The Ellijay City Council approved the first step in a process that could result in Shrine Club Drive eventually becoming a city street when meeting Monday, Oct. 21.
Councilmembers approved giving the city’s legal counsel the authority to prepare dedication deeds that will be used to obtain rights of way from property owners along the piece of road, which is not currently under city or county ownership.
The street leads to the Coosawattee Shrine Club, which is used as a county polling place for the Ellijay North precinct. It’s in rough shape with numerous potholes, commented Gilmer County Probate Judge and Elections Superintendent Scott Chastain, who attended the council meeting.
Chastain and Chief Voter Registrar Tammy Watkins said phone calls with complaints about the rough road often come in, especially when elections are underway.
“It’s currently owned by landowners. The landowners would deed right of way to the City of Ellijay to make it a city street. At this time, the state would fund the paving part of it,” said Chastain about the street adoption process.
Paving would first have to be done before the city will consider adopting the street, said Code Enforcement Officer Don Schneider.
“If they pass city specs and all the landowners pitch their deeds in, once it’s paved, the city will take it in,” he added.
Mayor Al Hoyle said there is a caveat in the approved resolution that the property will be deeded back to the original owners should funding for the paving work not come through.
In other news ...
﹣ Councilmembers adopted the city’s general fund budget for fiscal year 2020 while also approving the 2019 millage rate.
The 2020 budget is $1,986,933 and the millage rate is 3.120.
﹣ An on-premise consumption license for beer, wine and distilled spirits was approved for The Roof Ellijay, a restaurant and bar being built atop the former Andy’s Jeweler’s building at 16 River Street.
﹣ A new street connecting Progress Road and Victory Circle that was recently adopted by the city will be named Mill Run Road. Don Brown, owner of Progress Road business Water Vendors by Us, donated land for the street to be built.