BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE       SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – February 24th, 2025 6 pm
Hiawassee City Hall 50 River Street Upstairs Training Room
HIAWASSEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AND WORK SESSION AGENDA   

1. Call to Order the Special called meeting

1.1.  Invocation – Amy Barrett

1.2.  Pledge of Allegiance

1.3.  Approval agenda as distributed

2. Motion to approve the resolution to opt out of HB 581 – Statewide Homestead Exemption

3. Motion to adjourn the Special Called Meeting

4. Call to order the February Work Session

5. Consent Agenda

5.1.  Minutes from the February 4^th Council Meeting

5.2.  Minutes from the February 24^th Work Session Meeting

5.3.  December 2024 Financial

6. Mayor’s Report

7. Rushton Audit Report – Justin Burruss

8. EMI contracts for Watershed Monitoring and Wastewater Nutrient Optimization Plan

9. Special Election discussion

10. Shook House discussion

11. Council Pay increase discussion

12. Wastewater Treatment Plant Report – Clint Royce

13. Economic Development Report – Denise McKay

14. Executive session

15. Adjournment

Hiawassee City Council Special Called Minutes February 24th, 2025 6 pm

The Hiawassee City Council held a Special Called meeting on Monday February 24th, 2025 at 6pm in the upstairs training room at City Hall.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Jay Chastain.  The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live. Present in addition to the Mayor Pro Tem, were Council members Amy Barrett, Nancy Noblet, Patsy Owens, and Jonathan Wilson.  Staff present were Wastewater Treatment Plant Director Clint Royce, Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Officer Jose Carvajal, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.  Attorney Thomas Mitchell attended via telephone.  

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

The motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor.

Motion to approve the resolution to opt out of HB 581 – Statewide Homestead Exemption was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.

Motion to adjourn the Special Called Meeting was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all in favor.  Meeting was adjourned at 6:03 pm

Mayor Pro Tem Chastain called to order the February Work Session.  He stated that the work session agenda would need to be amended to include 6.1 the PBC coordinator position and 6.2 the second read of the Hotel/Motel Ordinance. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.

The Consent Agenda for approval next week will consist of the minutes from the February 4th Council Meeting, the minutes from the February 24th Work Session Meeting and the December 2024 Financial

In the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Pro Tem Chastain stated that 19 leaks had been fixed since the last meeting.  He commends all the staff that participate in fixing leaks – Carl Grizzle, Jarrett Milam, Mike Whittemore, Clint Royce, Seth Grizzle, Andrew Sims – they work together to get the job done.  He also commended City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick for attaining her certification in the Clerks Masters Education Management Development Program. MPT Chastain attended the Georgia Cities Summit in January.  He has been on the Council since 2005, when training was not encouraged.  He stated the training makes you realize how much you don’t know. He has received his Certificate of Achievement from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government for 42 hours of instruction, all of which has been take since he stepped into the Mayor Pro Tem position, trying to learn as much as possible to serve more effectively and more efficiently.  A check was delivered to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds for the overpayment on their water bill.  Ms. Thomson was disappointed she did not receive more.  Hikeawassee kicked off today with 7 riders and 4 fed.  The first hiker was from Yorkshire England with the “handle” Dude.  The program picks up and transport hikers from the trailheads to the city to create revenue for the business during a time of the year when revenues are low.  Mayor Monday had a volunteer group of 6 and a stand in former Mayor, Steve Hutchison.  Georgia Mountains Armory had a ribbon cutting – they are down behind Dunkin Donuts.  Workforce Housing will be the main topic at the Towns County Civic Association meeting on March 6th at 5pm at the Towns County Civic Center. MPT Chastain attended a Georgia Mountains Regional Commission meeting and said it was a great networking opportunity and a place to hear ideas from other communities.  September 5, 2023 the Council approved the payment of the match for a furniture grant for $10,333.  The furniture is now her and it is time to pay for these funds from SPLOST.  It will be on the agenda next week to approve making the payment.

The PBC position reclassification raised some questions with regard to the job description and the perceived overlap in the Economic Development Director’s duties as well as the reporting relationship.  It was suggestion that a committee be formed – two from the Council, two from the DDA and Denise to get clarity and bring back to Council.  Council members Noblet and Owens will serve.

The second reading of the Hotel/Motel ordinance is necessitated by not having a full council at the first reading.  As a matter of procedure, ordinances cannot be passed unless there is a full council present for the vote.

