Chastain to replace Berrong on Hiawassee City Council
News, Politics August 23, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Qualifying for Hiawassee City Council ended at 4 pm, Friday, Aug. 23, and the three open seats have been determined. Incumbents Anne Mitchell, Post 4, and Nancy Noblet, Post 5, qualified unchallenged for four year terms.
Post 3 Councilman Kris Berrong opted not to re-qualify, with former Hiawassee Councilman Jay “Junior” Chastain automatically securing the seat that Berrong will vacate in January 2020. Chastain, a paramedic for Towns County and Cherokee County, NC, was unseated by sitting Councilwoman Patsy Owens in 2017.
Due to no challengers in the race, an election will not be held in November.
Feature Image: Jay Chastain Jr.
Hiawassee City Council Candidate Forum
Politics September 8, 2017Hiawassee, GA – Towns County Chamber of Commerce and Towns County Homeowners Association have announced sponsorship of the 2017 Hiawassee City Council Candidate Forum.
The Forum is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Towns County Civic Center, located adjacent to the Towns County Courthouse in Hiawassee.
Early voting begins on October 16, 2017.
Mayoral Candidates:
Liz Ordiales
Barry Keith Dearing
Post 1:
Amy Barrett
Post 2:
Jay Chastain, Jr.
Patsy Owens
Post 5:
Nancy Noblet
Ann Wedgewood
Hiawassee City Council sets 2019 election qualifications
News, Politics January 11, 2019HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Hiawassee City Council held a special-called meeting on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 10, to discuss information pertaining to the 2019 election. Three of the five council seats will be listed on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Qualifying will take place at Hiawassee City Hall from Wednesday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 23, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The qualifying fee is $45.00. Candidates must reside within Hiawassee city limits for a minimum of one-year prior to election day, and be over the age of 21.
Posts currently filled by Anne Mitchell, Kris Berrong, and Nancy Noblet could potentially face challengers, should the three council members choose to run for re-election.
Noblet was elected to Post 5 in 2017, occupying the council seat left vacant by Mayor Liz Ordiales, a former council member.
Council members Anne Mitchell, Kris Berrong, Nancy Nobet, and Amy Barrett attended Thursday’s meeting, in addition to Mayor Ordiales. Councilwoman Patsy Owens was absent, said to be in Florida, vacationing.
Hiawassee City Council is scheduled to convene for their monthly work session Monday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Meetings are open to the public.
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*UPDATED* Hiawassee City Council Election Results
News, Politics November 7, 2017HIAWASSEE, GA – The 2017 Hiawassee City Council election has concluded. The results are as follows:
Mayor:
Liz Ordiales 212 – 70%
Barry Keith Dearing 91 – 30%
Post 1:
Amy Barrett – 100%
Post 2:
Patsy Owens 180 – 62%
Jay Chastain Jr. 111 – 38%
Post 5:
Nancy Noblet 162 – 55%
Anne Wedgewood 131 – 45%
Dual alcohol referendums pass on local ballot
Election 2018, News November 7, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Voters in Towns County were given an option on the Nov. 6 ballot to accept or reject a referendum that would allow licensed establishments to serve alcohol-by-the-pour. A total of 66.67% of citizens favored the decree, with 33.33% opposing the mandate.
A second referendum appeared on the ballot for voters residing within Hiawassee city limits, classified as a “brunch resolution” which will permit Sunday alcohol sales to begin at 11 am rather than 12:30 pm. The brunch resolution was accepted by 61.41% of voters. A total of 38.59% rejected the brunch bill.
Hiawassee attempted to include a liquor store referendum on the November ballot by collecting the amount of signatures necessary for an allowance. A state requirement to include the referendum on the ballot stipulated that 35% of valid registered voters from the 2016 General Primary election, currently residing within the jurisdiction, must add their names to a petition in a show of support. The computed amount was set at 233 signatures. Of the 304 signatures collected, 181 voters were verifiable by the Board of Elections. The package store petition contained 56 duplicate names, while 64 signatures were shown to be attached to individuals not registered to vote, residing outside of the city limits, or deceased.
Hiawassee aspires to garner the amount of signatures needed to include a package store referendum on a future ballot.
Liz Ordiales Defends City Ordinance, Jay Chastain Jr. Questions Decision
News, Politics October 31, 2017HIAWASSEE, GA – In an appearance on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at the Movers and Shakers, EMC Director Roy Perren confirmed BRMEMC is required by state law to accept the Franchise Ordinance approved by Hiawassee City Council during Special Called Meetings on Aug. 8 to 11, 2017.
Director Perren explained the controversial “tax versus fee” will be passed along to Hiawassee citizens in the form of an additional line item on future bills. Based on an average of 897 kilowatt-hours per residence, BRMEMC members can expect to see an increase of $55.00 per year in charges. Businesses within the city limits will also see their rates rise.
