Jasper City Council extends moratorium on residential rezoning
City Council February 8, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council extended their moratorium on residential rezoning Monday evening. The moratorium, which will expire in June of this year, is the city’s latest move to tackle a growing concern over increased development in rural communities. Like many municipalities in the surrounding area, the City Council is already in the process of reviewing and proposing changes to the city’s zoning ordinances.
Resolution No. 2022-02, entitled Extension to Temporary Moratorium, was passed by the council on Feb. 7. The resolution will extend the temporary moratorium adopted on Aug. 26, 2021 for an additional 90 days.
In part, the resolution reads:
“WHEREAS, The Jasper Water Plant and the Waste Water Treatment Plant are nearing their maximum permitted capacity, and the City Council has approved several extensive developments that will utilize further capacity at said plants;
WHEREAS, the City of Jasper, Georgia is experiencing extremely strong residential growth, and which necessitates review, study, and modification of residential densities and in order to adequately plan for and serve the residents of the City;
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Jasper, Georgia, in order to facilitate controlled residential growth within the City and to update the zoning ordinance, adopted on August 26, 2021 a temporary moratorium as to all rezonings, rezoning applications and building permits related to residential rezonings until March 1, 2022 to draft and enact modified residential provisions within the zoning ordinance;
WHEREAS, the complexity of drafting modified residential provisions and the development of a comprehensive plan of regulations necessitates a ninety (90) day extension to the moratorium.”
Speaking on the resolution, City Attorney David Syfan said, “This is just to give the committee additional time to be able to make any informed recommendation to the council for the needed changes.” Syfan also noted that the moratorium and review process should result in amendments to Jasper’s zoning ordinances. The newly extended moratorium will end June 1, 2022.
Other Business
Mayor Steve Lawrence was absent from the Feb. 7 meeting but attended virtually. Mayor Pro Tem Kirk Raffield, who led the meeting in the mayor’s absence, confirmed that Mayor Lawrence had tested positive for COVID-19.
The council also approved a purchase sale agreement between the City of Jasper and Jasper’s Downtown Development Authority. The agreement would transfer Perrow Park back into the city’s ownership. Ownership of the park, as City Manager Sonia Jammes explained, would allow the city “to demolish some of the structures on the property that are unsafe for our citizens.” Jasper’s City Attorney also noted that the city will be obligated to pay off outstanding loans on the park property. A joint meeting between the city and the Jasper DDA will be held on Feb. 15, 2022 to authorize the purchase sale agreement.
New City of Jasper Fire Department and Certificate of Occupancy fee schedules were also approved by the council.
City Council approves Fire Department’s grant application
City Council January 4, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — Jasper’s city council met for the first time in the new year on Jan. 3. Among the items on their agenda were several appointment approvals and an approval of a grant application to benefit the Jasper Fire Department.
Kim Goldener spoke on behalf of the Jasper Fire Department, requesting the council’s approval to submit an application to receive grant funding from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Program. She explained, “This is a nationwide preparedness program, and what it does is it’s designed to fund critically needed, life-saving equipment, particularly in our case, when it is replacing obsolete, out-of-date, non-compliant equipment.”
Goldener further explained that Fire Chief Steve Roper and Assistant Fire Chief Von Headrick have identified several areas of need, totaling over $250,000 worth of new equipment. This equipment, she said, will “fall under FEMA’s high-priority status for funding.” The department’s application will include requests for 23 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units. The new equipment would replace the department’s current SCBA units from 2007 and 1992, Goldener told the council, which are “more than two cycles … out of compliance.”
Continuing, she noted the application would also request new fill stations and a cascade system to reduce the time spent filling oxygen cylinders. Finally, Goldener said the department would request new vehicle extraction tools. She explained the need to replace the current sets, saying: “They are more than 15 years old. They are not designed to work with new vehicle technology, with new materials that are in newer vehicles, and so it adds to the amount of time that, frankly, we don’t have when we’re trying to get somebody out of a vehicle.”
The total cost of the requested equipment would be $271,923.68. With FEMA’s grant assistance, however, the cost to the city would total $12,948.75. “This is … another example of our investment into public safety under this administration, we’ve had leaps and bounds,” council member Kirk Raffield said before the council passed the approval unanimously.
