BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – June 16th, 2025 6pm
Hiawassee City Hall 50 River Street Upstairs Training Room
WORK SESSION AGENDA
1. Call to Order
1.1. Invocation – Jay Chastain
1.2. Pledge of Allegiance
1.3. Approval agenda as distributed
2. Consent Agenda
2.1. Minutes of June 3, 2025 Council Meeting
2.2. Minutes of June 16, 2025 Work Session Meeting
2.3. April Financials
3. Introduction of Economic Development Director Lily Ponitz
4. Mayor’s Report
5. Council Pay increase
6. Track hoe purchase for Water Department ($73,500.00)
7. Speed detection permit
8. Fire protection for City Hall
9. City Hall painting
10. Water rate increase – cost of living 2.5%
11. Alcohol licensing for Broncos
12. Salary survey $9,985.00(GMRC)
13. CIP retreat date
14. PBC window tinting
15. City Website
16. Facebook (comments)
17. Density Ordinance review (land disturbance permit)
18. GMF 75th Anniversary
19. DDA/Council retreat
20. Wastewater Treatment Plant – Clint Royce
21. Economic Development Report – Lily Ponitz
22. Public Comment
23. Executive session
24. Adjournment
WORK SESSION MINUTES June 16th, 2025 6pm
The Hiawassee City Council met for the June Work Session in the Upstairs Training Room at City Hall on June 16th, 2025, at 6:00PM. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jay Chastain. Present, in addition to the Mayor were Council members Amy Barrett, Scott Benton, Nancy Noblet, Patsy Owens and Jonathan Wilson. Staff present were Wastewater Treatment Plant supervisor Clint Royce, Economic Development Director Lily Ponitz, Paris Business Center Coordinator Christine Osborn, Police Chief Paul Smith, Police Officer Jose Carvajal, City Attorney Thomas Mitchell and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.
The Invocation was given by Mayor Jay Chastain and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Chastain stated that the agenda needed to be amended to add the minutes of the Special Called meeting on May 6, 2025, to the Consent Agenda at 2.4. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Nancy Noblet seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson, with all in favor.
Next week at the Council meeting the Consent Agenda will include the minutes of June 3, 2025 Council Meeting, the minutes of the May 6, 2025 Special Called Meeting, the minutes of June 16, 2025 Work Session Meeting and the April Financials.
Mayor Chastain introduced the new Economic Development Director, Lily Ponitz. Lily has a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State. Her skills include system design and analysis, community building and marketing.
In the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Chastain updated the Council on the Police car purchase (accessories have been ordered and it is currently at having graphic applied at Mountain Graphics), the hydrant flushing (1.4 million gallons of water used to flush, 2 hydrants replaced), the PBC opening/benefactor’s reception (former Economic Development Director Denise McKay and PBC Coordinator Christine Osborn did an awesome job), and the Lead Service Line project (August 26 grant hearing, next round of letter for unknown lead material to be mailed July 1).
The Council Pay increase will be voted on next week. The ads are in the process of being run (in editions 6/11, 6/18 and 6/25) as required prior to the vote at the July meeting.
The new track hoe for the Water Department will be on the agenda for approval next week. Cost is $73,500.00. This is a budget expense for FY 25-26. Council member Barrett asked what happened to the old one. Wastewater Department Supervisor Clint Royce stated that Carl’s old equipment is repurposed in the Wastewater Department. It also allows two jobs to be worked at one time if the need arises.
The Speed Detection Permit for the City has expired and is in the process of being renewed.
The fire alarm system at City Hall has not worked for many years and needs to be replaced. 2 years ago, it was estimated to be $15,000 to replace. There is also no security system. Mayor Chastain stated that he will get bids to replace the system.
Mayor Chastain stated he had three bids to repaint City Hall back to the original colors. It was mentioned that City Hall was painted 3 years ago. Mayor Chastain asked if the Council wished not to repaint the building, it would be removed from the agenda for the July meeting. The consensus was not to paint the building.
Mayor Chastain is asking the Council to approve a cost of living (2.5%) increase on the Water rates. Last year, no action was taken, and we are falling further behind as rates for pipes, connectors, stone and other materials needed to repair water line breaks continue to rise. Council member Barrett asked if it wouldn’t be better to wait until after the CIP (capital improvement plant) retreat. Mayor Chastain stated that he was not sure how much the increase would likely be and asked the Council if they wanted to wait and do the increase all at once. The consensus was to wait until after the CIP retreat.
Council will be asked to approve the alcohol license for Broncos – they will complete the requirements for their application on Wednesday (6/18) – the restaurant is applying to serve beer, wine and spirits. Council member Jonathan Wilson asked about the distance from the church and Attorney Thomas Mitchell stated that the distance requirements were not the same as for a package store.
Mayor Chastain has the quote for the GMRC salary survey – cost is $9,985.00 and will ask for approval at the July1st meeting. The GMRC contract has not yet been provided to Council but will be distributed tomorrow.
