Small Town Politics - North High Shoals

December Meeting

2011-12-14T08:31:00.002-05:00

The agenda is up for the December 2011 meeting, next Monday (12/19/2011) at 7:30pm. Please attend. We will be voting on re-addressing 9 homes on Ray's Church Rd. from 3 digit to 4 digit to be consistent with the rest of the road (outside of the city limits).

Coming Up

2011-10-18T14:02:00.002-04:00

Don't forget the workshop about using our SPLOST funds for road improvements, new town hall, and water lines. MONDAY October 24, 2011 at 7:00pm at High Shoals Elementary School! Please join us and let us know what your priorities are.

Also we'll be having our 1st (hopefully annual) fall bonfire and potluck at the city park on Saturday November 5th at 5:00pm. We'll provide hotdogs and marshmallows. Bring a side to share. I hope you all can make it.

On November 12 from 9am - 12pm we'll have a park work day. Please come join us and lend a hand.

Mark your calendar: December 10th is the Portico Christmas Market

October Meeting

2011-10-11T09:59:00.000-04:00

October 17, 2011

7:00 p.m. Public Hearing on Annexation
Public Reading of E-911 Ordinance

7:30 p.m. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Agenda

Meeting Monday

2011-09-15T14:17:00.002-04:00

Our regular monthly meeting is at town hall on Monday, September 19 at 7:30pm Please attend.

Agenda

Town Meeting on Roads and Town Hall

2011-09-12T14:01:00.001-04:00

The Town Council of North High Shoals, Georgia will hold a public meeting on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the High Shoals Elementary School. The meeting will focus on SPLOST-funded road improvements and the future town hall. Please call 706-769-4289 for more information.

Please plan to attend. What roads do you think we should work on? Should we have more speed bumps? How best to control speeders? Should we close Jefferson between Dickens and Hillsboro? Let us know what you think?

What about town hall? Do you want a community center/town hall? Bathroom for the park? What are YOUR thoughts?

Upcoming Local Election in November is cancelled.

2011-09-06T08:08:00.003-04:00

I just updated the official North High Shoals website (www.northhighshoals.org) with the following:

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-291, notice is hereby given that the North High Shoals, Georgia Election scheduled for November 8, 2011 is cancelled. The following have qualified for office, and they are unopposed:

For Mayor: Robert Michael Beall
For Council Post 1: Jason Michael Wisniewski
For Council Post 2: Stephen Holzman

The above unopposed candidates shall be deemed to have voted for himself.

This 6th day of September, 2011.

I guess Jason and I were doing a decent enough job to be unopposed. Thanks North High Shoals. And thanks to Mayor-elect Mike Beall, he was a former councilman and is a long-time resident of the town. He's been present at meetings and we have relied upon him many times for sage advice. I am confident he will be a great Mayor.

August Meeting

2011-08-10T10:04:00.001-04:00

Hello NHS,

Our next town meeting is Monday August 15,2011 at 7:30pm. You can see the agenda here

Hope we see you there.

Election Year

2011-07-19T14:55:00.003-04:00

TIME FOR ELECTIONS IN NORTH HIGH SHOALS!!

The positions of Mayor, Post 1 and Post 2 Council Members are up for election. Qualifying dates have been set for August 29, 30, and 31
8:30am - 12:30pm and 1:30pm - 4:30pm each day. You must sign up to run on one of those dates. You also must be a citizen of the town and registered to vote in North High Shoals. If you have any questions contact our election supervisor (and town clerk) Carolyn Pritchett at 706-769-4289.

Our Mayor, Kim Kraeling let us know at last night's meeting that she will not be seeking re-election come November. I'd like to thank her for her service these last 2 years. I hope we find someone equally enthusiastic and qualified to take her place come January.

Congratulations to one of our citizens

2011-06-25T16:20:00.003-04:00

North High Shoals would like to recognize the achievement of one of its citizens: Camaryn Candelario. Camaryn has finished her Sophomore year at North Oconee High School, but will forego her Junior and Senior years to attend Bard College at Simon's Rock in Barrington, MA. The college only accepts 400 students each year and it is a testimony to Camaryn's acedemic achievement, community spirit, entrepreneurial skills, and hard work that she was selected. Kudos to one of North High Shoals finest.

Congratulations to one of our citizens

2011-06-25T16:20:00.000-04:00

North High Shoals would like to recognize the achievement of one of its citizens: Camaryn Candelario. Camaryn, has finished her Sophomore year at North Oconee High School, but will forego her Junior and Senior years to attend Bard College at Simon's Rock in Barrington, MA. The college only accepts 400 students each year and it is a testimony to Camaryn's acedemic achievement, community spirit, entrepreneurial skills, and hard work that she was selected. Kudos to one of North High Shoals finest.

June Meeting

2011-06-16T15:28:00.001-04:00

Our June Meeting is Monday June 20, 2011 at 7:30pm. There will be a public hearing on the budget at 7:00pm. Here's the agenda for Monday.

May meeting

2011-05-11T14:54:00.000-04:00

Our May meeting will be May 16, 2011 at 7:30pm. There will be a public hearing on the budget at 7:00pm. The agenda is on our website.

March Meeting

2011-03-28T09:29:00.001-04:00

The March meeting had to be postponed last week due to a lack of a quorum due to illness. We are scheduled to meet TUESDAY March 29th at 7:30pm. The agenda is here
Hope you can join us.

Agenda For February Meeting

2011-02-16T11:41:00.002-05:00

The agenda for the February 21, 2011 meeting is viewable here.

The meeting starts at 7:30pm in Town Hall. Come join us.

Wade Thomas

2011-01-25T11:33:00.002-05:00

It is with sadness that I report the passing of former Town Councilman Wade Thomas. He served his community for many years and we are grateful for his service. You can view the obituary here. Please keep the Thomas family in your thoughts and prayers.

Park Work Day this Saturday

2011-01-20T17:28:00.001-05:00

A note from Fred Johnson.

Hello All,
I hope you are having a great new year so far!
The town council decided to commemorate M.L.King, Jr.'s birthday about a week after the actual holiday since several council members could not attend the previous weekend. If the weather permits, we will be planting bulbs and clearing paths in the city park this Saturday, Jan. 22nd. We would love to have any volunteers from 9-noon. A park work day is always rewarding and a great way to meet new folks. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
David Lawrence
p.s. Bring gloves, water, and any hand tools you may have.

