Haunted Halloween on Hiawassee Square
News, Upcoming Events October 31, 2017HIAWASSEE, GA – The City of Hiawassee will host its annual Halloween celebration this evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Square. Traffic will be diverted clockwise from Main Street in order to protect the safety of ghosts and goblins and maintain a productive flow.
Featured Image: Towns County Fire and Rescue with “witch”, Halloween 2016
City of Hiawassee 2018-2019 Budget Approved
News, Politics October 30, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The 2018-2019 Hiawassee budget was unanimously approved by city council members during the Oct. 29 monthly work session. The motion was raised by Councilwoman Anne Mitchell, and seconded by Councilwoman Patsy Owens. Councilwoman Nancy Noblest asked for the names of staff employed within the city’s sewer, water, and water treatment departments, in quest of a better understanding of the breakdown in employee pay, prior to the budget vote.
Ebony Simpson, a coordinator with the PlanFirst program, addressed the council and citizens, following the adjournment of the brief budget segment. Simpson commended Hiawassee on becoming a designated PlanFirst city, explaining the incentives offered as a result, one of which will result in a half-percent interest rate reduction on the $1.8 million GEFA loan extended to the City of Hiawassee.
(L-R) Hiawassee Council members Nancy Noblet, Amy Barrett, and Kris Berrong
(Not pictured: Patsy Owens and Anne Mitchell)
According to Simpson, Hiawassee will receive official PlanFirst recognition during a state ceremony in either January or February, 2019, once Georgia’s soon-to-be-elected governor takes office.
In other news, a 45-day sign permit moratorium is scheduled to appear on next week’s regular council agenda, coinciding with the county’s recent decision to amend the sign ordinance, which will allow the city to consider similar measures.
Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales announced that the December council work session, and the January regular meeting, will not be held due to the former falling on Christmas Eve, and the latter scheduled for New Year’s Day.
The upcoming Halloween event and the “Light Up Hiawassee” Christmas celebration were discussed, with interest as to whether a lighted “Merry Christmas” sign would be displayed on Hiawassee Town Square, in addition to the “Happy Holidays” sign planned to be installed. In response, Mayor Ordiales revealed a photograph of an eight foot wooden cut-out, spelling the sentiment “JOY”, with a compact nativity scene cast between the second letter. A lighted “Merry Christmas” greeting was purchased by the former City of Hiawassee administration, with two current council members vocalizing support of its future use. Ordiales stated that a printed banner, rather, with the words “Merry Christmas” will be hung on the town square.
The work session ended with Councilwoman Amy Barrett questioning the necessary process for applicants whom are interested in serving on the Hiawassee Ethics Board. Mayor Ordiales replied that while citizens can submit an application to City Hall, only one candidate has expressed interest to date. Councilman Kris Berrong interjected that he had knowledge of interested individuals. Mayor Ordiales asserted that applicants whom do not regularly attend city meetings will not be approved by the joint vote needed from both council and mayor, a requirement for one-of-the-three appointed board members.
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Hiawassee City Council is scheduled to convene for a regular monthly session at 6 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Meetings are open to the public.
Hiawassee awarded PlanFirst Community Designation
News October 1, 2018HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales proudly announced PlanFirst Community designation by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) at September’s month work session at City Hall. Hiawassee was chosen to participate in the program for a three year span, beginning Jan. 1, 2019. The announcment came weeks after the mayor took PlanFirst committee members on a tour of Bell Mountain Park, Hamilton Gardens, Mayors’ Park, and the Old Rock Jail Museum.
Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales
According to the DCA website, PlanFirst is a program which recognizes and rewards communities that clearly demonstrate an established pattern of successfully implementing their Local Comprehensive Plan. Any size community is encouraged to apply, provided it has a history of public involvement with development of the plan, active engagement in plan implementation, and proven progress in achieving the community’s stated vision or goals. PlanFirst designation is awarded to local governments on an individual basis. DCA encourages joint local planning; however, each government is responsible for achieving the activities in its community-specific work program.
