Benita England
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council Monday named Benita England to replace Councilman Austin Hedden on the council. Hedden has moved from the town limits.
England, a former teacher in Clay County Schools and a familiar face at polls on election day, is expected to join the council to fill out Hedden’s unexpired term. All council members will run for election next year.
The council also re-appointed Sara Smith to the Hayesville Board of Adjustment. Smith’s term expires at the end of the month. She has agreed to continue serving on the board.
At Monday evening’s regular meeting the council learned the Southwestern Commission grant funds totaling $45,000, which paid for creation of the Mayor’s Park, has been received.
Mayor Joe Slaton said the park is complete except for the addition of more than a half dozen park benches which he hopes will be added to the trail. The benches can be converted into picnic tables, he said.
Slaton said he intends to approach the Clay County School Board about connecting the park’s trail to the Quanassee Path. A spur off the botanical garden is not officially open but the Mayor’s Park portion is welcoming visitors, he said. Council members already have walked the trail.
The council is working toward connecting the two paths and taking bids for maintaining the trail in Mayor’s Park and clearing the land to Town Creek.
“We need to do both to make the trail reach its full potential,” Slaton said.
Historic Hayesville Inc.’s Sandy Zimmerman told the council the Centennial Exhibit Building at 116 Sanderson Street is in good shape and weathered recent thunderstorms with no ill effects. She said the number of people visiting the building for research or to learn about Clay County and Hayesville history continues to grow every weekend.
The Trash to Treasure shop on the square will host a clearance sale and close by the end of July, Zimmerman said. Sales from the shop have grossed more than $32,000, she told the council. A portion of the funds will be donated to the Peacock Performing Arts Center and to HHI’s partners, Zimmerman said.