Hillsboro Road

2010-11-30T13:52:00.002-05:00

The county has money to resurface Hillsboro Rd. This means the speed bumps will have to come up and there is reluctance on the part of the county to replace them. Residents along Hillsboro Rd. have legitimate safety concerns about speed along that section of road. The city park is on Hillsboro and slowing traffic in that area is essential to protecting citizens. The county commission will take up this issue next week (Tuesday) at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Chambers, Room 224 on the second floor of the Oconee County Courthouse. If you support traffic calming along that road please show up and let the county hear your voice. Remember you pay taxes (more taxes to the county, than the city in fact) and this IS a county road.

Thanks.

Monday Meeting's Agenda

2010-11-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

Is online here.

Park Work Day Saturday Nov. 13th

2010-11-12T11:32:00.001-05:00

A note from Councilman Lawrence,

Hello all,
Tomorrow (Saturday) is our scheduled park workday from 9-noon. I'm hoping you can come out to help with some cutting, spreading, pulling, digging, etc.
Thanks so much,
David L.
p.s. Please forward this to anyone who may want to help.

2010-11-07T10:36:00.003-05:00

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Jordan Ellis today.

Agenda 10/18/10

2010-10-13T10:27:00.000-04:00

Call to Order
Welcome and Declaration of Quorum

Agenda Setting:
Order of agenda

Monthly Business:
Presentation of Draft Minutes
Presentation of Financial Statements
Comments on Non-Agenda Item

Old Business:

1
City Park Update (D. Lawrence)

2
Frazier Hill Plat Survey Completion (K. Kraeling)

3
Street Update (D. Lawrence)

4
Town Property Mtnce. Update (J. Wisniewski)

New Business

5
Cole Springs/Hillsboro Road Resurfacing (K. Kraeling)

6
Speed Bump Discussion

7
Mobile Home Request (Mr. Tidwell)

8
Code Update

9
Ga. Park Grant Information

10
City Park Work Day (D. Lawrence)

11
Audit Completed

12
Mayor’s Update

New Sidewalk

2010-08-27T15:01:00.002-04:00

North High Shoals has added a new sidewalk on Elder Rd. Take a look at the pictures HERE.

Last Night's Meeting

2010-08-17T08:22:00.002-04:00

Well, we did it. After a couple years of work we finally approved (by unanimous vote) a Code of Ordinances for the city. You can view it here. Many people put a lot of work into it, but we finally have all our ordinances in one place. There will be changes, but that is not a problem. Any section that needs fixing can be replaced by a vote of council.

Here are some highlights:
Tree Protection - and please note this passage: This chapter does not apply to.... (2) Property occupied by a single-family dwelling, unless nonresidential uses or additional dwelling units are proposed for such property or construction, paving or other activity on the property will damage trees on the public right-of-way.

We do need to establish a five person tree board for the town. Please submit your interest in these positions to the town clerk.

Section 9-6 Noise Regulations
Causing to be played, used or operated any radio, tape player, compact disc player, instrument, television, or other device for the producing or reproducing of sound between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (or at other hours if plainly audible from a distance of 200 feet) so as to disturb the residents of the area.

9.1.3.1 Junked Motor Vehicles Prohibited. No person shall park, store, leave or permit the parking, storing or leaving of any junked motor vehicle , whether attended or not, upon any property within the Town for a period of time in excess of seventy-two (72) hours.

NOTE: many of these types of ordinances were already in place, but not in a form easily obtained or searched by citizens.

Do not hesitate to direct any questions about the new code to the clerk, mayor, or councilperson. We'll do our best to answer.

Next Meeting

2010-08-11T18:21:00.002-04:00

Our next meeting is on Monday August 16th at 7:30pm. I have the agenda posted here. The are a couple of building permit issues that neighbors might be interested in. A pole barn to store tractors at 656 New High Shoals Rd, and a 16 x 16' pole barn for a pony at 300 Hopping Rd. We welcome everyone to come and participate in local democracy.

Thanks

2010-07-15T17:46:00.001-04:00

Once again, Steve Arnold led a very successful drive to collect items to send to our Service men and women overseas. Thanks Steve! I'm proud to be on the NHS council with you. Here's a note of thanks.

Meeting July 19, 2010

2010-07-14T19:58:00.002-04:00

Here's the agenda.

Community Market at the Portico - July 10th 8:00am

2010-07-06T11:42:00.000-04:00

Come join us for coffee, iced Chi tea, homemade muffins, pulled pork ,and vegetable soup while you shop for:

•Locally Grown Produce and Herbs

•Homemade Sauces, Cakes, and Pickles

•Handmade Soaps and Skin Care Products

•Original Art

•Antiques / Collectibles / Vintage Tools

•Household Items, Rugs, and Men’s Fine Suits (size 46-48)

•Baby Items

•Furniture

•Vintage Dolls

•Electronics

Voting!

2010-07-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

ATTENTION Ocone County Residents:
Early voting is being conducted at the Oconee County Elections Office, 10 Court Street between the hours of 8Am-5PM and will continue until July 16th. Voters may also vote at the Oconee County Civic Center at 2661 Hog Mountain Road July 12th-16th as well as the Elections Office. Voters may vote in person or by mail for no reason. To request an absentee ballot by mail please contact the Elections Office at 706-769-3958.
Sample ballots can be found here.

Great old farmhouse for sale

2010-05-29T16:21:00.001-04:00

My neighbors are moving. They have a great old farmhouse for sale. Take a look.

Community Yard Sale - June 5th

2010-05-23T16:36:00.001-04:00

The Portico (across the river) is hosting a community yard sale on June 5th. There are details here.

Recognizing some of our own

2010-05-18T15:58:00.001-04:00

North High Shoals would like to recognize the accomplishments of some of our citizens. Click HERE.

Support our Soldiers

2010-05-18T15:57:00.001-04:00

Once again North High Shoals will be collecting items to send to our soldiers overseas. Click HERE for more information.

Monday Meeting

2010-05-11T15:20:00.002-04:00

Our next council meeting is Monday May 17th at 7:30pm. The agenda is here.

