Eight businesses will begin individual build-outs in the new retail space on Hwy 441, beginning the next two weeks. The businesses located beside the Cornelia Walmart are: Rue 21, Great Clips Hair Salon, Sally Beauty Supply, Shoe Show, Sexy Nails, Little Caesars, Cato Fashions, and an eighth retailer not yet announced.
The project is being constructed by RKR construction headquartered in Bremen, Georgia. The company is completing a similar project beside the Walmart store in Cleveland, Georgia. The Cornelia building is approximately 22,000 sq. feet. The owner is Sansone Group from St. Louis, Missouri. The development company has invested almost $ 6 million dollars in purchasing property and developing the retail space.
According to Now Habersham sources, Cato Fashions will begin their build-out before the end of August with the other retailers following soon after. Sheetrock, electrical, and HVAC are being completed in all spaces the next few days.
The construction timetable appears to allow for most of the businesses to be open for business during October. Over 100 new parking spaces are also being constructed directly in front of the building. Landscaping began last week. The new stores will add to Cornelia’s annual sales tax revenue which is typically over $300,000 each year.

Heavy rains poured down on the Habersham County Court House Monday evening as Commissioners met for a brief public meeting, barely 20 minutes in length. The Commissioners approved an application for sales of alcohol (by package) for the Circle K Store at 5000 Talmadge Drive and Historic Old Highway 441 in the Hollywood area. The store is currently a Kangaroo Convenience Store, but is being converted to a Circle K Store, requiring a new alcohol license.

Landfill Gas Issue
The Commissioners also approved the installation of a Soil Vapor Extraction System at the Habersham Landfill. The system will help extract methane and other gases that accumulate underground at the landfill. Laurie Church, with the Habersham County landfill, says about 1600 feet of perforated PVC pipe is buried. “The holes in the pipe allow gasses to enter and then they flow out the end into the air,” Church related. Unfortunately, simple non-mechanical ventilation does not do an adequate job of extracting landfill gasses. The Environmental Protection Division for the State of Georgia requires a more aggressive removal of gasses. Habersham County Public Works Director, Derick Canupp, told Now Habersham, “The new system will use an air pump that will pull gasses from the pipe underground.” A good question might be, can the methane gas be collected and sold? “No,” says Canupp, continuing, “Habersham just does not have a large enough footprint to make it financially feasible to collect methane gas at the landfill.”

Habersham Airport Upgrades
In other action, the Commissioners approved just over $17,000 for roof maintenance and gutters for Habersham County Airport. One of the hangers at the airfield is in poor condition and needs work in the near future.

Public Defender’s Office to be Renovated
Commissioners also approved a $137,188 project by Grizzle Contracting Inc., for Public Defenders Renovations. The project will renovate the old Magistrate’s Court offices on Grant Street so that the space can be used by the Public Defender’s office, according to Drew Powell in the Defender’s Office.

Land Ownership Transferred at Habersham County Airport
After a half-hour public meeting, the Commissioners met in closed session for about 40 minutes. Following the closed session, the Commissioners voted to approve a land transfer to the County for a 3.52 acre tract of land from the Development Authority. According to Habersham County Commissioner Andrea Harper, District 2, “There is an area at the end of the air strip, near the old Fish House Restaurant. It has become a large hole from having dirt removed and shifted around, so the ownership was transferred from the Development Authority to Habersham County.” Harper went on to add that the transfer of ownership did not require any funding or costs. With that unanimous decision, the Commissioners adjourned.

White County School Resource Officer Brent Maddox climbs fire truck ladder to talk with the student.