Waiver of city tax collection to continue
East Ellijay City Councilmembers were updated on new business activity when meeting last week.
Per reports from Jackson West, of the city planning department, and public safety director Larry Callahan, recent new business activity, mainly in the Highlands shopping area, includes:
﹣ Construction on an Aldi’s supermarket is expected to begin this month. The supermarket will be located just off Highway 515, near Auto Zone and other businesses on Howard Simmons Road.
﹣ A land disturbing permit has been issued for a Bojangles restaurant with construction expected to start this month.
﹣ A Buffalo Luke’s restaurant is 95 percent complete and awaits a final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
﹣ A land disturbing permit has been issued for an EZ Storage facility.
﹣ Jersey Mike’s Subs is in the permit application stage.
﹣ Construction of a Mavis Tire garage is 15 percent complete.
﹣ Construction of a Marriott Springhill Suites Hotel is 65 percent complete.
Business licenses issued in the past month included Mountain Express Tanning, Corner Store Smoke Shop and All Ways Caring Home Care.
In other news ...
East Ellijay will continue a longstanding tradition of not collecting city taxes this year.
The city council set a 2023 millage rate of 3 mils at its June meeting, but only because the state requires cities to do so, even if property taxes are not collected.
The waiver of city taxes for all East Ellijay business and residential property owners had been a constant under the leadership of former Mayor Mack West. This was the first time for new Mayor Don Callihan, previous mayor pro-tem and city councilmember, in continuing to waive the tax collection.
“By state law, we have to set a millage rate, and it has to be approved by the council. But, like in years, past, when we set the millage rate, we’re also going to waive collecting of the taxes,” said Callihan.
Councilmembers James Waters, Linda Smith, Ed Forrester and Chris Callihan also approved:
﹣ Hiring Johnson Paving to pave the City Hall parking lot and back parking lot for the police department. Callihan said the work will include taking out a concrete island in the front parking lot. The paving will be paid for out of the city’s SPLOST fund.
﹣ An $8,780 expense for replacing an expired HVAC system at City Hall.