Great turnout at Dog Day....still working on getting pictures uploaded..sorry. A great time was had by man-woman-and dog. Thanks to John McKay for putting it all together (with help from a great bunch of folks). Thanks to all that came out.

Dog Day THIS Saturday 9am - 1pm

2010-04-28T13:32:00.002-04:00

All the details are HERE

I hope you call can make it!

Last night's Meeting

2010-04-20T23:36:00.002-04:00

Audio is here. I was sick yesterday so I did not attend. I made it up by staying up late tonight to get the audio converted and uploaded. I'm not sure why it starts while the meeting is already in process but will find out tomorrow. Apologies for that.

Insurance Companies

2010-04-16T14:58:00.002-04:00

All the insurance carriers that write policies in North High Shoals are required to purchase a occupation tax certificate from the town. The list of those who've paid is here. If your carrier is NOT on the list please contact Carolyn at town hall to let her know. 706-769-4289.

Thanks!

2010-04-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

The agenda for the April meeting is posted. Join us next Monday (April 19th) at 7:30pm.

Dog Day May 1st

2010-03-26T17:03:00.001-04:00

Mark you calendars.

Info here.

Happy Birthday to Us

2010-03-24T08:29:00.001-04:00

North High Shoals was originally chartered on March 24, 1933. We were unchartered for a period of time (not sure of the dates), and then rechartered in the 60s. Anyone have the actual dates?

Last night's meeting

2010-03-23T13:49:00.002-04:00

Huge agenda, but finished before 10:30pm so hey, that's good right?

The audio is up here.

We are going to have Dog Day at the Park on May 1. Details here. Yep, that's my cute dog in the picture. Don't forget, next month (April) is Tire Amnesty month in Oconee County. Bring your old tires (no rims) to any Oconee Co. collection site; the dump on 441, or the recycling centers on Hwy 15, Hog Mntn Rd. and Rankin Rd. near Butler's Crossing. We swore in (not swore at) our two new members of council....Mayor Kim Kraeling, and Jason Wisniewski. You can see their pictures and contact info here. I'm sure I'll think of more to report on later, but those are the highlights for now.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Here's the list of businesses in North High Shoals that have obtained their Occupational Tax Certificates. If your insurance company is NOT listed, please contact Carolyn at Town Hall. Contact info is at the link.

Park Work Day

2010-03-19T09:52:00.000-04:00

Join us this Saturday, March 20 from 9am-12pm at the City Park. We'll be doing a little spring maintenance. It's a great chance to interact with your neighbors in the great outdoors. Hope to see you there.

Election Settled?

2010-02-27T07:52:00.002-05:00

There's an article in the Athens Banner-Herald about the March NHS election. I know that no one signed up to run against Kim Kraeling for Mayor and I had heard that Scott Wilson dropped out of the Post 1 race against Jason Wisniewski, but I didn't know it was official. I guess it really won't be official until the election is certified by our Election Superintendent. But, assuming it is, I look forward to working with the new Mayor and new Council member. A full complement on the council....I haven't seen that since my first few months on the council.

Family Fun Day at Heritage Park

2010-02-25T15:18:00.002-05:00

Information here.

We are offering rabies vaccines, microchipping, adoptable pets,
train rides, petting zoo, live music, food, trucks and cars, and
more. Bring the kids, the pets, and smiles.

Adopt a shelter pet!

Agenda Set for this Monday

2010-02-09T10:13:00.001-05:00

Our next meeting is Monday Feb. 15, 2010 at 7:30pm. The agenda is here. Please join us.

Code of Ordinances

2010-02-04T21:18:00.004-05:00

Well it's been a long time coming but we have the final draft of the code of ordinances up here. We'll be discussing it and possibly voting on in Monday Feb. 15th. Come join us at the next council meeting.

Tonight's meeting

2010-02-01T20:58:00.001-05:00

We had a short productive meeting to select an insurance carrier for the town. Saved a few thousand dollars over last year and got better coverage. Kudos to Violet and Stephen Arnold for spearheading this. Great job!

You can review the audio here.

Today's Meeting

2010-02-01T09:51:00.001-05:00

We'll be having a short meeting at 7:00pm today (Monday Feb. 1) to pick an insurance agent for the town. We have three bids will be discussing.

Next meeting (and audio)

2010-01-20T16:36:00.001-05:00

I'm having trouble with the audio from Monday's meeting. There's a lot of hiss, but if you jack up your speakers you can hear it. The files are large so they are still uploading. I'll update the message when they finish. In the meantime, we'll have a continuation of Monday's meeting NEXT Monday 1/25/2010 at 7:30pm.

Meeting Monday

2010-01-13T18:05:00.001-05:00

I can GUARANTEE (almost) that a meeting will take place on Monday January 18th, 2010 at 7:30pm. The agenda is here. Hope to see you there.

Tree Collection continued

2010-01-08T14:26:00.002-05:00

You can leave your old Christmas tree at the City Park mulch pile up to Saturday Jan 16th.

Chipping

2010-01-04T08:31:00.002-05:00

Happy 2010 North High Shoalsers or North High Shoalsians.

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. I'm back from the north and apologize for bringing the cold weather back with me.

If you need a place to bring your Christmas tree, we'll be collecting them at the city park for chipping. We'll either do it onsite or transport them to the Watkinsville location depending upon any liability issues. Either way, feel free to drop your tree off at the mulch pile at City Park on Hillsboro. Of course you can always add your tree to your brush pile (brush piles are great for wildlife), drop it in your pond (fish love structure), or put it outside decorated with bird seed pine cones or other such wildlife feed.

Tonight - No Public Hearing

2009-12-14T10:15:00.002-05:00

(the picture has NOTHING to do with NHS, it's just my favorite Christmas movie)

There won't be a quorum tonight for an official public hearing on the code. I believe that since it was advertised there will be some folks there for a work session at 6:30pm if you are interested. I know with the holidays and all it's tough to get away.

Barring any significiant events in the near future, I'll just take the time now to say Happy Holidays to all my North High Shoals neighbors. See you in 2010.

Thank you from Violet Dawe, Mayor pro tem

2009-12-09T13:14:00.003-05:00

Violet had me upload a nice thank you letter she prepared today. Take a look at it here.

