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Tuesday, August 10, 5:30PM Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority Meeting Agenda/Minutes

Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority Meeting Agenda

     Date:          Tuesday, August 10, 2021

     Time:          5:30 PM

     Location:    50 River Street

  1. Call to order

  2. Adopt agenda as set

  3. Welcome Peggy Gardner

  4. Approval minutes of July 13, 2021, minutes

  5. Financial Report

    1. Collection tubes

    2. Night Market

  6. Directors Update

    1. Building Stabilization

    2. Ribbon Cutting – HIR

    3. Workplan

  7. New Business

  8. Old Business

    1. Façade grant program

      i. Review plan

    2. PBC – 101

      i. Grant 600K for renovations

      1. Business plan

      2. Regional impact

    3. Night Market – review

      i. Concrete party

    4. Website

  1. Adjourn to Executive Session

  2. Reopen regular meeting

  3. Adjourn regular meeting

Approved 9-14-2021

Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority August 10, 2021, Minutes

50 River Street

Hiawassee, GA 30546

 The meeting was called to order at 5:31 PM by Chairperson Steven Harper

A motion by Ashley LaPorte was made to amend the agenda to include under new business item A. Secretary, and item B. Board Appreciation. It was seconded by Maggie Oliver, and the motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Maggie Oliver and seconded by Ashlyn LaPorte to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion passed unanimously.

Peggy Gardner was welcomed to the DDA board.

A motion was made by Ashlyn LaPorte and seconded by Maggie Oliver to approve the minutes of July 13, 2021, as amended. Change meeting date to 07/13/2021 instead of 07/12/2021.

Maggie Oliver gave the financial report, current funds available $25,980.61, Collection tubes have collected $3,224.86 since installation with net proceeds of $1,672.15 available for beautification projects. Night Market income for August was $390. August expenses ere $1,672.15. Discussed that the market was not intended to make money for the DDA but to create an air of excitement and activity in the downtown area. 

Directors Update – Denise McKay reported the building stabilization is nearing completion. The roofs are covered, front wall stabilized and window coverings will be installed within the next couple of weeks. Dehumidifiers will be installed in both buildings to help keep the moisture from doing additional damage.  The next phase of the project will be the interior demolition to determine the next phases. 

A ribbon cutting is scheduled at HIR on September 13th at 4:00 PM.  

Denise reported that she has met with all board members except Ashlyn and that they are meeting Wednesday evening to review the work plan.  After meeting with all the members she will organize their ideas into presentation format and bring to the board for further development. 

New Business 

Secretary duties, with Marta being out until the end of the year and Mikalya is returning to college assistance is needed with taking minutes at the meetings.  Tyler and Peggy volunteered to assist with secretarial duties until Marta returns.

Board recognition when retiring from the DDA board.  Discussed what should be done to thank board members for their service.  Through discussion the Board decided to present plaques to people that have served and to host a retirement reception along with plaque for members that have completed their term.  

Old Business

Facade grant program- reviewed the application package and recommendations were made to include the business must be in good standing with the City and not delinquent on taxes and/or utilities. To exclude landscaping and remove structural stabilization from the project list. 

A motion was made by Tyler Osborn and seconded by Peggy Gardner to adopt the facade grant program with the above amendments.  The motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Tamela Cooper and seconded by Tyler Osborn to make the maximum disbursement $1500 for each grant award was made and passed unanimously, with the exception of Ashlyn who abstained. 

PBC – 101 Chairperson Steven Harper reviewed the intentions of the $600K grant, that it was for the business development center.  Yes, the buildings will be repurposed and restored with the outcome of opening the business development center.  The business center will have a regional impact and that the project was vetted at a regional, state and national level.  

Night Market is continuing to grow and four more vendors will be participating in the September market. 

Concrete party – the DDA has been using the cement anchors from St. Francis Church, will need to return them as the church will be hosting a festival and needing the blocks.  A concrete party to construct anchors for the DDA tents has been scheduled for August 25 at 6:00 PM at Hiawassee City Hall, the DDA will provide dinner. 

 Website Tabled until September 

Chairperson Steven Harper adjourned to Executive Session for the purpose of real estate at 6:45 PM.

Chairperson Steven Harper reopened regular meeting at 7:09 PM

Chairperson Steven Harper adjourned regular meeting by general consent at 7:09 PM