“[The estimate] is skewed low because of part-time residents,” Roy Perren said. The EMC Director referenced the City’s ordinance as a fee, not a tax enacted by the Council. BRMEMC will hold their first Open Meeting on Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at their facility in Young Harris. A two-day notice of public attendance was stipulated by Mr. Perren.
“This ordinance was to impose a Franchise FEE to the BRMEMC for the use of our City Right of Ways. It is state law that municipalities can imposed this FEE. Of the 535 cities in Georgia, 98 percent collect these fees,” Mayoral candidate Liz Ordiales maintains.
“This ordinance was passed by the entire City Council and was completed while I was not a part of the leadership of the city. Councilman Chastain DID vote for this ordinance to move forward,” Ordiales emphasized in an email sent to Fetch Your News on October 31.
The controversial ordinance was adopted less than a week after Ordiales stepped down as Hiawassee Mayor Pro-Tem, a decision made in order to seek election as the “City’s CEO.” Although no longer officially in office, Ordiales continued to volunteer her time steering the Council’s course.
Councilman Jay Chastain Jr. expressed regret toward approving the decree in numerous interviews conducted by Fetch Your News.
“The ordinance moved too fast during Special Called Meetings. I was under the impression it wouldn’t affect the citizens or business owners,” Chastain explained. “All I heard was how great this would be for Hiawassee, how the City would rake in fees from [BRMEMC] and it seemed like a good thing. Once I understood it would affect the people, I wished I had been given the time to look into the details beforehand. I voted yes, but knowing what I know now makes a world of difference.”
Councilman Chastain says the ordinance played a role in his decision to endorse Ordiales’s opponent, Barry Keith Dearing.
“Barry wants to do the right thing. He wants to repeal it. Tax or fee, whatever you want to call it, at the end of the day it will cost the taxpayers,” Chastain says.
Fetch Your News was not notified, per law, of the Special Called Meetings in which the Franchise or Planning-Expansion Ordinances were adopted. Chastain voted no to the latter, but was outvoted by the Council.
Invitations to discuss the approaching Hiawassee City Council election were extended to all candidates by Fetch Your News.
Follow FYN for continued coverage of the 2017 election. Count on us to broadcast results on November 7.
Election 2017: Hiawassee City Council Candidate Forum
News, Politics October 4, 2017Hiawassee, GA – Monday night’s Forum for Hiawassee City Council posts consisted of opening and closing statements, prepared questions asked of each of the seven candidates, followed by inquiries from City residents. Professor John Van Vliet of Young Harris College moderated the panel at the Towns County Civic Center on October 2, 2017.
Following an Invocation, the National Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the forum began.
First addressed were Mayoral Candidates, Liz Ordiales and Barry Dearing.
Former Mayor Pro-Tem of 4-months, Ms. Ordiales, opened with her qualifications and achievements – retirement from managing an estimated $12 million dollar budget while employed in Miami with AT&T, extensive local community service involvement during her 18-years of full-time residency in Towns County, and a list of improvements the City has experienced since Ordiales was elected to Post 5 in 2015.
Barry Dearing, Founder of Van Keith Insurance, an 18-year local business with an estimated $8 million dollar budget, spoke of his professional expertise, his affection for his fourth generation hometown, adding he looks forward to serving the community.
When asked to cite main goals within a five-to-ten year span, Mr. Dearing conveyed he plans to keep both resident’s and business owner’s interests in mind and will treat citizens equally while respecting the past, and presenting new ideas for the future. “I want to leave Hiawassee better than I found it,” Dearing expressed.
Ms. Ordiales strives for “self-sufficiency” and would like to implement a program with WorkForce Georgia to teach subsequent generations the skills necessary to match area business demands, such as tourism and nursing. Ms. Ordiales also noted a need for improved infrastructure, specifically the sewage system. “Growth is coming. We need to be ready,” Ordiales warned.
Barry Dearing agrees infrastructure expansion is necessary for future growth and plans to work with the Towns County Chamber of Commerce to promote Hiawassee and Lake Chatuge’s beauty. Mr. Dearing intends to encourage business growth geared toward the region, keeping the workforce local with a 5% incentive.
Liz Ordiales hopes to compete with other cities by carefully planning economic development through connections with outside agencies, attracting companies to fill empty storefronts, and advancing the travel and tourism industry.
Confliction between the two Mayoral candidates arose regarding the Franchise Tax. Liz Ordiales referenced Hiawassee as one of only 11 Georgia cities lacking the 4-7% taxation necessary to cover expenses, citing storm damage cleanup as an example, after Barry Dearing said he considered the tax an “unclear thing that’s been untold.”
The candidates vying for Post 2 seats on the Council are 12-year incumbent, Jay (“Junior”) Chastain, and retired Postmaster, Patsy Owens.