Last night

2009-12-08T11:18:00.002-05:00

We weren't able to have a public hearing on the city code last night. Not sure where Councilman Cape was as there was no email earlier in the day letting us know if he was going to join us or not. I hope he's okay. We had another work session on the code, instead. Mr. Cape didn't show by our regularly scheduled meeting time of 7:30pm so we didn't have a quorum to have our monthly meeting. A quorum is unnecessary for the swearing in of newly elected officials so we did that instead. We had a great turnout and you can view pictures here.

Reflecting on 2009, it was a year dominated by our work on the Town Charter and city code. It's important for towns to have their laws written down, compiled and accessible to all. We are doing that, and by February I'm sure it will be complete. I also have to say that having a town clerk and town treasurer made a great difference in what we can accomplish. They were instrumental in the smooth running of the town and also in finding funds (through grants) to take care of some needs. Grants are crucial to a small town on a limited budget. Without Kate & Carolyn we wouldn't have been nearly as successful. Our election in November ran smoothly and without complaint. It was also the year that our long serving Mayor stepped down, as well as 8 year council veteran Fred Johnson. They both acknowledged that new blood can breath life into a small town, and we all look forward to this in the new year.

Keep next Monday open. We going to try once more for a first public hearing on the code. If we have a quorum, great. If not, we'll have a short work session...it is the holidays after all.

Soldiers at Christmas

2009-12-04T10:02:00.002-05:00

Good write-up in the ABH

Good job Violet Dawe and Stephen Arnold. I hope we can all focus on doing positive things for our community in the coming year.

Meeting Monday

2009-12-03T08:32:00.003-05:00

Hi All,

Forgot to mention that on Monday December 7th we will have a work session (or if we have a quorum - the first public hearing) for the city code. I'll be there, as will Fred Johnson and Violet Dawe. We need one more person for a quorum. Will he show or will he simply be too busy? It is the Christmas season, perhaps he'll be at Rockefeller Center in New York to see the beautiful tree. Perhaps he'll be on a road trip to Tiger Ridge in Savannah to see the Christmas light display. Maybe he'll stick closer to home. At Flicker in Athens, they are having a Ping Pong tournament, also on Monday the Town and Gown Theatre is holding auditions for its February production of the award-winning musical Mame. Perhaps that will keep him away. Tune in Monday night at 6:30pm to find out. The suspense is killing us!

So, show up at 6:30pm on Monday Dec. 7th for a code hearing (or work session), and stay for the regular meeting at 7:30pm. The agenda is here.

Please get your stuff to the Post Office by Friday!

2009-12-03T08:22:00.000-05:00

To get packages to people in Afghanistan we must mail them on Friday. Please drop off anything you want to sent in the bin in the High Shoals Post Office.

2009-11-25T21:46:00.003-05:00

Support our local soldiers. North High Shoals is collecting items to send to soldiers serving overseas. Details can be found here.
Thank you for your support, and thanks to one of our newest councilpersons (Stephen Arnold) for taking the initiative in this.

HSES Art Teacher

2009-11-23T15:30:00.002-05:00

Help out High Shoals Elementary School

The Art Teacher Wants Your “Trash!” Our art teacher, Mrs.Carter, says she could always use the following items in the art room. If you have any of these items around your house and would like to share, she would really appreciate it!

* Empty cardboard cereal, snack food, frozen food boxes, etc... You can break
them down for easy transport.
* Egg Cartons
* Toilet paper rolls
* Any small plastic stuff like tic tac boxes, small broken toys, Happy meal toys,
(anything small and plastic)
* Old board game pieces, the "memory" game that you lost half the matches to
* Fabric scraps
* Buttons

I'm guessing you can just bring them by the school during regular hours.

Thanks!

Town's Website reviewed in the Oconee Enterprise

2009-11-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

I'd link to it if I could but you must be a subscriber to view it. It was mostly positive, so thanks Blake. He does make a couple good points. One is navigation. I've since added some navigation links off to the right so you can get to the main pages from any other main page. The other was about it's lack of graphics and such. He does say that it was probably due to a low budget. Since I don't get paid (and don't want to get paid) for it, it's very simple. But the point is to get the main information out to the citizens and I think I've done that. Your thoughts? Please comment below.

The town's website is http://www.northhighshoals.org

Athens Banner-Herald Article

2009-11-18T09:29:00.003-05:00

Here it is.

Mayor's Resignation

2009-11-17T09:49:00.002-05:00

Yesterday the Town Clerk received a letter from Jeff Thomas. The letter is posted on the Town's website.

I'd like to thank Mr. Thomas for his year's of service to the town.

In January a new council will convene. We'll be swearing in David Lawrence and Stephen Arnold as new councilpersons. They will join Violet Dawe, Eddie Cape and myself. Currently Violet Dawe (as Mayor Pro Tem) will assume the Mayor's duties. In January, one of the first orders of business will be to appoint a Mayor Pro Tem for 2010. The December meeting of the town council will be Monday December 7th at 7:30pm. I sincerely hope we have a quorum present to allow us to conduct town business. A lack of quorum has plagued the town since October. I can, with some confidence, say that come January, the plague is over. Stay tuned.

City Park Playground

2009-11-13T10:47:00.002-05:00

At some point in the next year, we might think about adding a new piece of playground equipment. Take a look at this catalog and let us know what you think. Oconee Veterans Park used this company for the playground equipment near the back of the park. It's a great playground. Either email me your comments or feel free to leave them on the blog.

Meeting Monday

2009-11-12T15:40:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all the folks that came out to vote last Monday. Great turnout!

On Monday we'll be having a public hearing on the code at 6:30pm. You can read a draft copy here.

After the hearing, we'll be having our regular November meeting. The agenda is now online.

Hope you can make it.

Results

2009-11-03T21:38:00.002-05:00

Post 3: David Lawrence 110 & Scott Wilson 77

Post 4: Steve Arnold 98 & Sarah Donegan 88

Thanks for everyone for voting.

Vote TODAY!!

2009-11-03T06:46:00.005-05:00

Please head on over to Town Hall (opposite the post office) to vote today from 7 am - 7 pm.

Glad to see all four candidates waving signs this morning. David & Stephen over on Elder Road and Scott & Sarah in front of Wade Thomas' house on 186.