Other Business:
The council approved several appointments during the meeting. Member Kirk Raffield was among those. Raffield was nominated to serve as the city’s Mayor Pro Tempore and was elected unanimously by the council for a two year term. Newly elected council members Anne Sneeve and Sonny Proctor were also sworn in at the meeting. The council also R. David Syfan as city attorney for another year. On the Municipal Court, Judge Robert Sneed, Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Hudson, and Public Defender Cortney Stuart all received approval for service for the year of 2022.
The city council also established Suite C, 55 GG Lovell St., Jasper, Ga. as a permanent polling place for the city’s municipal elections.
City Council agrees to close Stegall Drive for upcoming events
Announcements, City Council, Community October 8, 2021
PICKENS, Ga. — The City of Jasper has approved plans to close Stegall Drive to traffic on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. The road will stay closed to accommodate events planned by Pendley Creek Brewing Co. and the Jasper Rotary Club.
Together, the Rotary Clubs of Jasper, Towne Lake, Canton, and Woodstock have planned an event for Oct. 21 to raise funds for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Cindy DeMaio, who represented the Rotary Clubs at the city council meeting, noted that this event will help bring several communities into Jasper. She requested that the road be closed to space the event out, in hopes to provide better opportunities for social distancing. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Pendley Creek Brewing Co. and be catered by LC Tacos & Margaritas
Rotary Club flyer for the event on Stegall Drive
Pendley Creek Brewing Company has also begun planning their own, independent event to take place during the same weekend. Although specifics have not been confirmed, they requested to show a family friendly movie, provide music, and have food vendors during the event. Owner Pam Briordy says details should be available in the coming week, but is currently scheduled to take place on Oct. 23.
Jasper City Council initially agreed to close Stegall Drive during the Rotary Club event; however, Councilman Kirk Raffield proposed to keep the road closed throughout the entire weekend. He says it will provide the city with an opportunity to see how the area works during events, when the road is closed. Agreeing, the city council unanimously agreed to shut down the road, on the condition that the Pickens County Board of Education also approved.
Stegall Drive will be closed to traffic beginning 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, will stay closed through the weekend, and will reopen as usual on the Monday morning of Oct. 25.
City Council returns to open events in city with approvals
News May 5, 2021
JASPER, Ga. – Plans are now in motion in the city council to return to Fourth of July celebrations in Jasper this year. While last year the city didn’t hold fireworks and had other issues due to COVID restrictions, the council is looking to return this year with a two day event on Saturday, July 3, and Sunday July 4.
According to the presentation by Leslie Miller and discussion in the May meeting of the city council, the plan was set to hold events, the parade, bingo, and celebrations in the afternoon while holding the fireworks display on Sunday along with a band playing at Lee Newton Park.
The parade will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. this year to coincide and “kick off” the celebration with the major parts beginning around 230 p.m. City Manager Brandon Douglas said the process began months ago with planning and looking ahead. He noted that “signature events” like the Fourth of July show great partnerships between the city and other entities. He noted that there would be costs involved including staff time, stage rental, and other needs from departments like the police who help make the event work.
With that, approval for the event came unanimously with the addition for the City Manager to spend what he feels appropriate “in his limit.”
The council also approve an event in September, furthering their return to general activities and public events. This event, to be held on September 2-5, 2021, is a special event for camping at Lee Newton Park. According to the city, North Georgia Family Partners is reserving the park similar to how they have in the past in order to “accommodate camping for Jeep Fest participants to raise money for the children and families in their program.”
According to the event website, for those who don’t know, “JeepFest raises money for a variety of charities that share one thing in common….they take care of kids. Since the event is hosted by the Sheriff’s Foundation, a non-profit organization, the Board of Directors works each year to identify needs in local, state, and national youth needs to support. Some of the charities that we help include the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, the Joy House, Special Olympics for Pickens County, the Boys and Girls Club, the Jasper Youth Sports Association and much more!”
As campers start showing up on Thursday, those getting ready for the event would have places to set up for the whole weekend and using facilities at the training center. The city will not be handling the security for the area, but the motion only approved permission for the usage.
Jasper considers 2.125 mill increase in early budgeting process
News September 25, 2020
JASPER, Ga. – The City of Jasper is holding meetings with citizens to discuss plans to move forward with a major increase of its Millage Rate.
