April England
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council gave its approval Monday to a budget of $559,812 for fiscal 2025-2026 and named a new zoning administrator to replace outgoing Ron Wallace, who likely will leave the job by the end of June.
The coming fiscal year’s budget is considerably larger than the budget of last year, $337,039, thanks to a substantial legislative grant the town received this year.
Monday evening’s meeting opened with a public hearing on the budget, which had been advertised in advance in the Clay County Progress. After no members of the public appeared to question or comment on the figures, Councilwoman Lauren Tiger made the motion for approval with Councilman Harry Baughn offering the second.
The council approved $4,500 in grants and contributions to local non-profits. The recipients are the Clay County Historical & Arts Council, the Peacock Performing Arts Center, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association and Mountain True.
The Clay County Historical & Arts Council will receive $750, Mountain True $1,000 and the Peacock Performing Arts Center and CCCRA each will receive $1,375.
Councilwoman Benita England made the motion for approval with Tiger seconding.
Mayor Joe Slaton introduced April England, who was offered and has accepted the job of Hayesville Zoning Administrator from outgoing Ron Wallace, who has held the position for more than three years.
England’s background includes nine years with Duke Energy in Wilmington where she said she held various positions including government and community relations and as public engagement manager. She also worked with United Way of the Cape Fear area and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Denver.
“I enjoy working out in the community and I am looking forward to this opportunity,” she told the council. England is married to Hayesville native Brett England who is employed at Jacky Jones Ford. They have a daughter, 7, and a son, 4. In Hayesville, she has been employed as front office coordinator at Julie Ledford Family Dentistry.
As this was Wallace’s last council meeting, Slaton thanked him for his excellent service.
Baughn added, “Your ability in taking photos has definitely been an asset.” He made the motion to hire England and Tiger offered the second.
In his final zoning report, Wallace said a zoning compliance certificate has been issued to Norman and Kathy Thacker for an accessory storage building at the rear of their lot at 406 McGlamery Farm Drive in Hayesville.
A new sign permit was issued to Wayne Roediger for a new building located at 205 Hwy. 64 West and an inspection and zoning compliance application was signed for Joseph Hood at the Campground 64 Business on Highway 64 East.
Wallace said the Board of Adjustment will meet this Thursday at 6 p.m. and a Planning and Zoning Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1.
Historic Hayesville Inc.’s Sandy Zimmerman told the council her board will be voting on two new members and a new treasurer soon. She said a grant of at least $25,000 is expected by the end of October and will be used to add Internet to the HHI building.
The organization’s Trash to Treasure sale has been extended through the end of June and she said she hopes the net will be between $10,000 and $15,000 after expenses are paid.
Slaton said Austin Hedden has been cutting grass, weed eating, cleaning curbs and maintaining the Mayor’s Park and the Whitney Path around town.
A fairy garden has been established in flower beds at Town Hall, courtesy of Debbie Alsobrook. The garden is intended to give young visitors an imagination boost as they walk around the town.
Bids for the Town Hall reroofing project will be publicly opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 16.
The mayor reminded the council that filing for the next municipal election begins at 12 p.m. Monday, June 30 and ends at 12 p.m. Friday, July 18.