The designation will be formally announced at an awards dinner at the DCA Fall Conference on Oct. 1o, in LaGrange, GA. In addition, a formal ceremony will take place at the State Capitol in Atlanta in early 2019.
Along with recognition, PlanFirst designation will provide reduced interest rates on certain Georgia Environmental Financing Authority (GEFA) state loans.
“The City of Hiawassee will be recognized across the State of Georgia as a community that has created a robust vision of its future and maintains an active strategy for implementing that vision,” DCA Director Ken Hood stated in a letter to Mayor Ordiales, “This is a well-deserved acknowledgement of successful planning, and we look forward to working with you going forward.”
City of Hiawassee set to comply with EPD watershed regulations
News November 30, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Hiawassee City Council is on track to approve a long-term contract with Engineering Management Inc. (EMI), in order to comply with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD), in accordance with the city’s Watershed Protection Plan (WPP).
Fletcher Holliday, Vice President of EMI, addressed Hiawassee City Council on Nov. 26.
EMI is currently completing Hiawassee’s WWP, tasked with long-term monitoring and reporting to EPD for several municipalities throughout North Georgia. For that reason, Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales explained to city council members that the contract was not placed out for bid. Ordiales stated that testing will be conducted at the water plant in Hiawassee, rather than an off-site laboratory, in order to reduce the overall cost.
According to Holliday, EPD requested that the City of Hiawassee complete a partial quality assestment during the months of November and December, 2018, with full-monitoring to begin next year. The City of Hiawassee received EPD approval in late summer of 2018.
The funding for the 2018 partial project is expected to amount to $8678. Hiawassee City Council is scheduled to vote on the agenda item on Tuesday, Dec. 4, during the city’s regular session. If approved, the cost of the 2019 project was estimated at $16,000.
“The objective of the Long-Term monitoring is to monitor the water quality of the waters within the watershed protection area and determine whether or not they are improving or declining by utilizing the data from the original Watershed Assestment document as a baseline of watershed conditions,” Holliday wrote in a letter addressed to Ordiales in October.
Future water-quality monitoring will be conducted at four local sites, with one sampling gathered during what EMI refers to as “critical conditions,” where the waterway is experiencing low flow and high temperatures. Three dry weather, and one wet weather chemical samplings will be collected annually. E. coli and fecal coliform samples will be taken eight times per year regardless of weather conditions. A total of nearly two dozen tests will be administered and reported to EPD by EMI.
EMI states that significant activity discovered in the watershed will be noted. “This may include, but is not limited to, algal blooms, dry weather runoff, leaking pipes, oil spills, presence of animals, and odors, foam or algal blooms pertaining to the condition of the waterbody,” Holliday explained.
Monitoring reports will be submitted to EPD annually in June, according to EMI.
City of Hiawassee receives $600,000 grant for WasteWater Improvement
News, Press Release November 14, 2018
Press Release
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The City of Hiawassee has received an Appalachian Regional Commission Grant in the amount of $600,000 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which administers the program on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a partnership of 13 states.
“Strong and prosperous communities help attract businesses and jobs,” said DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn, “Projects like the one in Hiawassee help stimulate economic development and enhance the quality of life for the whole community.”
The Appalachian Regional Commission provides financial investment and technical assistance to eligible applicants in support of community and economic development in Georgia’s 37 county Appalachian region.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president.
Hiawassee tree ordinance may cost private land owners
News June 23, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The City of Hiawassee has adopted yet another mandate, this time a tree ordinance which has the potential to impact the owners of private property. A “City Tree Board” has been appointed, and while the bulk of the responsibilities entrusted to the committee involves the cultivation and maintenance of trees located upon city property, the ordinance includes a clause pertaining to trees growing on privately-owned land.