There are big signs for Sarah & Scott saying they will protect your personal property rights and keep taxes low. I'm not sure who they are running against, because all the candidates in the race are for personal property rights and low taxes. I specifically asked David just this morning if he was for taking people's property and raising their taxes and he emphatically said that he was not. Stephen said in his post, "Utmost consideration and stewardship in the use of city revenues." Doesn't sound like he's for raising taxes. So...get out and vote today, confident that no matter WHO you vote for, your property rights will be protected and your taxes will remain low.

Public Hearings

2009-11-02T14:13:00.002-05:00

There's been a flurry of activity via emails and blog comments. Here's a summary. Feel free to add a comment or two.

The Code.
One of the first things we were advised to do by our town attorney was to update the charter and then update the code. We finished the charter this spring, and the approval of the code is almost complete. After 10 work sessions on the code, I would think that citizens have had ample time to weigh in. We scheduled two public hearings at our September meeting. These were set for Oct. 19th and November 16th. Both to be held before regularly scheduled meetings. Mr. Cape had earlier in the week notified council of his unavailability, but we didn't get notice from Mayor Thomas about his unavailability until 2:23pm on the date of the hearing. So without Mr. Cape and Mr. Thomas, we would not have a quorum. As it was late, I felt that I should be there to let citizens know about the cancellation personally. A note on the door is just bad form. Fred & Violet decided to do the same thing. We met some citizens that had shown up and let them know about the cancellation. I hoped we could reschedule a public hearing, but that is not my job. Obviously, November 2nd was out because of set-up for elections, but Nov. 9th seemed to be a good date. I told Violet (mayor pro tem) that the 9th would work for me. On the 20th of October our clerk sent out an email with the rescheduled code hearing set for Nov. 9th. All seemed well.

On the 28th the mayor sent a note to the clerk asking where the Nov. 9th date came from and letting her know that he would be unable to attend. The clerk sent this to council on Sat. (31st) night. Today, Mr. Cape also let it be known that he will not be available on the 9th. They do not support Violet's authority to reschedule the public hearing. They believe she should have called the Mayor (I don't know if she made an attempt...I haven't been able to reach her today) and Mr. Cape to see if the date would work with them. In hindsight, it certainly would have made things easier. I guess I didn't think rescheduling a public hearing was such a huge deal. I guess I overestimated the commitment of the Mayor and Mr. Cape to creating a new code. Mr. Cape, can you summarize your thoughts about the code in a comment to the blog? I don't want to paraphrase our recent email conversation.

So...a public hearing on the code is still scheduled for November 16th at 6:30pm. I have heard nothing about a rescheduled October regular meeting.

Eddie's got the ball

2009-11-01T20:15:00.002-05:00

Just got an email from the mayor saying he would NOT be available for the rescheduled 1st public hearing on the new code...which is to take place on Nov. 9th at 7pm. I guess it's all up to Mr. Eddie Cape. If he can make it we'll have a quorum. If he can't...well...I guess we'll just have to try again.

Sidewalks

2009-10-29T13:35:00.005-04:00

From Scott Wilson's post:
" The fact is that you have current council members and what could be new council members that are adjoining land owners where our sidewalks and the City Hall are proposed. In my opinion, there is a direct conflict of interest when concerning sidewalks and the City Hall. "

I was at the council meeting when we talked about sidewalks. We simply thought it was a good idea to connect the existing sidewalk on Elder Rd. to the park. That's all. As for City Hall...the park is the only piece of property the city owns. Where else would we put it? Conflict of interest is a serious allegation. I heard today that you also do this in an ad in the Oconee Enterprise. Do you stand by this accusation? Feel free to clarify via a comment if you wish.

For the record, do you support or oppose additional sidewalks in North High Shoals?
(Sarah, if you are reading this feel free to comment).

Angry

2009-10-19T14:22:00.002-04:00

I'm going to go ahead and violate my rule about posting while mad.

I JUST NOW (2:23pm) on Monday, got an email saying that the Mayor will not be able to attend the public hearing and official October meeting tonight. I don't know what the excuse is this time, but with Eddie also unable to attend (he notified us last week), we will not have a quorum. So if you had plans to discuss the code tonight, you are out of luck. You can thank the two people that have not given this code or frankly this job the amount of time and effort that is required. We all have families, we all have other responsibilities that involve us but Fred, Violet and myself have somehow managed to attend the work sessions, and attend the meetings. For the 2-3 times per year that business calls me away from town, I plan ahead of time and we are usually able to reschedule the meeting. That is what you have to do when you are down one councilperson, and you want to get the town's business done.

I wasted my lunch hour today to bring some copies of the code over to town hall. Now, sure I can afford to miss a meal or two, but our clerk has also been very busy getting the minutes together and preparing for tonight's meeting. I'm sure Violet & Fred have been reading up on the code and preparing for tonight's meeting.

I wish I could say 'there, I feel better now'. But I can't, I'm still mad. It'll pass. Of course it'll pass....but I really feel let down.

Hopefully this meeting will be able to be rescheduled soon.

Your Candidates

2009-10-17T23:12:00.002-04:00

I've just posted videos of your four candidates at the Town Charter Hearing. There are also four posts from the candidates themselves. You may have to click the 'older posts' link near the bottom to see all of these. I think that the more information we have about the candidates will help us all make more informed decisions on who to support. Please come out and vote on November 3rd.

Stephen Arnold at the Town Charter Hearing

2009-10-17T23:04:00.002-04:00

Sarah Donegan at the Town Charter Hearing

2009-10-17T22:54:00.003-04:00

David Lawrence at the Town Charter Hearing

2009-10-17T22:49:00.002-04:00

Scott Wilson at the Town Charter Hearing

2009-10-17T22:38:00.002-04:00

Your Candidates

2009-10-16T12:52:00.003-04:00

I asked all four candidates to submit something for this blog. Here they are in alphabetical order. You can comment if you want or ask questions but you must use your real name to do so, and I would encourage you to be polite to everyone. Thank you in advance.

Stephen Arnold

2009-10-16T12:48:00.004-04:00

Why Vote? Everyone these days is very busy, sometimes too busy to vote especially in an off-year election. I’m not only asking for your vote, I’m encouraging you to come out even if you want to vote for another candidate other than myself. My parents always told me that the right to vote was something very special and was not to be taken lightly. They said many people around the world don’t have that privilege and many Americans have fought and died so that we can. That’s reason enough for me and I hope for you as well. Besides, in a small town your vote means somuch.