The increase being considered is a 45.6 percent increase over the 4.655 mills that the city has held for three years now. In 2017, the rate was set at 4.655 mills from 2016’s 4.683 mills.
The proposed Millage Rate for 2020 is 6.78 mills. An increase of 2.125 mills.
A comparison sheet shown by City Manager Brandon Douglas in the September 24, 2020, public hearing for the millage rate.
The last time the rate was raised was 2001 when it went from 4.630 mills to 4.710 mills. The last time the millage rate was over 6 mills was 1996 when it was set at 6.850 mills.
According to City Manager Brandon Douglas, he met with the finance department and department heads, they found that normal operating costs produced a preliminary 2021 budget held a deficit of roughly $551,000. He also noted that indications pointed to a two to two-and-half percent increase in revenues while expenditures increase at three to five-and-a-half percent per year.
Douglas said, “That is not a sustainable financial model.”
He went on to say that the city needs corrective action for the finances. The gap between revenue and expenditures that the city is seeing has come from not correcting these issues sooner.
Douglas also noted the importance of property taxes as they make up 30 percent of the total revenue budget for the city. Many of the sources of revenue that make up the other 70 percent are unknown or not directly controlled by officials and the city. This puts the point of the property tax as something directly controlled by these elected officials.
There will be another meeting of the city at 5:30 p.m. on October 5, 2020, to hear more from the public on the proposed millage rate as Douglas stated, “It is staff’s goal to work with the elected officials through this public hearing process to recommend and adopt a millage rate that is reflective of providing a balanced budget. It is not our goal to just simply adopt a 6.78 millage rate.”
He noted that by the October 5 meeting of the Jasper City Council, he hopes to have gotten with officials through their committees to identify “ways to reduce certain preliminary department budgets.”
As a part of the budget process, the millage rate is adopted before the budget is adopted. The plan for the 2021 budget, according to Douglas, is adoption on December 7, 2020. Working towards that goal. This process is way to see what the budget could look like in order to have the budget in mind while adopting the millage rate which must be adopted first before the actual budget is adopted.
Jasper tables zoning for further inspection
News March 8, 2020
JASPER, Ga. – Looking deeper into the rezoning ordinances, one application is drawing attention in Jasper as the owner, Wayne Reece, works with county and is potentially looking at reworking the housing project at 26 Hickory Street because of it.
Wayne Reece speaks to the Jasper City Council about the rezoning of his property at 26 Hickory Street.
The topic seemed to be stalling at first as council member Dr. Sonny Proctor originally questioned the project saying that he was not happy with the way the plans were looking. Proctor said he has great interest in historical architecture and the project as it was originally presented as “small lots with craftsman type hopes that I was very much intrigued by.”
However, Proctor then said that the project has evolved into something different. He said the project is compliant with current codes and zones, but it was not exactly the project he was excited about. Reflecting on the original appearances of the concept of the buildings, it did not correlate with some of the needs identified for the city.
Proctor said they are continuing to work on the “environment” in zoning and working with the community to accomplish these plans. He said he wanted to see the project go forward, but with some revisit to the plans in order to get the project back to where it started.
Reece replied saying, “I am certainly willing to request that you table this for 30 days. I am happy to meet with you individually to explain this. My concept is more on the lines of traditional neighborhood development where people can live close to places that they walk to. And so that we, in fact, reduce traffic and improve livability.”
Reece said that he has worked with the city before and they have worked with him on projects. He noted that the project was within the scope of the city’s comprehensive plan and codes. He went on to say the his proposed building is “in sync with historical architecture” but also interested in details, opposing things like “flat windows” or “narrow shutters” against the wall without hinges. He wants a positive statement for the community in this project and said he wants the city to work with him on sorting out the project.
Consulting City Attorney David Syfan on several parts of the issue, the motion for the tabling came down from council member Kirk Raffield to table the item to the May 4 meeting to also hold another public hearing for the rezoning.
City Council announces updates to meetings calendar, Municipal Court employees
City Council, News January 23, 2020
JASPER, Ga. – The Jasper City Council announced updates to their meetings calendar, as well as new Municipal Court employees during their meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.
Robert Sneed was voted on unanimously to take on the role of Municipal Court Judge on behalf of the city, and will act as interim Municipal Court Judge until the council formally approves his
contract.
