Busy agenda set for Monday’s BOC work session
News October 27, 2019
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Monday’s White County Board of Commissioners work session could be a lengthy one with 18 items — including eight zoning issue — on the agenda. The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Work sessions are for commissioners to discuss items they will vote on during regular voting sessions.
Five of the zoning requests are for the purpose of operating as short-term rental units. One proposed use is for operation of a wedding/tourism event center.
Commissioners also will address two requests for county property to be annexed into city limits. One of those is located at 1847 Hwy. 129 in Cleveland. The other is 52 Comer Circle (South Main Street) in Helen.
A representative from Truett McConnell University will appear before the Board to request a revenue bond issuance through the White County Development Authority.
2020 being an election year, commissioners will discuss the administration of next year’s elections.
Other items to be considered, include:
A surplus resolution for disposal of obsolete public safety equipment:
Bids received for two certificates of deposit currently held at United Community Bank;
Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget amendments;
2020 Board appointments to the Board of Assessors, Building Authority, Planning Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
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Helen Alpine Coaster Hits a Roadblock
News December 28, 2016
HELEN, Ga. — The Alpine coaster proposed for the City of Helen wasn’t completely derailed by the Helen Planning, Design and Review Board (PDRB) this week, but it did hit a temporary roadblock.
With three members absent and another ineligible to vote, the board couldn’t reach a consensus on recommending a conditional use permit to the facility which would be located on a 10-acre tract next door to City Hall.
Area residents have expressed opposition to the attraction, citing diminished property values, the loss of the peace and tranquility they now enjoy and increased traffic on the narrow mountain road.
Alpine coasters are popular throughout the United States, but this would the first of its kind in Georgia.
Once the PDRB makes a recommendation, the city commission will make the final decision on the rezoning request.
City of Helen to Add New Lighting
News September 21, 2016
HELEN, Ga. — The Alpine City will soon have new lighting. The Helen City Council voted Tuesday to accept an offer by Georgia Power Company to replace all 144 street lights with LED lighting at no cost.
Helen City Clerk Marilyn Chastain said the change will save taxpayer dollars due to the longer life span of LED lights. “The new lights are expected to last for many years,” she said. The lights are expected to be installed in the next 30 days.
Council also voted unanimously to approve the purchase of new Ford F-150 Super Cab truck for the fire department for $25,976 from the low bidder Mike Jones Ford in Eastanollee. The new truck will replace a 1996 Ford Bronco the county purchased 20 years ago.
Council also unanimously approved the purchase of a double-check backflow valve for the fire service line at the former Orbit building at a cost of $15,000 from Larry Todd Construction of Toccoa.
City Manager Jerry Elkins said the valve will prevent a backflow from contaminating the well water in case the line breaks.
Helen Receives Good First Month Financial Report
News August 17, 2016
HELEN, Ga. — For the first month of the new fiscal year, things are looking pretty good in the City of Helen.
The monthly financial report presented by City Manager Jerry Elkins Tuesday showed that revenue was down slightly, but so were expenditures versus the same month last year. First month revenue fell from $220,554 in July 2015 to $211,323 last month, a dip of about 9.2 percent. Expenditures also declined from $164,790 to $161,706.
The city also showed increases in its collection of hotel/motel taxes and water/sewer fund. Last July the city collected $66,390 in hotel/motel taxes. This year Elkins reported collection reached $71,504. The water/sewer fund collection grew from $68,557 the prior year to $76,394 last month.
“Everything is looking pretty good,” said City Manager Jerry Elkins. “I don’t think we could do much better at this point.”
The monthly report by Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau was also positive. A new platform for the website was purchased and 5,936 visitors stopped by the Welcome Center and another 69,162 logged onto the website, 54,141 were unique visitors.
The CVB is in the process of planning the first Spirit of Appalachia/Georgia Grown event which will be held sept. 17 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The City also approved the first reading of an amendment to the ordinance that allows the city to receive a commission for collection of the hotel/motel tax.
Fire Destroys White County Home, No Injuries Reported
News July 26, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Fire completely consumed a home at 628 Frank Black Road in White County last night. No one was injured but the remote location of the home — nearly half a mile from the nearest hydrant — complicated firefighting efforts and kept fire service personnel busy throughout the night.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said, “Units had to shuttle water in and out. The driveway is about a quarter of a mile off of the main road, so they had to shuttle from the closest hydrant which was another quarter of a mile down the road.”
Units from White County, the City of Cleveland, the City of Helen and Lee Arendale State Prison Fire Department responded to the fire.
Two of the three occupants of the home have disabilities and were aided by the Red Cross.
“Because of the size of the structure and the limited water supply, the decision was made to back out into a defensive mode and let the fire burn itself out,” Murphy said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
City Council Approves Audit Firm
News June 22, 2016
HELEN — The City of Helen unanimously approved Walker, Pierce and Tuck Certified Public Accountants to audit the county’s finances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 at a cost of $17,250 during yesterday’s city council meeting.
Council also denied a zoning variance request by Councilwoman Cinnamon Spurlock and her husband to use a canopy on the deck of Cimmi’s Cafe, 9667 Main Street in Helen.
Council unanimously approved an alcohol license for Kharul Anam of A&M Trading, doing business as Saffron Grill and Bar 8759 N. Main Street and an amendment to Chapter 34 of the city’s land development code relating to signs inside city limits.
Mayor Fred Garmon commented on the city’s $2.9 million budget for FY 2017, saying it was a little above average, but pointing out that the city keeps approximately $4 million in reserves.
“I’m very satisfied,” he said. “We try not to accumulate any debt.”
Wiegand Sports LLC which has more than 180 Alpine Coaster installations to its credit, including some in the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., area. Rides can be built between two feet and 30 feet above the ground.
GDOT Abruptly Closes Ga. 75 in Helen
News June 22, 2016
HELEN — The Georgia Department of Transportation abruptly closed Ga. 75 in Helen from Hamby Street north to Ga. 356 in Robertstown yesterday from 8 p.m. until this morning around 3 a.m. due to damage to the roads caused by washout from natural springs in the area.
Public Works Director Ross Hewell said the highway will be closed again from 5 p.m. today until 7 a.m. Thursday so GDOT can repair the road.
“They will be doing some repatching and repaving,” Hewell said. “We apologize for the inconvenience, but GDOT didn’t give us much notice that they were going to do this.”