A maple tree, days before removal, which once stood on Hiawassee Square
The decree was brought to the attention of FetchYourNews (FYN) by a citizen at a recent town hall meeting. FYN filed an open record request with City Hall to review the ordinance, and spoke briefly with Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales on the morning of Thursday, June 21. Ordiales noted a massive, trimmed evergreen located on the county courthouse grounds as an example of the ordinance. “That’s what we don’t want,” Ordiales said, referring to resulting appearance from the tree-topping technique. While courthouse staff agreed the pine is unsightly, trimming was warranted years prior due to interference with overhanging electrical lines. A maple tree was recently removed from the southeast corner of Hiawassee Town Square after the tree was deemed dead, and according to Mayor Ordiales and Hiawassee Attorney Thomas Mitchell, allowing the tree to remain posed a liability risk to the city.
While the location of the removed maple was unquestionably on city grounds, listed among the regulations in the ordinance is a section entitled “Removal of Dead or Diseased Trees” which states:
“The city shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the city, when such trees constitute a hazard to the persons and property, or harbor insects or disease which constitutes a potential threat to other trees within the city. The City Tree Board will notify in writing the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within sixty (60) days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with the provisions, the city shall have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal to the owners.”
The ordinance advances to declare that interference with the City Tree Board – on public or privately owned property – is unlawful, and violation of any provision within the mandate shall be subject to a fine “not to exceed one thousand dollars.”
Upkeep of trees on private property, which could endanger the public or impede access through city right-of-ways or streets, are listed in a separate segment of the decree.
The first reading of the ordinance was approved May 1, 2018, by Council members Anne Mitchell, Kris Berrong, Amy Barrett, and Nancy Noblet. Councilwoman Patsy Owens was absent from the meeting. “It basically says that we’ll have trees in Hiawassee, and that we’ll take care of them,” Mayor Ordiales alluded at the previous work session.
A finalized signature sheet is expected at the city’s monthly work session Tuesday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m. While said meetings typically fall on the last Monday of each month, the June session was rescheduled due to a training trip for city staff.
Meetings are open to the public.
Movie premier on Hiawassee Square a success
Community, Featured, News May 27, 2018
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – “Flicks on the Square” premiered in the heart of Hiawassee on the evening of May 25, 2018. Although storm clouds loomed above, the weather cooperated with what Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales called an historic event.
The movie screen was raised shortly before dusk.
The first movie presented was Ferdinand, an animated film about a young bull who flees from a training camp in Spain after his father fails to return from a duel with a matador.
The fun began at 7 p.m. with children tossing frisbees, footballs, and frolicking on the square grounds. Families settled along Berrong Street, which was closed to traffic, to watch the show.
Towns County Library Branch Manager Debbie Phillips manned the popcorn stand, accompanied by members of the Towns County School football team, who sold candy bars to raise funds for needed equipment. The movie began at dusk, once the viewing screen was inflated. Hiawassee Police Chief Paul Smith assisted the set-up crew.
Seth Solesbee, manager of Goin’ Postal, passed out raffle tickets for toys to the children.
Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales welcomes the crowd.
“I think it’s time to get some youth on the square, and get some families out here, having a good time, and enjoying our city. I think this is a good start. Everyone loves movies, and we’re trying to target the kids,” Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales told FetchYourNews. “It’s all about the kids, and all about the families, and that’s why we’re here.” Ordiales added that a classic movie, geared toward an older audience, may be scheduled.
Claire Wells, a Hiawassee resident who moved to the mountains several years prior, brought her father and two daughters along to watch the show. “I think this was a really good idea. It gives young people something to do, and it’s free, which is always nice,” Wells chimed. “We love Hiawassee. It’s a safe town, and we don’t have to worry. There’s clean air, fresh water, it’s the best place on earth to be.” Wells also noted her appreciation of newly-installed WiFi on the town’s square.
Hiawassee Councilwoman Amy Barrett poses for a shot.
“We love doing this because it doesn’t just cater to one small population,” Hiawassee City Councilwoman Amy Barrett said. “It targets everybody, and that’s great because that’s what we want to do. We want to cater to everyone and give them something fun to do on a Friday night.”
The next movie, Early Man, will be shown Friday, June 8, followed by Storks Friday, June 22. A full summer line-up is available on the rear of the Appalachian Trail map on Hiawassee Town Square.