It was also unanimously decided that Mayor Steve Lawrence and the city attorney shall negotiate a contract between the city and Joe Hudson to serve as prosecutor for the Municipal Court during 2020, and will act as interim prosecutor until the council formally approves his contract.
As for the meetings calendar changes for the year 2020, Good Friday (observed on Friday, April 10, 2020) will now become a holiday for city employees in exchange for their current floating holiday.
Monday, September 14, 2020 is the only Monday during the year that a meeting will not fall on the first Monday of the month.
The November workshop has been moved to Thursday, December 3, 2020, and the December workshop has been moved to Wednesday, December 30, 2020, as these meetings were schedule for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, respectively.
Any meetings that change in schedule are expected to be known at least 24 hours ahead of time, so be sure to stay with us as the year progresses!
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Jasper and JYSA unsure of parks future
News August 11, 2019
JASPER, Ga. – Concerns arose within the city council meetings regarding an item on the agenda to sublet property.
As the city considers leases on the parks and its continuing relationship with JYSA, more confusion is mounting around what the city can and cannot do with the property. One idea is to sublease the property in favor of having an entity control and manage it for the city.
City Attorney Bill Pickett said, “My gut reaction is no. I don’t know if we have the authority to do that. Cities of population of more than 300,000 people have specific statutory authority in order to lease parks… These are the taxpayers of the City of Jasper that own this. This would alienate the property and take us out of the loop and not have control of our own destination. It will violate the insurance and it could waive sovereign immunity.”
Much of the issue seems to revolve around scheduling events and public use with citizens wishing to use the fields with the options now pointing to continuing with JYSA or having the city take over for planning and scheduling of these events. This was noted as Jasper City Mayor John Weaver summarized the issue saying that years ago, the parks were an effort to provide inexpensive recreation for local citizens. This included a league of local counties. Now, however, the league is not around anymore, but no effort has been made to create travel teams. However, other travel teams around the area are wanting to use the park facilities.
Weaver went on to say, “At this point, JYSA may have run its course with the City of Jasper. And it needs to be brought back under the umbrella of the city council and our staff to decide who gets to use the facilities instead of having people that we don’t know schedule our fields. We have the potential to do that.”
Weaver said he thought the travel teams would come under JYSA, but now the coaches and teams are not controlled by that organization. As independent teams, Weaver suggested the city needs to control those teams scheduled uses of the fields.
Councilmember Sonny Proctor questioned if the city could charge teams to use the fields as part of the city hosting tournaments.
Weaver said they probably could but may need some more insurance or similar needs.
The need to control scheduling comes so that citizens who may wish to use the fields as they meet up with friends could access the field when no events were scheduled. A governing body to control that schedule would provide that singular schedule to be abided and to have the fields vacated for those events.
The City Council ultimately decided to table the issue this month as they continue looking deeper into JYSA, the parks, and the city’s next steps.
Jasper approves bids and JMA Events
News August 11, 2019
JASPER, Ga. – The City Council approved three major events for the Jasper Merchants Association (JMA) accompanying closing of Main Street in Downtown Jasper.
Usually spread across the entirity of the Fall Season as the JMA requests the road closure for these events, this year, with the help of City Manager Brandon Douglas, they made one request including all three events. Citizens should be aware of this road closure for the following days:
Thursday, October 31, 2019, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the Halloween Event.
Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the Christmas Parade, with the parade to start at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. for the New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Not associated with the JMA, Main Street will also be closed for the Prevent Child Abuse Pickens Long Table event on September 21, 2019, from Noon until midnight.
The city has received four bids for their paving contract for road paving. The apparent low bidder came to be Northwest Georgia Paving, Inc. with a bid of $1,217,062.50. Approved by the council, the paving contract has been awarded.
Major Fire Dept issues rise in March City Council
News March 10, 2019
JASPER, Ga. – Several issues have mounted up on the Jasper Fire Department in the last month.
The issues are also mounting into a major budget issue for the city as they seek repair Fire Engine #2 from engine troubles and deal with an unbudgeted Fire Interface Purchase. Both of the issues come amid a new vehicle purchase for the Fire Department as well.
While the Council did agree that the engine repairs could be covered as Chief Steve Roper suggested he had a few projects that he could put off until next year in order to pay for the major issue of the repair, including a driveway repair and a painting project.
