HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA/MINUTES-August 5th, 2025 6pm

BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE       SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – August 5th, 2025 6pm
Hiawassee City Hall 50 River Street Council Chambers
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA       

1. Call to Order 

1.1.   Invocation –Amy Barrett

1.2.   Pledge of Allegiance

1.3.   Approval agenda as distributed

1. Consent Agenda

2.1.   Minutes of July 1, 2025 Council Meeting

2.2.   Minutes of June 28, 2025 Work Session Meeting

2.3.   May Financials

1. Motion to approve the purchase of WaterWorth software

1. Motion to approve $35,000 to install Master Meter at Dune Rd/Hwy 76

1. Motion to approve the alcohol license for Bugatti’s

1. Motion to accept the resignation of Babette Dunn from the DDA

1. Motion to approve the Mutual Aid agreement

1. Executive session

1. Adjournment

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 5th, 2025 

The City of Hiawassee August Council meeting was called to order at 6:00pm on August 5, 2025, in Council Chambers by Mayor Jay Chastain, Jr. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live. 

Present, in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Amy Barrett, Scott Benton, Nancy Noblet, Patsy Owens and Jonathan Wilson. Staff present were Economic Development Director Lily Ponitz, Police Chief Paul Smith, Officer Jose Carvajal, Deputy City Clerk Sheryl Branson and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick. 

The Invocation was given by Council member Amy Barrett and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The agenda was amended at the request of City Attorney Thomas Mitchell to include the Approval of Legal Services Agreement Related to AFFF/PFAS Litigation at line 7.1

Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Amy Barrett seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet, with all in favor.

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the minutes of July 1, 2025 Council Meeting, the minutes of July 28, 2025 Work Session Meeting and the May Financials, was made by Council member Amy Barrett seconded by Council member Scott Benton, with all in favor.

Motion to approve the purchase of WaterWorth software was made by Council member Amy Barrett.  Council member Patsy Owens asked what the software would cost and why we need it now.   City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick state the full software package for 1 year would be $14,100, of which $11,100 would come from Water and Sewer and $3,000 would come from General.  A 3-year subscription would be $42,300, of which $33,300 would come from Water and Sewer and $9,000 would come from General.  The 3-year subscription come with a discount of $6,381 which would be divided between the funds. She also stated the reason she felt it was important to purchase now is because the City Engineers, Engineering Management, Inc, will be presenting the Capital Improvement Plan at the retreat later this month and this software provides a way to visually see how those projects will impact the cash position of the city and how grants, loans and rate increases can impact the city’s financial position.   Council member Amy Barrett wished to wait until the retreat and see if Engineering Management might be able to procure a grant to purchase the software. The motion failed for a lack of a second.    Council member Scott Benton made the motion to table the purchase, it was seconded by Council member Patsy Owens, with all in favor.

Motion to approve $35,000 to install Master Meter at Dune Rd/Hwy 76 was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson seconded by Council member Patsy Owens, with all in favor.

Motion to approve the alcohol license for Bugatti’s was made by Council member Amy Barrett seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson, with all in favor.

Motion to accept the resignation of Babette Dunn from the DDA was made by Council member Scott Benton seconded by Council member Patsy Owens, with all in favor.

Mayor Chastain asked Police Chief Paul Smith to speak about the Mutual Aid agreement.  Chief Smith stated that he had a conversation with Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson and Sheriff Henderson suggested that they have an agreement.  Chief Smith stated the agreement was based on mutual aid state law and on one between the City of Brunswick and Glynn County.  The only thing that state law allows that is not in this agreement is compensation between the agencies.  The understanding is the mutual aid is compensation enough. If approved tonight, it will be signed and sent on to the Sheriff.  Motion to approve the Mutual Aid agreement was made by Council member Nancy Noblet seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson, with all in favor.

Motion to approve Legal Services Agreement Related to AFFF/PFAS Litigation was made by Council member Patsy Owens seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet, with all in favor.

There being no need for executive session, motion to adjourn was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor

Meeting adjourned at 6:12pm.