Why me? My career has been primarily in Sales and Marketing. That background has provided a wonderful opportunity to work within a variety of different businesses and with a diverse group of people. I’ve worked closely with local governments, chambers of commerce and small business development organizations. I’ve managed and trained individuals in both the classroom and the field. I’ve also served on three different homeowner’s associations. These experiences should help me to understand and assist in solving some of our town’s issues.

Key Interests and Concerns:
· Utmostconsideration and stewardship in the use of city revenues.
· Expansion of sidewalks.
· Park and public area improvements.
· Obtaining access to quality cable/Internet service.
· Building of our new Town Hall.
· Helping to promote Energy Efficiency.

A little about me:
While visiting my niece and her family in Athens some years ago, I met Allison - a lovely Georgia native who lived in Watkinsville. I was living in Maui at the time and from 5,000 miles apart we “courted” the old fashioned way, by mail and over the phone! We fell in love, got married in 1996 and after a few months in Hawaii, came back to make Oconee County our home. We have lived in Oconee County for the last 12 years and coming up on 5 in the Hickory Ridge sub-division. Allison is now in her 18th year teaching mathematics at UGA so I was quickly converted into a rabid Dawgs fan. My three boys graduated from Oconee County High School. Nick, the middle child, graduated from UGA where he met his wife Kara, now a nurse at St. Mary’s. Nick works in Atlanta but they reside in Athens. Zack, the eldest, lives and works in Athens while the youngest, Jason and our first grandson Zachary, live in California. Most recently I worked as a Field Engineer for a contractor to Verizon and prior to that as Sales Manager for a spray foam insulation contractor. The economy has not been kind to either industry. So while I’ve been doing some part-time consulting, like many Americans, I am seeking to become fully re-employed.
I would greatly appreciate your vote. I very much want to hear your concerns and hopes for our city and would love your support on November 3rd. While our council members do not represent any specific area, I hope to be the first council member elected to serve from the Elder Road side of our city. And remember, you can always cast an absentee or “vote early” ballot if that’s more convenient for you. Call our Town Hall at (706) 769-4289 or go to www.northhighshoals.org for more information.

Sarah Donegan

2009-10-16T12:48:00.001-04:00

Thank you for taking the time to let me introduce myself….

My name is Sarah Donegan and I am running for North High Shoals Council Post 4.

• I was born in Valdosta Ga.
• Lived in Athens for 15yrs
• Resident of North High Shoals for four and ½ years
• Married to Wesley Donegan and mother of Zack & Isabella
• Owner/CEO of Athena Benefit Group located in Athens
• Insurance Agent for eight years
• Member The Junior League of Athens, GA
• Leadership Team, Business Networking International
• Administrator & Head of Fundraising, Stonehenge Youth Association

Why You Should Vote For Me…

Over the past few years I have attended almost all of our town council meetings and numerous code meetings. In fact, during our recent Charter Hearing as a constituent, I raised my voice and expressed concern over the millage rate not having a Cap in the initial submission for approval by the state. Fortunately, due to my concerns and the concerns of other citizens, the council went back to the drawing board and eventually a compromise was reached that did in fact put a cap on our millage rate which protects us from future unrestricted taxing. When elected, I plan to represent our city with an emphasis on a limited government while keeping in mind that our priority should be on infrastructure such as roads, water and gas along with the consideration of individual property rights.

I believe I can use my business expertise and positive communication skills to bridge the gap between our council and the thoughts and wishes of the citizens of North High Shoals.

Elect me and I promise to make sure North High Shoals keeps its small town and historical atmosphere. Additionally, I believe that while progress is inevitable it should be done with smart planning and fiscal responsibility. We need to make sure that our community projects not only suit us today but in the future.

We are a fantastic rural community and we need a council that keeps this in mind when it is making decisions that impact ALL of us!!! I believe our council should lead and not dictate. Part of the appeal of North High Shoals is it’s a close knit, small town community and the council should not act as a homeowners association. North High Shoals has several subdivisions that already have their own homeowner’s associations. These constituents are already abiding by well planned thought out guidelines and I do not feel that it is just for our council to implement laws that are actually more restrictive or invasive than what they currently have in place.

I plan to listen to the voices of all of my constituents versus the few and not let my personal opinions get in the way!

I am so excited about representing our town and I hope you will vote for me in November!!!!

Please feel free to email me with any concerns or ideas you may have for our town. sarahforcouncil@gmail.com

David Lawrence

2009-10-16T12:47:00.001-04:00

A Note from David Lawrence. Candidate for Post 3.

About Me…
· Born in Atlanta, Georgia
· Athens-area resident for 21 years
· Eight year resident of north high shoals
· Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees from uga
· Oconee teacher for 18 years; currently at H.S.E.S
· Husband to Amy and father of Ty and Owen

Leadership Experience…
· Mexicali Grille restaurant manager
· National Board Certification Teacher Trainer
· Malcom Bridge Elementary Leadership Team
· High Shoals Elementary 5th Grade Leader
· “Relay for Life” Team Captain
· Junior BETA Club Sponsor
· Superintendent’s Advisory Committee
· North High Shoals City Park Chair

Over the past three years I have attended almost all Council meetings. I have learned a lot about this little town and the many folks that live here. I feel I have contributed in many ways including attending work sessions/hearings on our town charter, city code, and SPLOST funds. I have organized work days in the park, erected the flag pole, reset basketball goals, and painted speed tables. Most importantly, perhaps, I have expressed concern when I felt things were not said or done for the public good. I am a strong believer in local government for it is closest to the people, and I am very proud to be a resident of North High Shoals. I feel that I will bring balance, integrity, and direction to a governing body that has made much progress.

Sincerely, David Lawrence

Scott Wilson

2009-10-16T12:43:00.002-04:00

Scott is running for Post 3.

I, Scott A. Wilson, am excited to announce that I am a candidate for North High Shoals City Councilman, Post 3. My wife, Jennifer, and I have three children - Harlin, Madelyn, and Lyla. We have lived in NHS for over four years and have enjoyed being a part of this community.