As the Fire Engine requires an “in-frame repair” as Roper called it, the need could cost nearly $30,000 if the engine block needs to be fully rebuilt. However, Roper also said there is a chance the issue could be a smaller issue needing a gasket replacement costing $7,500.
The council approved up to $30,000 for the repairs to come from the line items of the other projects.
However, this was not the biggest issue the Fire Department saw as the next item on the agenda listed a 911 Interface Purchase.
Roper informed the council that the department has been in process of establishing a Computer Assisted Dispatch interface since 2018 and has seen stalls throughout last fall and winter. This system was picked up again this year with a total cost of $18,120.
The interface, according to Roper, will allow all information that 911 has taken into the system and dumps the information into Ipads for users to instantly access the information, history, and conditions among other things. This not only accumulates and accesses this information, but cuts down on radio traffic and aids in reporting for the city as well.
However, the $15,120 has been spent to proceed with this project, but was not budgeted in the 2019 budget. Jasper City Councilmember Anne Sneve clarified in the meeting that it was budgeted at one point but postponed. Having never returned to the budget, the City is now facing the $18,120 unbudgeted expense and seeking a way to cover the cost.
Roper said that he had a conversation with the City Manager, Jim Looney at the time, earlier this year about the project and its importance to the city overall. He said, “He gave me the go ahead to proceed with the project, and that’s where I am right now.”
While Jasper City Councilmember Tony Fountain noted that if the engine issue comes in to cost $7,500, they could could use the remaining funds to cover the $18,120 for the interface system, he also questioned what the city would do to respond if the engine took the entire $30,000.
Mayor John Weaver offered his opinion saying, “I think we need to give a stern reprimand that we did not know that we had approval for a $18,120 item before this council.”
Jim Looney was present at the meeting and took responsibility for the mistake as he said his understanding was that it was budgeted, but has now discovered it was not.
As the council moves forward, they are still seeking funds to cover the expense in case the engine repairs monopolized the excess funds from the canceled Fire Department projects.
Renaming Stegall Drive to Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard
News March 9, 2019
JASPER, Ga. – Earlier this week, on March 4, 2019, the Jasper City Council heard, and approved, a presentation to for renaming a portion of Stegall Drive to Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard.
The presentation covered most of the concerning issues as Frank Leist said the Veteran’s Association has already contacted the neighboring parties on the street, the Chamber of Commerce and the Senior Citizen, about their response changing addresses with the street name. They also have already looked into signage for the streets and the park.
The actual street name change will only stretch on the Stegall Drive from Mary Street to Maple Street.
Leist when on to note some additional ideas that could be coming to the park including some military equipment. Leist also noted that he had offered to the neighbors that they would absorb costs for the changes.
With the council’s approval, and no other concerns from 911 about the renaming, the street is officially renamed and citizens should be noticing the changes coming as the follow-up with City Manager Brandon Douglas details the logistics and operations of the change.
Jonah Lane rezoning stalls in January Meeting
News January 12, 2019
JASPER, Ga. – The rezoning for apartments to be constructed on Jonah Lane in Jasper has stalled in this months meeting after discussion raised community pushback on the change.
Leftover from the December meeting when the rezoning was first brought up and conditionally approved by the council, they now have questions and discussions coming for the future of the C-2 lot. The pitch was to rezone to R-3 for apartments.
Both Brad Dilbeck and David Shouse, local developers, made note of lack of notifications for the initial rezoning requests, though Dilbeck said one of his tenants was notified. They also made comments that the Council speaks for the citizens but they don’t know or have had contact with council-members.
Shouse also said that he developed his land under the pretext that other commercial developments would come around him. He said, “There’s no way any other developer, in their right mind, is going to build anything else commercial beside this project.”
The main argument against the apartments comes from being so close to industrial lots. Those owners said they know they will get complaints and have to deal with the police for noise complaints and complaints about late and early hours of work.
With expectations of freedom to operate how they see fit, business owners said they chose their locations for its general distance from residential areas.
Other complaints revolved around traffic and wear on the road in competition between the current commercial traffic and a potentially a hundred extra cars.
Ultimately tabled for next month, the stall in the issue doesn’t mean the rezoning will be denied. It is still under investigation by the council who could be making a final decision next month.
