Lorraine Bennett • Clay County Progress New Town Attorney Crystal Bryson and Mayor Benita England discuss an agenda item.
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council held its Monday meeting amid packed boxes, draped tables and a skeleton wall. Renovations at town hall are well underway and the council has decided to remain on the premises. Moving out of the building proved too inconvenient.
“We’re staying,” said Town Clerk/Finance Officer Suzanne Hedden. The council had considered at its last meeting whether a move to the Beal Center/Historic Courthouse might be wise during the most intense construction. They will continue to conduct the town’s business while ignoring ringing hammers and rising dust.
New lighting in town hall is completed, painting in the building’s front half is done, the kitchen has been removed, a temporary wall is up with a new wall coming and new flooring is expected in March, Mayor Benita England said. Blue Ridge Electric has been in and an upgraded technology package is getting close.
“It’s coming together pretty good and I’m pleased,” she said. Funds for the renovations are coming from the $250,000 direct legislative grant the town received.
Some items no longer needed at town hall are going to Habitat for Humanity and Historic Hayesville, Inc., she said, and likely will appear in HHI’s annual Trash to Treasure sale.
The evening’s first item of business was to welcome new Town Attorney Crystal Bryson, a native of Nantahala, resident of Andrews with an office in Murphy. Bryson is married to Joseph Chilton, who attended school and played basketball in Clay County. Bryson will not be present at every council meeting but she will be available as needed to answer legal questions for the town.
The second item was an audit report from Kaseson Hooper of Turner & Company, who pronounced, “Everything was clean.” Of the audit, he said, “It’s one of the best ones I do.”
Hooper warned that the town’s joining with the county for the recent emergency medical services grant of more than $2 million to build a new training center “may affect our workload.”
He said he had no specifics at this point.
England said since town hall is a voting precinct the building will close for regular business during the March 3 primary election from 12 p.m. Monday, March 2 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 4.
If a runoff is needed the same hours will apply around May 12.
Under a new interlocal agreement with Clay County, the county will maintain the new EMS training facility and provide emergency medical services to the town. The town will have no role or obligation and the county will take sole responsibility for the facility.
England said the new Hayesville Inn on the Square, currently in the demolition phase, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2026.
She recently spent two days in Asheville attending the Essentials of Municipal Government training and described it as an invaluable experience. She said she gained many contacts she could call with problems or questions.
She also attended, with HHI Executive Director Sandy Zimmerman, a meeting with representatives from the National Registry of Historic Places. Hayesville is applying for membership.
England also said she had a meeting with a representative from Advent Health, which is planning to build a hospital in the Weaverville area of Buncombe County. The representative said they are visiting Clay County for information on what services they might offer that would be of benefit to the community.
Zoning Administrator April England reported the Planning and Zoning Board had met and added Terry Campbell as a new alternate member. She said two new members may be added to the Board of Adjustment but they have not been sworn in yet.
Councilwoman Lauren Tiger presented the council with several options for way-finding signs to be erected around Hayesville. The signs will point the way to public attractions around the town. England noted the Beal Center/Historic Courthouse is an iconic picture of Hayesville that should be used on the signs.
Zimmerman reminded the council the Small Town Main Street conference is March 10-12 in New Bern and invited any interested council members to attend with her.
The town council’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9.