I want you to know me better. Please visit my Facebook page, Scott A. Wilson for N. High Shoals Council. Join in by letting me know your priorities and/or concerns for our city and how you wish to receive updates on city business. I look forward to hearing from you!

One of the things I admire about NHS is its rural and historic flavor. My purpose is to maintain our uniqueness by Governing to the least restrictive degree. At the same time, with smart planning that the citizens would expect, I support family and business growth in the community. As a certified appraiser, I am a local business owner in NHS, managing Appraisal Services of GA, Inc., along with my wife. Jennifer is a Real-Estate Broker/Agent with Arch Real Estate Services, Inc., and is on the High Shoals Elementary School Council. Appraisal Services of GA, Inc. is proud to have been Partners in Education since 2004 and a sponsor of Oconee Co. Little League since 2006.

SPLOST funds are great for N. High Shoals, however I feel if we are not careful with proposed projects and have the right people in place, there could be wasted spending. The fact is that you have current council members and what could be new council members that are adjoining land owners where our sidewalks and the City Hall are proposed. In my opinion, there is a direct conflict of interest when concerning sidewalks and the City Hall. We all want smart spending and planning for our community. Being up to date on town issues, my experience in new constructions, zoning, and property management with excess of a million dollar budget will provide the unbiased leadership N. High Shoals deserves.

Hopefully, with your support, I can become a bigger part of our community and serve you on our city council. Though I have never been in the political arena, I would be honored to help in guiding our community with open government and basing my decisions for NHS on a sensible financial plan toward advancements in our city. The safety and planning around High Shoals Elementary school is a priority to our community and especially to me since two of my children attend this school.

I ask for your support in my run for Post 3, City Councilman. Please cast your vote at City Hall on November 3, 2009, and please cast your vote for me, Scott A. Wilson. Your vote would be greatly appreciated. Working for a Better Community and representing YOU is my goal.

Thank You for your support,
Scott A. Wilson
Candidate, Post 3 City Council
(706) 614-9442
N.HighShoals@gmail.com

Next meetings

2009-10-13T14:04:00.002-04:00

We'll be holding the first of two public hearings on the code on October 19th at 6:30pm
A copy can be found HERE
We'd love to hear your feedback. We've had numerous work sessions on the code and feel we have a great document to guide the town.

Our Regular Monthly Meeting will follow October 19th at 7:30pm - AGENDA

Hope to see you there!

The election

2009-09-18T08:47:00.003-04:00

I failed to note that Joe Latner has withdrawn his bid for Post 5. We have two candidates for Post 3: David Lawrence and Scott Wilson, and two candidates for Post 4: Steve Arnold and Sarah Donegan.

I hope everyone will be able to come out and vote on November 3rd.

Meetings

2009-09-16T15:02:00.003-04:00

Our next regular meeting is on Monday, September 21st at 7:30pm. The agenda is available here.

Our latest work session on the city code was held on Monday September 14th. Council members Fred Johnson, Violet Dawe, and Steve Holzman were joined by Scott Wilson and Wes Donegan. The latest copy of the code is available here.

Here's a picture of puppies because everyone loves puppies.

Comments Section

2009-09-07T14:55:00.002-04:00

First off...I have no problem with the comment to the previous post. It was not inflammatory, nor a cheap shot, nor a personal attack. So this post really has nothing to do with that comment. With that said, I am no longer going to approve anonymous comments on this blog. I think the anonymity of the Internet can sometimes make discussions less civil. So, if you'd like to comment, please include your name. Thank you very much.

-Steve

A Message from Fred Johnson

2009-09-03T08:46:00.002-04:00

Fred is my friend and he is responsible for getting me involved in North High Shoals politics. Fred is not running for re-election. He'll still be part of the council for the next 4 months, and I suspect he'll continue to assist the town in the future whenever needed. Here is a message he sent out last night:
--------------------------------------------------------

I am writing to tell you about three of your fellow citizens who have stepped forward to run for Town Council. I completely endorse these candidates for Town Council without any reservations. All of them have stepped up to support the town in the past and are ready to continue their efforts. We are tremendously lucky to have citizens with their experience and record willing to step into these positions. I hope all of you join me in voting for them and working for their election.

Violet, David & Stephen for Town Council

Council Member & Mayor Pro-Tempore Violet Dawe has signed-up to run for re-election to her post. She has done a great job these past two years in her role as mayor pro-tempore by making decisions, paying bills, and running meetings when the mayor has been absent. She has been a work horse for the town in everything from (a) pushing her own initiatives like the town light survey, where she saved the town thousands of dollars in future payments for lights not in the city to (b) earning the town a $3,000 rebate check from the power company to (c) her daily efforts to collect the mail and pay the bills on time when she discovered these things were not being done. She has done these things and far more to keep the town together; I could go on for pages about all the work she has done for the town these last two years. If you’ve been reading these notes from me, you are aware of all the well spent time and effort Violet has put into our town and how lucky we are to have her on the Town Council.

I am very excited that David Lawrence has signed up for the open seat after spending a couple of years serving the city as Park Chair and generally being a positive person, helping move the Town Council forward. As you are probably aware, David has been a regular attendee of our Town Council and work session meetings. His dedication to the running of this city began well before he decided to ‘throw his hat in the ring.’ Aside from doing all kinds of work on the park and city streets for years (for free!), David is the person who helped our town attorney to make the arrangements to hold the 3rd public hearing at High Shoals Elementary. That meeting would not have happened without his effort. David is positive, energetic, smart, and I believe that we would be very lucky to have him on the Town Council for the next four years where he can continue the work that he has already been doing.

I am equally excited about Stephen Arnold stepping forward to run for Town Council, at the urging of his friends and neighbors. Stephen has answered the call of people in the Elder Road area to represent them on Town Council, a woefully under-represented group of people at the present time. This area of town has never had a person on the Town Council. Stephen has pressed and advised the Town Council on issues such as bringing another cable franchise to town, and he worked the phones in the last election to get Steve Holzman elected. His utility and building knowledge as we face decisions on SPLOST funding will improve the Council’s decision making.

