HELEN, Ga. — City Manager Jerry Elkins presented a strong financial report to the Helen City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.

The city’s total revenue for the first eight months of fiscal year 2017-2018 was $2,655,456 compared to $2,272,592 for the same period in the prior fiscal year. At this point, the city should have reached 67 percent of its projected revenue for the year. Instead, it has already reached 86 percent.

A refund from Georgia Power for over payment of $141,782 is responsible for part of the gain.

Expenditures are up slightly from $1,701,197 last year to $1,758,200 this fiscal year.

The hotel/motel tax has shown an increase. Last year, the city transferred $404,692 to the general fund from that tax. So far this year, $520,319 has been transferred. Total revenue from the water/sewer enterprise fund is $586,578, an increase of $13,308 over last year.

Council unanimously awarded a contract to Square Deal Enterprises, Inc. for the Willow Pond Culvert replacement project in the amount of $26,697.50.

The bid to supply material and install concrete sidewalks and two handicapped access points as well as a concrete entry apron at Hardman Trail Connection was awarded to Wilkinson Concrete of Cleveland. The low bid was $18,029 but the cost will be lower since the company overestimated the length of the sidewalk.

Council also approved:

⦁ A request by Terry Sims to place a metal roof on the coaster ride development;

⦁ A request to place a larger sign at Bear Creek Lodge that exceeds the city code due to its distance from Main Street;

⦁ The use of City Park on the first Saturday in November to hold the annual car show “Rods on the Hooch” as a fundraiser for the annual White Christmas for Kids; and

• May 19 as Dedication Day for Veterans Park. No time has been set yet.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

HELEN, GA. – The Helen City Council is expected to adopt the 2017-18 budget following the second reading and public hearing at Tuesday’s council meeting which will begin at 3 p.m.

The budget is $6,674,205, which includes water and sewer, the special purpose local option sales tax and capital projects. The general fund revenue and expenditures are balanced at $3,510,505. No millage increase is anticipated.

Council will hear a request from Valhalla Hotel Development to install weathered gray architectural singles on the bungalows being built in order to match shingles on the pool cabana. The request was denied by the planning design and review board for not meeting the city’s commercial color code.

There is also a request by Viele Margarita’s at Paul’s Steakhouse to allow changes to two signs. Both are large, free-standing double-sided signs. The planning design and review board denied the request for not meeting the city’s commercial sign code.

Council will discuss holding a city-sponsored street dance on Sept. 23 or Sept. 30 as well as a change in the city’s personnel policy regarding the channel of communication.

The first reading of an amendment of the official code of the city as it relates to alcoholic beverages will be held, followed by monthly departmental reports from the police department, fire department, water department and public works department.

HELEN, Ga. – With the 47^th Annual Oktoberfest to begin this week, Helen City Council is scheduled to discuss limitations on banners that business owners are allowed to post advertising the city’s biggest celebration at Tuesday’s City Council meeting starting at 10 a.m.

The event features German music, dancing, food and drinks and attracts thousands of visitors to the Alpine city. Council wants to limit banners to no more than two per business and no larger than three feet by six feet.

Oktoberfest will run from September 7-10, then reopen September 14-17, then reopen September 21-24, then reopen again on September 28 and continue daily through October 29.

Other business scheduled to be discussed Tuesday includes consideration of an alcohol license for Jesse Nix of the Chattahoochee Dog Haus, located at 8016 South Main Street for beer and wine on the premises and Sunday sales.

Council also will be asked to consider allowing the temporary relocation of dumpsters at 8660 White Horse Square for the Old Heidelberg and King Ludwig restaurants.

Jim Kratz wants council to consider installing speed bumps on Unicoi and Dye Street due to safety considerations.

There will also be a discussion about increasing the cost for server permits due to the additional permit procedures and a possible start date when the increase will begin.

HELEN, Ga. – The City of Helen will hold a first reading of two ordinances and listen to complaints against a local lodging facility when it meets Tuesday at 3 p.m. at City Hall.

Council members will read an ordinance to amend the official code of the City of Helen, relating to Chapter 34 of the Land Development Code, Article VI Flood Damage Prevention.

Also on the agenda is a first reading of an amendment to the official code of the City of Helen of Chapter 6 relating to alcohol beverages and distilled spirits.

There will be a discussion concerning payment of mixed drink tax for Chris Williams of Cowboys and Angels Restaurant and Bar.

Council is also scheduled to hear monthly reports from the Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, the Helen Chamber of Commerce as well as departmental reports from the police chief, fire chief, finance director, building and zoning director and utilities director.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

HELEN, Ga. — A near standing-room-only crowd attended the Helen City Commission’s first meeting of the new year Tuesday. The hot-button issue was a public hearing on the controversial Alpine Coaster proposed for 8409 South Main Street.

Property owner Terry Sims requested his property be rezoned from R-2 (medium density residential) to C-3 (highway commercial) for the purpose of constructing an Alpine Coaster.

Sixteen city business owners and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and White County Convention and Visitors Bureau argued that the city needs more family-friendly attractions to draw visitors to the Alpine Village.

Cindy Bailey of the White County Chamber of Commerce said Helen is the third most visited city in Georgia. “I feel like Helen needs more things that are non-alcohol related that will bring families into the city.”

Jim Carrigan said, “I think this can make the city better for those who live here and who visit here.”

While they were vastly outnumbered, opponents who live on adjoining property spoke passionately about how their lives would be impacted negatively.

Don Lee said, “This is my home. I’m not against tourism but what about those of us who live here? I don’t understand how you can let them destroy someone’s home because of a roller coaster. My property value will be cut in half.”

Debra Sanford, fought back tears to say, “This is my home. I have memories of my mother and my husband in this home. Our home is being taken away from us. I am absolutely devastated. I will have to sell my home because it’s going to be too hard to live here.”

The Commission voted unanimously, with Commissioner Fred Garmon absent, to approve the rezoning request and an accompanying conditional use permit.

In other action, the Commission elected Helen Wilkins as mayor and Jeff Ash as mayor pro tempore.

Donna K. Burke, rescinded her offer to decorate the City for fall and Christmas.