below zero. The later increase helps rebuild and stabilize cash reserves.
The water-treatment model inflates operating expenses 3% annually from the fiscal 2027 budget. Existing debt service comes from entered amortization schedules rather than projections. Proposed borrowing covers projects in fiscal 2027 through 2029. The largest projects are pump stations and a clear well. Other projects include sludge drying and overhauls of filters one and two.
Cash remained relatively steady in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026 because revenues and expenses were close. New proposed debt service would push cash downward with borrowed funds and possible grant funding. The outcome scenario applies to 20% increases in fiscal 2028 and 2029, then 5% annual increases from fiscal 2030 onward. The pattern improves the cash position after major projects and brings it closer to the operating threshold.
The model includes projected grant funding of about $2 million for the Clearwell project. The model debt service covers only the amount borrowed, not grant funds. Additional grant awards could reduce the revenue increases needed.
Milage Rate discussion – Michael Anderson presented a rollback-rate discussion to the City last week. The rollback was stated as 1.494 for the 2026, compared with1.532 last year. The City would collect about $5,554 more than last year under the new figures. The tax collector has collected 93.69% of the taxes, or $229,396.47.
Phase 1 Water Distribution Building-Fill Dirt for the Sewer Plant – The City discussed Phase One of the water-distribution work and an opportunity to reduce dirt hauling costs. Hauling normally costs $200per load, but dirt could be delivered for $50 per load while a church begins its project. Bill Allen Construction would bring the dirt, compact it, conduct compaction tests, and address concerns about the site caving into the lake. This avoids City liability for the work.
Contract for Restriping of Bell Street ($28,338.00) – The quoted contract amount was $28,338.00. The work is tied to SAP funding and a 30% city match.
Painting City Hall – The mayor plans to seek council approval at the Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for a $15,000.00 cap. Paint samples and the original color will be available for review.
Appointment of Brett Bradshaw and Julie Payne to the DDA Board -The City plans to ask Council to appoint Brett Bradshaw and Julie Payne to the DDA Board. The Mayor said their appointments would fill the board for the first time in a long time.
Next up is the Adoption of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan update The City will vote on the Comprehensive Plan at the next Council Meeting. The wellness grant was submitted separately from the plan.
Next is the Wellness Program Grant -A requirement of the grant is that it must have a separate account, so funds remain segregated.
The Attentive Program – Terry English described the program as funded through tax savings generated by enrollment. He said the employer could save about $553 per enrolled employee. He estimated $10,155.87 in annual savings if everyone enrolled.
The benefits presented were $ copay prescriptions. The plan includes more than 1,000 medications at no copay or deductible. Dependents living in the household would be covered at no additional cost. Participants would have 24/7 access to state-licensed physicians for non-emergency care via telemedicine.
Terry explained that the program would lower taxable income before taxes. That would reduce payroll tax matching costs for employers. He said the employee’s take home pay would not decline. Cynthia English stated that they had watched the Attentive Program for five years before agreeing to work with it. She said the program had been tested by the IRS and could lower major-medical costs by shifting prescription and health-benefit use into the program.
Disposal of two Police cars -Chief Smith requested that two older Ford Explorer patrol cars be disposed of. The 2015 Explorer no longer is in use. The department wants to auction it and apply the proceeds toward a new vehicle. The 2016 Explorer is at the end of useful life as a patrol car. The City budgeted $30,000.00 for a new vehicle this year. Equipment for a fully outfitted patrol car can cost $10,.000.00 beyond the vehicle price, including a console, radios, lights and other equipment.
The department receive five ballistic vests at no cost from the Fraternal Order of Police. The vests were said to save the City about $5,000.00 and can outfit the entire department. The vests carry equipment on webbing rather than belts. This will reduce back and lower-back strain from carrying 30 pounds of gear on the belt.
The department is fully staffed again after Officer Carvajal returned to work following a broken arm at the beginning of May. Part-time employees and extra shifts had covered the night shift during his absence.
Next is Chief Paul Smith and Sheriff Anthony Coleman – Interim Sheriff Anthony Coleman reported progress over the past 10 months rebuilding cooperation between the City and County. Sheriff Coleman and Chief Smith have met repeatedly to improve service for residents inside and outside the city.
All City officers have been cross sworn as county deputies. Coleman called the arrangement a force multiplier for both agencies. City officers have supported county calls, and the county has also helped with city calls. The agencies have worked together on high risk arrests. One warrant on Sunnyside removed drugs from a house and resulted in arrests of people with warrants.
The two agencies have had several monthly and sometimes twice monthly joint training sessions. The city facilities have been used for training. They completed a walkthrough at the school as well and suggested a few changes for the school to consider. The agencies are also scheduling joint active shooter training and expect to invite other agencies. The training is intended for risks at schools, churches, hospitals, nursing and retirement homes, the College, and the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
Last is the Hazard Mitigation Plan -The Council expects to consider Resolution 14A, adopting the County Hazard -mitigation plan. The plan was said to have taken two years after an expected 90-day process. The county has signed its part, and the matter was described as moving forward.
No Public Comment was requested.
There was as a need to go into executive session. Motion to enter in executive session was made 1st by Jonathan Wilson and 2nd by Jeff Scott with all in favor at 7:18 pm.
Motion to Exit Executive session was made 1st by Scott Benton and 2nd by Jeff Scott.
Motion to adjourn the Work Session was made 1st by Nancy Noblet and 2nd by Jonathan Wilson with all in favor.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM