By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
Adding a large clock on the courthouse square was an idea presented to Hayesville Town Council members at Monday evening’s meeting. Historic Hayesville Inc. members Bob Hanson and Stu Jenner wanted to know if the council would approve it.
Hanson recapped some of the history when the old courthouse was brought back to life and said envisioning a town clock was always former Small Town Main Street volunteer Deborah Nichols’ dream.
“We’d like to place the clock on the square and we’ll raise the money, about $20,000, for a serious clock with a metal pole and housing, something to last for decades,” Hanson said. “We’re asking for the town’s approval and we’ll decide how to chase the funding.”
“We’re going to involve everybody,” said Jenner, meaning HHI, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association and other active groups. “We don’t have a major project this year. HHI will start the fund. This town comes through. This is like the bow on the package, a luxury.”
Hanson said there are a lot of different options to be considered. A four-faced clock is one possibility. A clock that could light up at night is another. Should it have Roman numerals or Arabic? How high should the pole be?
Putting the clock near the historical marker could be a preferred space for placement.
HHI’s Sandy Zimmerman said some funds are available that could be designated for such a project.
Since the town council has just seen the proposal he would like time to study its possibilities, Mayor Joe Slaton said.
“We have nothing but time,” Jenner responded.
“I’m not sure what kind of motion we can make,” Councilman Harry Baughn noted, adding that CCCRA has the lease on the property. The Historic Clay County Courthouse/Beal Center, CCCRA and HHI should all be involved, Baughn said, and maybe representatives from those groups would want to meet with the town council, perhaps next month.
CCCRA President Curt Wheeler said, “We all agree.” That group meets again in August,” he said, “and now the clock is “just a very general concept.”
A South Carolina company would deliver and install a clock for free, Jenner said. Estimates of cost vary widely and would be a major topic to consider.
Baughn made a motion to table the proposal for the present and bring it up again. Councilman Austin Hedden offered the second.
The council did give its support to Rod Fortney, president of the Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association, who asked the council for a letter concerning a U.S. Forest Service proposal on a day use fee for mountain bikers who use the Jack Rabbit Trail System.
“The forest service is accepting public comment on day use fees for mountain bikers only,” Fortney said. “We’re asking for a letter of support that a day usage fee be applied equally to hikers and bikers.”
The forest service says Jack Rabbit is designated as a mountain biker trail, but Fortney argued that it’s a hiker and biker trail.
“We ask for the support of the council for our position that the day usage fee be applied equally to all users,” Fortney said. “Hikers outnumber bikers three to one. We feel it’s not correct that only mountain bikers are charged a fee.”
He said there is no concrete information yet on how such a fee charge would be implemented. The forest service is accepting public comment on the issue until Aug. 26.
“If they apply it they should apply it fairly,” Fortney said.
The council agreed. Baughn made the motion authorizing the mayor to send a letter of support to the forest service insuring that any fee be applied equally to all users.
In other business:
• The council presented Tony Ward, Western Region Program coordinator for the environmental group MountainTrue, a check for $500 for the group’s assistance in helping clear a lot the town purchased near the Quanassee Path.
• A speaker’s platform for the gazebo area is being constructed by Interstate Welding. The town will be responsible for purchasing wheels so the platform can be moved and adding signage featuring Interstate Welding, which is donating the construction cost.
• New handrails have been added at the gazebo and were up for the past weekend’s Festival on the Square.
• The council voted to seek a lien on the Anna Rutledge property near the Peacock Playhouse. Baughn described the property as “a health hazard and an eyesore.” Attorney Paul Lipof had sent a letter asking that the property be cleaned up, but received no response.
• The council agreed a lien is the next step. Hedden made the motion to proceed with the lien. Councilwoman Lauren Tiger offered the second.
The council also agreed to have the attorney write a letter asking for cleanup of property at Dogwood Hills.
• Council members also agreed to have the attorney look at contract paperwork for an electric vehicle drive-through charging station that could be installed near Town Hall.
The town would pay for electricity and signage. People driving in to charge their cars would pay a fee to the company, Envirospark Networks, Inc. The company’s website said it is based in Atlanta.
• Hayesville Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace said the Board of Adjustment will meet July 20 to review applications, including lots at McGlamery Farm.
There will be no July meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board, Wallace said.