Lorraine Bennett • Progress Elam Fuerch presents his business plan of several pages to the town council.
By Lorraine Bennett
Staff Writer
Possibly the youngest person ever to make a presentation to the Hayesville Town Council appeared at Monday evening’s meeting to ask permission to open a lemonade stand and sell lemonade near the town square.
Ten-year-old Elam Fuerch, accompanied by his father, Michael, came armed with dreams and a hand-drawn business plan of several pages which he presented to the town council. He is a fourth grader at Hayesville. He said he would sell the lemonade at $1 a serving and give 25 percent of the profits to Matt’s Ministry. He would try to offer his product a few times during the summer, maybe on Saturdays.
“If he wanted to place his stand near the courthouse he would need to talk to the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association,” Mayor Joe Slaton said.
Maybe he could put it by town hall, the mayor suggested, adding, “The space by the bicycle stand might be a good location for it.” The young man’s idea apparently did not require a vote of approval. There was no opposition to his plan and the council took no action.
In other discussion at Monday’s regular council meeting, the mayor said the proposed extension of the Quanassee Path near the Clay County Recreation Center was awaiting approval from the Clay County commissioners.
The council briefly discussed the re-roofing of town hall and necessary repairs and repainting. Funds will come from the Legislative Grant already in hand and the mayor said bids for the project will be accepted.
The council also discussed the 2025-2026 Town of Hayesville budget and pronounced it satisfactory. The next step will be announcing a public hearing on the budget.
Zoning Administrator Ron Wallace said a zoning compliance certificate had been issued to Jacky Jones Dodge for an extension to the service center on Fort Hembree Road. A new sign permit application was approved and a permit issued to Josh Lance for the building at 78 Sanderson Street.
Positive action was reported following a nuisance letter sent to a Hiawassee Street resident. “Nuisance letters do help,” said Wallace, indicating the letter had prodded the resident to begin a clean-up process on the property.
A flashing neon sign established on a town business recently is in violation of town regulations and the operator of the business will be approached.
During public comments, Historic Hayesville Inc.’s Sandy Zimmerman told the council a virtual meeting will be scheduled soon to discuss Community Development Block Grant funds which may still be available to the town.
The funds, if granted, might be used for renovations of the old brick hotel and also for improvements at Molly and Me Antiques, which is adjacent to the project and will be impacted by any renovations.
Zimmerman said the Trash to Treasure sale, located between Chevelle’s and Carl Patterson Flooring has raised almost $5,000. The Centennial Exhibit will be open Memorial Day weekend.
Plants for the Hayesville square area have been procured from Lowe’s and Ingles, which sold them to the town for half price, Zimmerman said, and will be used to fill in the square area and added to locations around the post office and library.