By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
At the Monday, June 12 meeting the Hayesville Town Council awarded grants to four local groups and voted to install new safety handrails at the gazebo on the town square.
The council had received grant applications from REACH of Clay County, the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, the Clay County Historic & Arts Council and the Peacock Performing Arts Center.
The council had $4,500 to be awarded and they split the amount evenly among the four entities. Each will receive $1,125, an amount greater than the $800 REACH had requested and less than the other three had wanted.
The council held a public hearing for the 2023-24 proposed budget for the town. When no parties appeared to speak for or against the budget, council members approved $363,463.17 for general and designated funds for operating the town of Hayesville for the fiscal year.
The town’s tax rate remains unchanged at $.265 on each $100 assessed valuation of taxable property inside the Hayesville town limits.
Discussions are ongoing about installing a new speaker’s platform at the square. Councilman Harry Baughn said someone is willing to build the platform for the cost of materials alone but he does not yet have a specific quote for the charge.
Mayor Joe Slaton did have a quoted price of $1,500 from Joe Miller for building handrails on the gazebo. The handrails are needed as a safety measure, he said. Councilman Austin Hedden made the motion to proceed with this project. Councilwoman Lauren Tiger offered the second.
The council also voted to proceed with installation of a new Plexiglas bulletin board with metal frame at Town Hall. The projected cost of this project is $2,785. Hedden made the motion to proceed Tiger seconded. Sandy Zimmerman said Historic Hayesville Inc. has plans to support this project.
The council approved a $500 donation to the environmental group Mountain True for assistance in helping to clear a lot the town has purchased near the Quanassee Path. The town is developing a public park and bridge to connect the park across Town Creek to the Quanassee Path.
In Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace’s report, Wallace said the town had approved a proposal covering short-term rental properties in the area but gave no definition about the length of such rentals. He said he is working to determine how to rectify this oversight.
There will be no Board of Adjustment meeting in June, Wallace said. Stuart Jenner’s term on that board is expiring in July. He said alternate board member Betty Schopp has agreed to return to serve another term, but a new appointment will be needed to fill the term of the late Bert Schafer.
Slaton serves on the Planning and Zoning Board and his term is expiring in July. He agreed to serve another term. Rachel Baughn’s term also is ending and Slaton said he will wait until next month to learn whether she will continue.
The council discussed a nuisance complaint regarding a property on Dogwood Lane near the Clay County Senior Center.
The first step in addressing such complaints generally is to write a letter to the property owner. At this point the council was unclear where to send the letter for mowing and general cleanup of the site since the property’s ownership is unclear.