By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council turned an eye toward the future at Monday evening’s meeting as members discussed development of a public park on an acre of land the town recently purchased near the downtown area.
They also welcomed the addition of another new business coming soon to the town square, a bicycle repair shop. The town bought acreage beside Compass Rose, formerly Ye Old Cupboard Antiques, for $40,000 using funds from the American Recovery Plan, said Mayor Joe Slaton. The purchase was made late last year.
Mayor Slaton said he would like to see something developed there to complement the Quanassee Park area just across the street.
“Something to make it more like the open area across the road, with native plants and maybe picnic tables,” Slaton mused. The council also discussed a possible footbridge across the creek.
The bicycle repair shop, scheduled for possible opening in a couple of months, would be located where Andrew’s Anglers and Fly Shop was previously housed. That business has closed its Hayesville location.
Specific details on the bicycle shop were sketchy but the council learned that in addition to bike repairs supplies will be sold at the shop.
Mayor Slaton also announced a $45,000 grant received from the N.C. State Legislature with assistance from N.C. Rep. Karl Gillespie, funds that might be used to make improvements to the recently purchased property.
Some of those funds also might go toward bike and pedestrian pathways, where developments are already underway. Slaton said the town has three years to spend the funds.
In the zoning report, Hayesville Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace said he has met with the new bicycle shop owners. He also said additional signage is going up at Carlotta’s Restaurant.
Under new business, the council learned the Historic Clay County Courthouse/Beal Center has a new executive director, Dawn Holladay, who began the job the first of this year.
In a brief telephone interview, Holladay said she has done weddings and event planning before, but not professionally. She is co-owner of Lawns to Limbs Tree and Crane Services in Hayesville.
Christmas lights and decorations are being removed from the square this week. The council is ordering three new light decorations for next year.