I am so happy at the positive effect the mass majority of citizens have had on this town over the past two years. We have really turned this place around. I am excited about visiting the Council in January to see Violet back in her seat and David and Stephen joining her. That’s going to be a fantastic Council. Now is the time for me to step back from the Council a bit and let other people and areas of the city be heard. I have wanted to extend the feeling of our town community to the Elder Road area for years, as most of you know, and by not running for re-election we have the space on the ballot for Stephen Arnold to step in. That’s extremely important to me for the long term health of our community. Over the past eight years I have dropped some other activities for which I have a passion, like coaching wrestling; I want to increase my participation in that direction. Of course, I cannot fully walk away from the town, and David Lawrence and Stephen Arnold have given me a model of how citizens can actively and energetically support the town and the Council by attending meetings, volunteering their services, and engaging in active debate about the issues that face our Town. I’ll follow their example.

You’ll be hearing more from me about these candidates in the near future. I invite all of you to contact me to find out more about how you can help to get them elected.

Thanks for your support of North High Shoals; I’ll see you at the next meeting.
Fred Johnson

Election Begins.....

2009-09-02T16:43:00.002-04:00

Six people have qualified for the election to fill Posts 3,4,and 5 on November 3rd.

Post 3 (currently vacant) will feature David Lawrence vs Scott Wilson
Post 4 (currently held by Fred Johnson) will feature Stephen Arnold vs Sarah Donegan
and Post 5 will have the incumbent Violet Dawe vs Joseph Latner

I'm sure there will be more to say at some point, but I just wanted anyone that follows my blog to know what's coming up.

The last election in NHS featured myself vs Wade Thomas, and was a respectful race with no name calling and no mud-slinging. Here's hoping this year's race is just as respectful. If the candidates are willing, perhaps we can have a candidate roundtable at the new school sometime in October. Just a thought. Let me know (in the comments section below) if that is something you are interested in. Looking forward to a great race! Good luck to all.

Work Sessions on the Code

2009-08-31T10:22:00.000-04:00

We have two coming up:
August 31, 7:00pm and
September 14, 7:00pm

Remember, this is YOUR chance to provide input on how you want this town to function.
Please come on out and let us know your concerns.

Thanks,
Steve Holzman

Meeting Tonight

2009-08-17T14:43:00.003-04:00

There is a council meeting tonight (Monday August 17th at 7:30pm). The agenda is HERE.

Hope you can make it. We are making great progress with our code of ordinances. You can see a draft here.

Keep alert.

2009-07-21T16:42:00.002-04:00

There seems to be a rash of burglaries in town. Stay alert.

Work Session on the City Code

2009-07-10T11:13:00.003-04:00

Last night, Fred, Violet and I were joined by Mark Campbell of Carter Engineering Consultants in our discussions of the new city code. I'll be doing the edits this weekend and we'll have a 'straw man' document ready to put on the website for folks to review and comment upon.

Thanks again Mark, for coming out to North High Shoals and giving us the benefit of your experience.

Updates

2009-07-08T09:36:00.003-04:00

The FY2010 Budget is approved and online at the town's website

We'll be having a work session on the new city code on Thursday
July 9th 7:00pm - 9:00pm and Monday July 13th 7:00pm - 9:00pm

The regular July meeting will be on July 27th at 7:30pm

and the Black Vultures at the city park had infertile eggs this year...so no
cute vulture nestling photos.

There are maps & drawings at town hall with some ideas for the city park. Drop by
during office hours (Monday & Tuesday) to check them out.

and I almost forget, the road by town hall is now paved and looking great...I'll take a picture next time I drive by.

Road Work

2009-06-16T11:16:00.005-04:00

Hi Everyone,

We have started repaving Jefferson Road from Hwy 186 to Plantation. The road will not be closed but it might be easier to use Hillsboro. Here's the section I'm talking about: (I think Google calls it Plantation Rd)

Go Violet

2009-06-09T15:52:00.002-04:00

Violet finds $3,300 !!!!!!!!!
From the meeting notes by Fred Johnson:
"Council Member Dawe reported that she worked on her survey of the town lights with a representative from Georgia Power and they discovered that our town has been charged for years for four lights not in the town. Georgia Power issued a check to the town for $3,300.84 for overpayment for the past eight years; she is still following up on two additional lights she cannot find in the town. Additionally, the town is paying for two lights on private property; council instructed her to work with the clerk to get this resolved."

Violet's experience and energy are really something this town needs! I hope she will run again when her term is up this year.

Way to go Violet.

Next Meeting

2009-06-09T15:49:00.003-04:00

Our next town meeting is June 15th at 7:30pm. You can see the agenda here.

There will also be a public hearing on the budget before the meeting at 7:15pm.

Next Meeting

2009-05-06T22:50:00.001-04:00

The May meeting is this Monday, May 11th at 7:30pm We have a large agenda and much to dicuss. Please join us at town hall.

Last night's meeting

2009-04-14T11:26:00.004-04:00

Well, we awarded a contract to resurface Jefferson Rd. from 186 to Plantation. That was good. We're very happy with our productive new clerk & treasurer. They are doing great work. We are also going to start work on a new updated city code. Our first work session is Monday April 27th at 6pm. Come join us at town hall to work on this important document.

I created a garden page for the town website. Contact me if you have plants to share, etc. We're also thinking about a Yard of the Month contest. Honoring residents that beautify the town. Any ideas you have for the town's website are very welcome.

Meeting tonight 7:30pm Town Hall

2009-04-13T13:27:00.000-04:00

See the agenda here

Hope you all can make it.

Got Tires?

2009-03-31T14:09:00.001-04:00

Tire Amnesty Month in Oconee County
During the month of April citizens of the county can bring up to 4 tires to the Landfill on 411 or the recycling centers on Hwy 53, or Hwy 15. NO CHARGE!

Let's get these tires out of our community and cut down on mosquito breeding sites!

Thanks.

SPLOST passes & We're on Streetview

2009-03-19T10:46:00.003-04:00

SPLOST passed on Tuesday, so North High Shoals will be getting a new Town Hall, sidewalks & some long needed road repairs.

and we are in the big time. Some of the North High Shoals roads are on Google Streetmap! alas...not Jefferson (my road) but Plantation & Hwy 186 & Hillsboro.

Pretty cool.

SPLOST VOTE TODAY

2009-03-17T08:14:00.001-04:00

Please get out and support the continuation of the SPLOST tax. North High Shoals stands to get $700,000 to support sidewalks, roads and a new town hall! Please vote YES!