Sharktop Ridge land annexed into Jasper
News July 4, 2018
JASPER, Ga. – The second part of the development of Sharktop Ridge Road has reached its conclusion with a city approval to annex the land into the city.
Originally meeting last month to discuss the topic, the council had agreed to table the item to allow for a more detailed study on Burnt Mountain Road as feasible alternatives to access the land being developed.
The annexation is a part of a Planning and Zoning issue revolving around Paul King looking to have a residential development in the area connecting to Sharktop Ridge. The development would host around 23 homes, according to King. While he would utilize city water for the project, the sewage would be dealt with in septic tanks.
Three new points of detail were offered in favor of keeping the entrance at Sharktop Ridge Road including a survey from Chastain & Associates, P.C., a cost estimate on building the road from Burnt Mountain Road, and an accident report on the intersection of Cove Road and Sharktop Ridge Road.
Mark Chastain of Chastain & Associates, P.C., speaks with the city council on his study of accessing the development from Burnt Mountain Road.
Mark Chastain was on hand from Chastain & Associates, P.C. to discuss what it would take to build the entrance down from Burnt Mountain Road. Speaking mostly on the grade, or slope, the road would have to take and how long it would need to be to not exceed the maximum grade. Chastain did say that an entrance from Burnt Mountain Road could be possible, but it would need to be close to a quarter mile at maximum grade on the road. He went on to say that he had originally recommended to those looking to develop the property because “it’s a safety aspect of having to climb or descend at maximum grade for that long to achieve the difference in elevation from highway to the road.”
He explained later that fire code preference is a 12% grade, meaning you rise 12 feet for every 100 feet you travel. Chastain continued saying that in his time in engineering and surveying experience, traveling at maximum grade for that long could cause extra stress to vehicles. Without some way to level out or alleviate stress on the vehicles, you could approach an increased risk to situations “where clutches fail.”
However, this suggested that if added points of leveling for vehicle stress relief or other extra steps were taken, it could be possible. Chastain noted however that, in his opinion, Sharktop Ridge Road provides a better, more pleasant, grade to make it a safer entrance relative to Burnt Mountain Road.
Paul King, of Sharktop Ridge LLC., offers his costs estimate of changing entrances to the development, calling it a “deal killer.”
The second point came when Paul King, the representative of Sharktop Ridge, LLC., presented a quote he received on accomplishing the Burnt Mountain Road entrance, he noted an extra $200,000 in costs on top of the current costs of developing the property. King called the extra costs a “deal killer” for the project.
King noted the original plan from Chastain saying he didn’t want to spend the extra money on a “marginal, somewhat unsafe road to come into the development.” He went on to say that the road would also take out one of the planned lots for the development representing a loss to the usable residences in addition to the road costs.
Finally, King asked Jasper Police Chief Greg Lovell to comment on the accidents at the intersection of Cove Road and Sharktop Ridge Road regarding a comment from the June meeting indicating an already bad intersection due to a high number of accidents.
Chief Lovell reported there were no wrecks there in two years. Though two accidents were noted, one in 2007 and another in 2009. However, citizens present at this meeting still noted numerous instances where they had to quickly slam on their breaks or nearly missed other vehicles at the location. They also commented saying that the council should take into account all the extra traffic they would be bringing to location as well.
Though the council did ultimately approve the annexation, this is not the end of the discussion of Sharktop Ridge. The council noted several times that they would revisit the issue. They discussed options such as if the city could place certain restrictions on the development. Mayor John Weaver noted that the city had an option of a planned unit development. He noted that the council could approve the planned development before the council and any change made would have to come before the council. However, all these ideas will come later.
City Manager Jim Looney stated, “There will be opportunities for the developer to work with the mayor and council, and city manager, on what it looks like if it is annexed in and developed.”
Kirk Raffield sworn in at Jasper City Council
News June 7, 2018
New council member Kirk Raffield takes his oath before sitting on the council for their June Meeting.
JASPER, Ga. – After May’s primary election night, Kirk Raffield pulled out a close victory of 272 votes to his opponents 262. With the 50.94 percent results, Raffield attended the city of Jasper’s June council meeting to be officially sworn in as a part of the council.