Patsy Owens grew up in Towns County, retired from 31 years of employment management with the Post Office, and says her goals are to “make the City better and make it safe.” Patsy Owens vows to listen to the citizens concerning their needs and prevent the financial losses seen in the past. Owens says she is “willing to learn to help any and all of you.”
Incumbent Jay Chastain, Jr. has served as a Paramedic for the past 31 years and while he “doesn’t want to see the City change what the Forefathers brought in,” he foresees a need for increased public safety alongside steady advancement. Chastain favors cooperation between city and county agencies and confirms increased revenue from tourism will result in lower taxation. Jay Chastain encouraged residents to “vote their hearts.”
The final candidates to speak were those hoping to fill Post 5, the seat left vacant by Mayoral candidate, Liz Ordiales.
Nancy Noblet “spent 17 years in business, has experience making hard decisions, and has worked with budgets” in the past. Ms. Noblet says she wants to hear the people’s visions for Hiawassee’s future. Nancy Noblet assured voters she is “rooted and grounded” and has a desire to serve, while doing what’s best for the City. Noblet hopes to increase family oriented events on the Square and aims for a shift of focus directed toward the community’s youth.
Anne Wedgewood, a candidate with a history in real estate, says she is a “watchdog,” a “what if” brainstormer. Ms. Wedgewood describes herself as an analyst, valuing fiscal responsibility. A volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce, Wedgewood expressed interest in attracting more visitors from the Atlanta suburbs by supporting “Mom and Pop” businesses, and specialty enterprises, such as craft breweries.
Last to address the voters was unopposed candidate for Post 1, Amy Barrett. Although guaranteed a seat on the Council, Ms. Barrett hopes to receive votes of confidence. Barrett portrayed Hiawassee as “the best place on earth, a slice of heaven.” Ms. Barrett is active in an array of community services – from volunteering with the Friends of the Library, assisting the school system, and providing veteran support. Once a waitress who worked to advance her husband’s legal studies, Barrett promises to “accomplish great things” and says she looks forward to serving the City.
Questions permitted from Hiawassee voters, directed toward the Mayoral candidates, ended the forum.
Liz Ordiales was asked about growing traffic concerns. Ordiales revealed the Department of Transportation has authority over Highway 76 and the City is “confined in what they can do.”
A resident asked Barry Dearing how he plans to run both his business and the City if elected. Dearing explained he has been sequentially retired for the past two years, with his wife handling the operations. Mr. Dearing conveyed he grasps the obligation of serving as Mayor is “more than a full-time job.”
Early voting for Hiawassee City Council begins on October 16, 2017.
The election will take place on November 7, 2017.
Interview with Hiawassee Mayoral Candidate, Liz Ordiales
Politics September 12, 2017Hiawassee, GA – Former Mayor Pro-Tem, Liz Ordiales, a mayoral candidate who stepped down from Hiawassee City Council in August to run in November’s election, sat down with Fetch Your News on Wednesday, September 6, to share some of her plans for the City’s future.
“I believe Hiawassee is the greatest place to live,” Liz Ordiales began, “In the past 21 years, I have seen the spirit of Hiawassee through my community involvement with the Towns County Fire Corps, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, my church involvement, and so on.”
“We have incredible resources in our natural beauty, our lake, our mountains, our trails – all of which lead us to be Georgia’s Lake and Mountain Paradise. We have lots of work to do to establish our infrastructure, manage our finances, and develop an even better place to live.”
Ms. Ordiales was elected to Hiawassee City Council, Post 5, in 2015, and was selected by Council members to serve as Mayor Pro Tem in the Spring of 2017.
“I went door-to-door, listening to concerns from residents,” the mayoral candidate said when asked about her initial run for a Council seat, “and I began to prioritize the issues that were raised.”
Since Ordiales took office, Hiawassee has noticeably changed.
Sidewalks have been added and repaired for pedestrians in Hiawassee, Town Square has been beautified, Mayors’ Park was constructed.
“Behind the scene” improvements have also taken place.
There were 20 fire hydrants in desperate need of repair when Ordiales joined the Council. That number is down to seven. The accuracy of water meter readings were at 70 percent; they’ve now reached an average of 99.6 percent. Many miles of underground water lines were inspected by professionals, free of charge, to check for wasteful leaks. Untouched bank accounts, opened long ago by the City, were discovered and closed.
Ordiales was quick to add the changes were a result of Council efforts.
After 30 years of employment with AT&T, Ms. Ordiales says she has what it takes to be the “City’s CEO.”
“As a City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem, I believe I have proven that we can move our city forward and prepare us for a great future, working with our County officials and local businesses,” Ordiales tells Fetch Your News.
The election for Hiawassee Mayor and City Council takes place on November 7.
Early voting begins on October 16.
Updated information on the 2017 race is available.