The Ellijay City Council closed out 2021 by adopting a resolution that’s been tabled at a number of previous meetings.
Councilmembers Sandy Ott, Tom Crawford, Katie Lancey, Kevin Pritchett and Al Fuller passed the resolution to accept real property that comprises Shrine Club Drive when meeting at City Hall Monday, Dec. 20.
The purpose of the property transfer is so public improvements, such as paving, can be done to the rough road with multiple potholes. All owners of property adjacent to the road, on which the Coosawattee Shrine Club is located, have signed easements, confirmed Mayor Al Hoyle.
The item has appeared on city council agendas since first being introduced in 2019, when councilmembers gave the city’s legal counsel authority to prepare dedication deeds for obtaining rights of way. It’s since been tabled due to all needed signatures not being obtained.
Discussion of paving the cut-thru street that runs between Old Highway 5 and Boardtown Road dates back further than that.
There have been efforts to pave Shrine Club Drive over the years, but private ownership of the property and not being able to obtain the needed rights of way prevented that, Mayor Al Hoyle and then-councilman David Westmoreland told the Times-Courier in 2015.
The Coosawattee Shrine Club has long been used as a polling place for the Ellijay Northeast precinct. Judge Scott Chastain, county elections superintendent, said phone calls with complaints about the condition of the road are common, especially when voting is underway.
At Monday’s council meeting, Chastain thanked Hoyle and the council for sticking with efforts to take in the road.
“It’s been a process to get this far. Hopefully we’ll see the road improved and paved, and we’ll be in better shape,” he said.
Chastain said that process started in 2018, when he addressed letters to each landwoner about the possibility of the road being taken in by the city.
“I checked with (Commission) Chairman (Charlie) Paris and the mayor about whose road it was, and it was kind of nobody’s except for landowners. Instead of trying to put one of them in the hot seat, I sent a letter to each (one) telling them my concern. I received immediate feedback, but it’s just taken a little while to get everybody to sign the right of way deeds,” he added.
Per the resolution, the road property transfer, which spans seven tracts, also includes all drainage and utility structures, fixtures and equipment lying on, over or under the real property and road.
Also according to the resolution, the city will seek funds to improve Shrine Club Drive, which will be taken in as a city street thereafter. Should the city be unable to secure funding to improve the street, the property will be returned to the previous owners, it states.
In other news ...
Councilmembers approved multiple renewals for on-premise alcohol consumption licenses.
On-premise beer and wine license renewals were approved for Cantaberry Restaurant, Country Corner Kitchen and Boardwalk Pizza and Pub. Renewals for on-premise beer, wine and distilled spirits were approved for Cajun Depot and La Catrina.
A microdistillery license renewal for Whitepath Distillery was also approved following an executive session.