By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
Newly elected Hayesville Mayor Benita England led her Town Council meeting Monday evening by offering some suggestions for improvements around the town hall building and the Mayor's Park.
She proposed:
• Upgrade lighting in town hall, which she estimated is about 50 years old.
• Improving technology within and outside the building.
• Replace entrance doors front and back, including making them handicapped accessible.
• Adding new shrubbery to Mayor's Park.
She asked the council members to bring their own suggestions to the next meeting. The town has about $200,000 remaining of the legislative grant it received, so some funds are available for the proposed projects.
No members of the public attended the meeting, which was held in the town hall conference room. England described the weeks since her election and swearing in as having been very busy. She said she had spent the past month talking to business owners, service agencies, non-profits and the citizens of Hayesville. She also attended a meeting of the Clay County Commission and described the experience as very positive.
The town had faced its own busy time with the Shop Small Shop Local event and the annual Christmas parade coming so close together, she noted.
"I've realized I can't do everything that needs to be done," England said. She appointed Joe Slaton, now retired as mayor and serving as councilman, as a point person for suggestions for improving shrubbery in the Mayor's Park.
She suggested Councilwoman Lauren Tiger take charge of the way finding signs to be installed around Hayesville, pointing visitors to Moss Library, the post office, the Peacock Performing Arts Center and other local attractions.
Town Clerk/Finance Officer Suzanne Hedden said deposits to the town’s coffers were pretty normal for November. Sales and use taxes came in. Reviewing the numbers, Councilman Harry Baughn said on average the figures looked much the same as the previous year, with sales and use taxes down a little and property taxes slightly up.
The council approved an increase in expenses for seminar attendance for England, who will be participating in training sessions online and in Asheville. Council members voted to transfer some funds to a capital management trust in order to increase interest income. They also voted to move funds from the town’s checking account to a higher interest paying account.
They voted to add two picnic tables to the area where a walking path is established through Hedden Alley between the offices of attorney Paul Lipof and the Bauer Dispensary in downtown Hayesville. Because already established planter boxes have a bench, the council decided no other benches would be needed.
The council approved Terry Campbell to the Hayesville Planning and Zoning Board. In her report, Zoning Administrator April England said she had fielded a number of signage questions recently. The new Happy Dragon restaurant currently has a temporary sign. She expects the restaurant, the nearby bicycle shop and the Firefly Café to be adding permanent signage soon.