The Council needs to set the date for the CIP retreat. The earliest available date would be in August. The Council has decided to request August 23rd for a full day retreat with Fletcher Holiday and will be held at the Brasstown Valley Resort. Council member Barrett suggested having a retreat with the DDA (many of them will be leaving) and the new Economic Development Director on the same day to discuss succession plans with them. Attorney Mitchell stated the depth of detail of the CIP will necessitate a full day of review.
Council member Amy Barrett addressed the request for window tinting at the Paris Business Center to assist with the heat and humidity in the building. She stated that the window tinting had been removed when the value engineering changes happened. The proposal she got was for $3,170 to tint the windows. It was stated that the tinting would not help the humidity but may help with the heat. Wireless temperature controls would be an option, but climate control sensors were supposed to be installed; they were not value engineered out. To install them now would require too much deconstruction of the building. The suggestion was made to contact the engineer as his stamp will be on the drawings. The General Contractor is scheduled to be at the PBC this week and should be consulted.
Council member Amy Barrett suggested the City’s website needs to be changed. Forms need updating as well as SPLOST reports. She stated that Young Harris and Blairsville use CivicPlus for their websites and they are beautiful and easy to navigate. It was suggested that we advertise for Website redesign. Economic Development Director Ponitz stated it was important to know what you want. The committee to work on the plan will include Council members Noblet, Barrett, and Owens as well as EDD Ponitz. Attorney Mitchell stated that the committee will need to notice meetings just as the Council does.
Council member Amy Barrett addressed the use of FaceBook comments during the Council meetings and would like the Council to consider not allowing comments. There was discussion around the need to protect first amendment rights and not allowing some comments but not others as well as moving to YouTube as a platform for meetings. It was decided that more research needs to be done to determine the implications, drawbacks and advantages of cutting off comments
Council member Amy Barrett addressed the Density Ordinance review regarding the land disturbance permitting and the mountain protection act. Attorney Mitchell stated that state law had to be followed, and City Building Inspector Randy Day has done so. Council member Benton spoke to the process that was followed in the case of his property, part of which is subject to the mountain protection act. Mayor Chastain stated that Building Inspector Day is consulted on nearly every building permit, and his credentials allow him to assess whether a permit request meets the criteria. Council member Patsy Owens stated that the “campground” on White Street is for sale. Mayor Chastain stated that Randy was working on that issue.
Council member Amy Barrett addressed the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds 75th anniversary events. Mayor Chastain stated that he had attended a parade meeting, that the City employees are working on a float and that the Council will be invited to ride the float.
Council member Amy Barrett addressed the desire to have a DDA/Council retreat. Mayor Chastain stated that the CIP retreat needed to be done first. The Council decided to have the retreat on September 13th.
In the Wastewater Treatment Plant report, Clint Royce advised the Council that the old water building needed to be replaced. It has been damaged by water, carpenter bees and trees falling on it. It is being used to hold parts (pipes, connectors, etc.) used to repair leaking or broken pipes. He would like a new 75’ x 70’ metal building which would be large enough to get the equipment out of the weather – track hoes, dump trucks, etc.- and provide a more organized space for the inventory that is needed to be kept on hand for repairs. A budget amendment would likely need to be done. Grants may be available. Rather than put this off for another year, it was decided to exhaust the grant questions first.
In the Economic Development report, Lily Ponitz updated the council on the PBC VIP reception, thanked Christine Osborn for her assistance, stated the doners were very impressed and loved the look. Today was the first day of regular business at the PBC. Hours are Monday – Wednesday 10 -2 or by appt. Come by and have Christine show you around. Rooms are available to the public to rent. The Green Creative Collections will open in the incubator space. She has house plants, videography, photography and website design. There was a ribbon cutting for Chatuge Wood Designs and there will be a ribbon cutting for the Hiawassee Family Restaurant on June 26th when the DDA will present the owner with a check for the façade grant. This restaurant filled a critical empty space in town. NightMarket went well on June 6th although they did have to deal with some inclement weather toward the end of the evening. There will not be a NightMarket in July, next one will be August 1st. Music on the Square is in full swing and draws a good crowd each Saturday evening. Ms. Ponitz was asked if the PBC will pay for itself and she stated that even if both incubator spaces and the restaurant are occupied, they are still not going to break even. Some additional income will come from rental of the additional spaces, and she will be working on that at a meeting tomorrow.
In the Public Comment portion of the meeting, Mr. Noel Turner referred to the discussion of the Wastewater treatment plant and stated that it was mind-boggling to think of the salary survey, salary increases but if it fits in the budget then so be it.
Motion to enter executive session to discuss property acquisition or disposal was made by council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor.
Motion to exit executive session was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Scott Benton with all in favor.
Motion to adjourn was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet, with all in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm.
Note: Individuals with disabilities who require certain accommodations in order to participate in this meeting or questions regarding accessibility are required to contact City Hall at 706-896-2202. The City will strive to make reasonable accommodations for those individuals.