Justin Burruss of Rushton CPAs, the City’s auditing firm, presented the Council with the report for the 23-24 fiscal year.  He stated it was a clean audit with only 1 finding – a lapse in procedures related to water bill adjustments.  He stated that the city is moving towards a healthier financial position as the city had 1.6 months in reserve in the 22-23 audit but has 2.5 months in the 23-24 audit.  He said they like to see a city with 3 to 6 months in reserve and the city is making good progress.  The upward change in net position indicates growth.  He also stated that, although the general fund expenses have increased, the revenues have increased at a greater rate.  He also stated that the Water/Sewer funds are tracking consistently.  The Special Revenue Funds include ARPA – funds were expended in 2023 and will drop off the audit in 2025, DDA – funds are primarily used for the Paris Business Center, and the Grants funds with is used for tracking grants received.  Hotel/Motel has $14,989 which has rolled from the previous year- this is a fund balance.  Regarding internal controls, when Rushton first began auditing the city some 8 years ago, there were 15 findings which were cleaned up early on.  In recent years there have been no findings.  Due to some staffing changes last year, compliance with an internal control procedure was missed, which caused the finding. It has already been corrected.  This year, because the city received over $750,000 in Federal funds, we also had a single audit.  There were no findings on that audit.

EMI contracts are a necessary expense due to state mandates.  They keep us in compliance with the state.  This will be explained further by Clint Royce.

Attorney Mitchell has reviewed the intergovernmental agreement for the Board of Elections.   It is the same as the last contract except for section 2 of the second paragraph which he said is consistent with the law and he is fine with the agreement.  He suggested requesting they do the election on Tuesday for the special election in June.  This would be for the Mayor and Post 3, which will be vacated by Jay Chastain to run for Mayor. The special election is a budgeted expense in this fiscal year and Towns County will have an election in June (Public Service Commission) so the city will not bear the entire expense of an election.

The Shook House discussion will be handled in executive session.

Council member Jonathan Wilson is requesting the Council consider a Council Pay increase. He stated it was difficult to manage special-called meetings with a full-time job.  He must find coverage if it falls on a day when he works and he loses pay because of that.  MPT Chastain stated that the city charter is not specific.  Council member Wilson just wanted it to be discussed, either raising the rate or allowing for pay for special-called meetings.  Attorney Mitchell will send the procedures that need to be followed for that to happen should the Council choose to do so.  The pay would not be effective until Jan 2026 if it were approved before the qualifying in August.  It was brought up to the Council that the citizens do not feel they are being informed about special-called meetings.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Director Clint Royce gave an update on the Wastewater Treatment operations including the reporting that Engineering Management (EMI) does for the city (the two contracts that are on the agenda).  Specific monitoring happens at several lift stations and points on the lake to verify that nutrients and contaminants are not entering the lake. These are some of the areas with which EMI assists the city.  Parts take 6 months or more to receive.  An aerator has been on order for 6 months and Mr. Royce feels he needs to order another one to make sure he has a spare.  The work shed needs to be replaced.  This building is used to store equipment that should be out of the weather when not in use.  There are 21 lift stations, each with 2 -3 pumps and he needs the replacement pumps to be stored inside as well.  He would like to purchase another aerator which helps to keep the smell down.  The UV lights (1 set) needs to be replaced.  The department also needs a lift for the pumps.  When they need to remove them, they have to call Midway Electric to bring equipment big enough to pull the pumps.  The Water and Sewer department would benefit from a wheeled track hoe.  It would not require a dump truck and trailer as it could move itself.  It is also needed to clean out the drainage ditches and clean culverts.  MPT Chastain stated they need to work on CPI and the budget.  Mr. Royce stated that the state is now requiring improvements to be done each year at the wastewater plant.  He is installing check valves at all the lift stations.  Two are done and he is trying to do one every month.  There are 3,500 hours on the current track hoe and that is why it is becoming so expensive to repair.  

Denise McKay gave the economic development update.  Hikeawassee brings in over $100,000 to local business.  They have expanded to transporting hikers 7 days a week with all volunteer staff.  The Mayor Mondays will continue through May.  The Fundraiser for the PBC will again be at the Georgia Mountain fairgrounds on July 19th, 2025 and will be a Jimmy Buffet style even including pirates.  The PBC is nearly complete, the interior is being painted, furniture and appliances have been ordered and are in.  The Paint and Pottery Studio has already outgrown its space and is moving into the area where Bacchus is.  They will have a ribbon-cutting once they are in the new space. Caitlin is working hard on the NightMarket.  The bands and food trucks are booked, and vendors are now being sought.  The DDA is transitioning to a new financial package.  Firefly project is in progress, and they are working with the artist.

Motion to go into executive session to discuss purchase, disposal of or lease of property was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.

Motion to exit executive session was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor.

Motion to adjourn was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all in favor.  Meeting adjourned at 8:16pm.