BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – November 24th, 2025 6pm
Towns County Civic Center, 67 Lakeview Circle
COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
- Call to Order
1.1. Invocation –Scott Benton
1.2. Pledge of Allegiance
1.3. Approval agenda as distributed
- Consent Agenda
2.1. Minutes of November 4, 2025 Council Meeting
2.2. Minutes of November 14, 2025 Special Called Meeting
2.3. Minutes of November 19, 2025 Special Called Meeting
2.4. Minutes of November 24, 2025 Work Session
2.5. August and September 2025 financials
- Mayor’s Report
- 2026 Holiday/Meeting Schedule
- Shook House Proceeds Allocation
- Public Comment
- Sheriff Coleman signing Mutual Aid Agreement/Deputizing Officers
- Executive session
- Adjournment
COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES – November 24th, 2025
The Hiawassee City Council met for the November Work Session at the Towns County Civic Center (67 Lakeview Circle) on November 24th, 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 Deputy City Clerk Sheryl Branson, Police Chief Paul Smith, Officers Tava Morales, Jose Carvajal, Christopher Shelnut, Deputy Billing Clerk Anne Wiggin, Economic Development Director Lily Ponitz and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick. Special guests in attendance were Interim Sheriff Anthony Coleman, Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson, Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary Deputy David Marrell, Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Brashaw and incoming Council member Jeff Scott.
The Invocation was given by Council member Scott Benton and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Amy Barrett and seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet.
Next week at the Council meeting the Consent Agenda will include the minutes of November 4, 2025 Council Meeting, the minutes of November 14, 2025 Special Called Meeting, the minutes of November 19, 2025 Special Called Meeting, the minutes of November 24, 2025 Work Session and the August and September 2025 financials.
In his Mayor’s report, Mayor Chastain updated the Council on the events of the month, including training with GRWA (Georgia Rural Water Assoc), multi-agency mtg regarding funding for water system upgrades (GMA, Union County, GEFA and GRMC), water meter audits, GIS mapping and system updates (GMRC’s Faith Bryan), TC teacher Brook Whitt (developing a student work-study program), TVA/EPD meeting (to facilitate permitting timeline), proclamation for Rotary Club Peace Pole to promote unity and goodwill, floodplain management meetings, a 4-hour municipal law update class. He also thanked the EMC for placing the Christmas lights on the poles and the City and DDA completed decorating the Square for the holiday. The Square has been cleaned, refreshed and replanted with new seasonal plants.
On the agenda for next week will be the 2026 Holiday and meeting schedule which has been distributed to the Council.
Mayor Chastain stated that the Shook House Proceeds Allocation will need to be tabled next week.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Chastain expressed his pleasure at seeing the City’s working relationship with the Town County Sheriff’s office return to normal. The partnership ensures that all citizens of Towns County are afforded the very highest level of service available.
Interim Sheriff Anthony Colemen stated he was looking forward to working with the neighboring agencies. He further stated that as small agencies, we need to band together in case of a “critical incident”. Because of our rural nature and the potential for incidents in places where many people gather – schools, churches, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Young Harris College – leads the agencies to need cooperation. He anticipates reaching out to other agencies as well – Union County, Rabun County and the State Police to further the mutual aid agreement. In the event of an emergency, we will need all hands-on deck.
Interim Sheriff Coleman has signed the mutual aid agreement with the City and deputized Police Chief Paul Smith and officers Jose Carvajal, Tava Morales and Christopher Shelnut.
There being no need for executive session, motion to adjourn was made by Council member Patsy Owens and seconded by Council member Amy Barrett. Meeting adjourned at 6:20pm.