With it being his first meeting, Raffield swore his oath preceding the official call to order in their council meeting and officially took his seat after this. With many in attendance to watch the ceremony, one citizen, Regina Mosley Camp, took a moment to comment on the event saying she knew Raffield as a younger child. “I am truly excited for him because I know the quality of man he is,” said Camp.
Camp volunteered in Raffield’s campaign for the council, noting that she was fervent in her support because of what she has seen him do throughout her time with him.
The special election came after former council member Jim Looney stepped down to take the interim city manager position for Jasper. The seat has been empty up to this month.
With such a close race, Raffield moves forward on the council with a question on him constantly asking what he will bring to the council meetings and what he will accomplish for the city. Sitting in his first meeting, Raffield was not shy about his new seat, speaking fervently on an annexation issue specifically. Check out more by reading City Council discusses Sharktop Ridge annexation.
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City Council Talks Festivals in August
News August 12, 2018
JASPER, Ga. – The Jasper City Council’s August meeting saw a change in the traffic direction for this year’s Marble Festival in October as well as for the popular JeepFest event starting at the end of August.
Haley Bouchie, President of the Jasper Merchants Association, presented a request to close a portion of Main Street during the festival. The road is already to be closed for the Road Race and the Parade that are scheduled for the weekend’s festivities. The new request would see the road staying closed from 6 a.m. on Saturday to 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.
Bouchie stated the joint venture between the Jasper Merchant’s Association and the Pickens County Chamber would have security for the vendors on the street overnight. The request was made last year as well but denied. After several close calls with the traffic and pedestrians, according to Bouchie, they have returned with the request for this year’s festival.
Bouchie also told the council that they would be working alongside the merchants on the street to improve and increase their foot traffic despite the loss of the parking spaces on the street.
Expanding the Marble Festival up to Main Street cause a large discussion on how to get traffic around the closed street including Dixie, Mary, or even Whitfield streets. Sitting down with police and businesses to discuss traffic by foot and vehicle were assured to be forthcoming in preparation of the event.
Ultimately approved by unanimous decision, the event will see the road closed to traffic from 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, to 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, October 7.
The same request came for September’s JeepFest event asking to close Main Street for a “Show & Shine” of Jeeps lined up on the street. City Manager Jim Looney presented a letter from Kris Stancil of the Picken’s County Sheriff’s Office requesting the closure of the street on Friday, August 31, starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. after a concert.
This is not the first time this request has been presented, having been done for years now. The request was approved for the event. Mayor John Weaver commented saying that the Jeeps take over all of Main Street with hundreds of Jeeps lined up down the road for the Show & Shine.
An additional request came from Wingsology for the JeepFest event. Requesting an outside beer and wine license, Wingsology is also a request from previous years.
The council approved the request unanimously as well.
With these events coming up quickly, citizens should be aware of the closures of Main Street during these events as to avoid congestion as they seek to travel through town or attempt to find parking. Shuttles are also being made available for the Marble Festival specifically. Citizens can find the shuttle areas by visiting the Marble Festival Website.
Brewery Ordinance Changes prep Jasper for new business
News July 7, 2018
JASPER, Ga. – Final approval came this month in the City of Jasper’s ordinance changes for breweries in the area.
While details were discussed last month on setting the costs for the license at $1,500, it was the July 2 meeting that that approved the final adoption as well as the effective date of the ordinance change to the alcoholic beverage ordinance allowing the business as well as the zoning ordinance change to include Brewery in the accepted uses under General Commercial (C-2) and General Industry (M-1).
The amendment allows brewers to manufacture malt beverages and beer in the city limits of Jasper and provides for the creation of the authorized license for that end. Additionally, City Attorney Bill Pickett confirmed the breweries were allowed to have consumption on premises and were exempt from city restrictions for consumption.
This means the allowance of tastings and similar events on premises of the brewery.
With the new ordinance, last month’s meeting indicated that other popular options at breweries would be available such as growlers and crowlers. For those still curious, a growler is a container or vessel that is used for the transport of beer. It can also be described as an air-tight jug, typically made out of glass, ceramic, or stainless steel that allows you to take draft beer from one place to another without a degradation of quality. A crowler is similar but in can form.
Citizen interest has already been shown as well as the business interest of at least one brewery to come. The only question citizens have raised so far is how the facilities will handle parking. A subject the council indicated would be handled with the zoning into only industry and C-2 commercial zonings.