The City of Clarkesville is moving forward with efforts to rebuild after a fire in March that heavily damaged part of the town square.
During a regularly scheduled work session on Thursday, Dec. 18, the council selected local contractor Blake Rainwater and Associates, Inc. of Clarkesville to complete the clean up and stabilization of the downtown buildings that were damaged. Councilwoman Barrie Aycock says two contractors had previously qualified to submit bids on the work, and both bids were very close. “Following the recommendation of Kirby Glaze of the 4PM Company who is acting as project manager for this downtown renovation, the council decided to choose the Habersham County contractor, Blake Rainwater,” Aycock says. Rainwater’s bid was approximately $90,000. Work should begin by January and should be completed within 60 days.
In other news from Thursday’s Clarkesville City Council work session:
The council received the preliminary results of a feasibility study for downtown lodging conducted by the Highland Group of Atlanta. The report recommends that a 25 – room lodging facility would be the ideal size for downtown Clarkesville and suggests several possible locations. The report is under review by the Council and the Downtown Development Authority and no decisions have yet been made.
The Clarkesville City Council voted to remove all 2-hour parking signs downtown. Aycock says council members felt that “since the ordinance was not enforceable, it would be best to remove the signs.” The ordinance will be revised accordingly.
The Clarkesville City Council scheduled two public hearings on a proposed zoning ordinance change for group homes in the city. The first hearing will be at the city’s January Zoning Board meeting. The second hearing will be held prior to the February City Council meeting.
