Lorraine Bennett • Progress Benita England is being sworn as a town council member.
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
The Hayesville Town Council welcomed new member Benita England, a replacement for Councilman Austin Hedden, who has moved out of the town limits. The council also is moving ahead with a landscaping upgrade around Town Hall.
England is a former Clay County Schools teacher and active worker at polling places on election day. She was sworn in by Mayor Joe Slaton as the first order of business at the Monday, Aug. 12 Town Hall meeting.
Hayesville Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace told the council that the town’s zoning ordinance and sign regulations — under review and revision for quite some time — were adopted April 8 and have been posted on the town’s website.
The ordinance regulates the location, use and size of all buildings and structures and the size of yards, density and distribution of populations. The ordinance creates districts for certain purposes, establishes boundaries, defines zoning terms and provides for the imposition of penalties for violating the ordinance.
Complete details of the zoning ordinance and sign regulations are available under Planning & Zoning at: www.townofhayesville.com.
Councilman Harry Baughn praised Wallace for a job well done in the preparation and revision stages after an extensive period of time. The ordinance and regulations were adopted on April 8 and are posted on the town’s website.
On the on-going issue of short term rentals in Hayesville, Wallace said that matter is still tabled and awaiting guidance from the state legislature.
Slaton said all paperwork has been completed for the $250,000 state grant awarded to Hayesville from the legislature last December and designated for capital improvements or equipment. The funds are intended for use in the trails project aimed at building a bike and pedestrian friendly Hayesville.
David Alsobrook of the Clay County Master Gardeners told the council two bids were solicited for the proposed landscaping project around Town Hall. The council gave the go-ahead for that project in June.
At that time, landscape designer Linda Milt said such a project could be completed in stages, starting with removing overgrown shrubbery, adding mulch and reworking some flower beds.
Alsobrook said he has a preliminary quote which he could recommend. Councilwoman Lauren Tiger suggested getting a total cost for the project and coming back before the council for final approval.
“Obviously, we’re supporting you,” Baughn told Alsobrook, who said money is available in an account containing funds for beautification.
Alsobrook said the optimum time to begin work on the landscaping project would be the second half of October when the weather begins to cool.
The Clay County Master Gardeners and Historic Hayesville Inc. have assisted in planting and tending many of the areas around Town Hall. Historic Hayesville Inc.’s Sandy Zimmerman said beautification of the town has always been part of the HHI board’s plan.
Once the landscaping project is completed there will be a need to maintain it and water and weed new plants until they are established, Alsobrook said. He indicated someone from the master gardeners could take on that chore twice weekly.
When all work is completed on the trails in Mayor’s Park and along Town Creek, those trails will need to be maintained and repaired, the mayor noted. He agreed that maintenance would be a legitimate expenditure.
Zimmerman briefed the council on statistics required annually by the Small Town Main Street program of which Hayesville is a member. This is the 10th year of keeping such statistics for that program, she said.
During the past fiscal year 13 full-time jobs and nine part-time positions were created in Hayesville. Three new businesses opened and none closed, she said. One business expanded.
Public and private investment in the town topped out at nearly $670,000. Volunteer hours contributed to downtown, rated at more than $31 per hour, totaled nearly $247,000 – a figure useful when applying for grants, Zimmerman explained.
Slaton said he is preparing to meet with a licensed engineer to discuss correcting an ongoing drainage issue on Mill Street and will bring the details to the council for acceptance. Funds are in hand from the American Rescue Plan’s Department of Environmental Quality to address the problem.
Six benches for Mayor’s Park and the new trail along Town Creek have been located at a cost of $125 each, the mayor said. Zimmerman said she would take that cost figure to the HHI board to see whether its members will agree to donate funds to purchase the benches.
The recent sale at the Trash to Treasure shop on the square, open from May 15 through Aug. 1, plus grosses from the shop over the summer, led to a successful season, Zimmerman said, and funds will be donated for needed repairs at the Peacock Performing Arts Center.
The council went into closed session to discuss employee salary increases but no action was taken.
The Town of Hayesville Council members will hold their next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at the Town Hall.