The Ellijay City Council met for the last time in 2023 with a brief agenda and goodbyes to councilmembers Katie Lancey and Sandy Ott, both of whom will be coming off the council at the end of the year.
Lancey has served on the council since 1998 and Ott since 2020.
“Both of you have done a great job, and we’ll miss you both,” said Mayor Al Hoyle at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
Lancey, who chose not to run for another term, said the highlights and accomplishments of her 26 years on the council include various downtown Ellijay streetscape projects including the roundabout, establishment of the Ellijay Fire Department and construction of the public safety building that houses the city fire and police departments, passing a referendum to allow alcohol sales in the downtown business district and the establishment of Harrison Park.
Some of those items, such as downtown alcohol sales and replacing a traffic light on the town square with the roundabout, took multiple years and phases before coming to pass, she noted.
“I appreciate the privilege of representing this incredible community for the past 26 years. It has been an honor to serve the residents of Ellijay and work collaboratively toward the betterment of our city,” said Lancey. “The experiences, challenges and triumphs we’ve shared together have shaped not only the landscape of Ellijay, but also the memories I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life. I look forward to seeing the continued success and flourishing of our beloved community in the years to come.”
Ott, the city’s current mayor pro tem, ran for mayor this year and was unable to simultaneously seek another term on the council.
About her time as a councilmember, she said, “it has truly has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Ellijay on the city council and as mayor pro tem. I will cherish the experiences, opportunities and lessons learned over the last four years.”
Two recently elected councilmembers, Claudia Penland (who will be the city’s next mayor pro tem) and Thomas Griffith, will begin their four-year terms in January.
In other news …
Councilmembers approved on-premise alcohol consumption license renewals for Cantaberry Restaurant, The Butcher and Bottle, Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza and Cajun Depot.
Although on the meeting agenda, a public hearing for an update of the joint comprehensive plan shared by Ellijay and East Ellijay with input from the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission was not held.