TCCA October 2023 info.
No meeting was held in Oct., but the following information was submitted.
Treasurer’s Report: Bank balance at end of Sept 2023: $3932.86; no rev., no expenses.
Membership: No change.
Meetings:
Chamber: 9/23: 252 Vacation packets mailed/emailed; 95 visitors & 80 calls. 2023 Holiday Bazaar 11/4-5, Sat.-Sun. So far, 5 sponsors & 4 Shopping Bag sponsors, Hiawassee Garden Club will do 1 class each day on Holiday Table Decor. Repairs on Cham. Building & landscaping ongoing. $2500 Championship Fishing Tournament 9/29-30, 10/1, had 84 boats, 1782.38# of fish caught.
City of Hiawassee: 9/25/23 Sign Ordinance changes re: Feather flags: Only out when the store is open, one feather sign per business, 3 real estate signs per business; one month allowed for signs to remain up for a new business. DDA update on Paris buildings: Spaces will be small, but 4 conference rooms will be larger to offer training sessions; USDA grant for $93K includes Wi-Fi connection; rent will be $7K/yr. One business will be Towns County Adult Education Center, being an official GED educational & testing facility; a bakery, Hightower Sweets, and a mental health counselor will occupy the incubator spaces.
Commissioner’s Meeting: 9/23 Late Board of Elections members Barbara Shook and Loretta Youngblood were honored for their many years of service; their commemorative photos hang in the Board of Elections Office. Avita Community Partner presented a slide show about their organization which helps residents recovering from addiction and mental health crises. Re: Parrot’s Feather, TVA has sent airboats out to survey Lake Chatuge. They warn: Do not drive boats through Parrot’s Feather as this will cause it to spread. Several different treatments are being considered. USDA will be dropping oral rabies vaccinations, ORV baits, from airplanes starting Oct. 3rd. TCSO talked about State-of-the-art cameras that will be equipped on jailers and installed in police cars so inmates can be recorded as a safety measure for both inmates and police.
TCW&S Auth. Sept. Mtg.: No Report.
CVB: 9/23 8:30 a.m. mtg. Finances: $19,125 paid to GMF, $234 paid to T.C. Herald; July minutes approved. Advertising to GA State Parks, and to GA Great Places ‘24 both tabled. Proposals (varied) from Comcast network tabled. Insurance proposed & approved – $935;
’21 taxes are reportedly completed, but not filed. No explanation. ’22 taxes remain to be done. Still unknown if extension is filed. Actively seeking new accountant. Required accounting authority, “Change of Chairman” remains to be performed from Ronnie to Hayley. New guidelines; forms, grants, applications, etc. are revised. Public comment reportedly favorable. Ad to be placed in T.C. Herald reminding public of Nov 1 deadline for grants.
Early voting started last Mon., 10/16/23.
[FYI- I am voting for Jonathan Wilson for City Council because I know him well, he’s been with the Fire Dept/EMT for years, he is local and has attended every Council meeting this year. Joan]