Habersham County is expected to sell back to the school board property it purchased on Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway to build a 911 center. County officials decided against building on the former Demorest Elementary School soccer fields and, instead, plan to build the center on property purchased about a mile up the road on GA 365 North, near Double Bridge Road.
The county decided against using the property at 3116 Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway because the parcel is too small and sits in a hole. Building a road into the property would have been costly, and sources say the steep grade would have made it difficult for fire trucks and ambulances to get in and out of that location. People also raised concerns about traffic congestion at the site near the GA 365 intersection and two county schools.
The Habersham County Board of Education has reportedly agreed to take back the property for the same price the county paid for it, which was just over $252,000.
The school board site is one of two property sales commissioners are expected to approve at their monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 20. They’re also expected to sign off on a deal to sell a county-owned building at 1387 Washington Street in downtown Clarkesville.
Formerly home to the county elections office, the building most recently housed the Soque River Watershed Association office. Habersham County bought the 1,314-square-foot building in 1985. It sits on a .04-acre lot. The county is selling it “as-is” with no warranty.
Last month the county showed the property and accepted bids.
AGENDA Nov. 20, 2023, HABCO Commission meeting
Contracts and comments
Also, at Monday night’s meeting, commissioners are expected to approve a contract with Intercontinental Commercial Services to waterproof and paint the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center. They’re set to approve engineering services for the Safe Streets for All transportation grant and renew the lease on the Habersham County DFCS office at 1045 Hollywood Highway in Clarkesville.
No public hearings are scheduled for Monday, but members of the public are invited to speak. Those signed up to do so include Eugenia Almand, who will propose an alternative use for the Old Courthouse, and Cassie Head, who will advocate for preventative maintenance and facilities staff for the Aquatic Center.
Commissioners will consider alcohol license renewals and applications for 15 businesses: Express Mart #6, Demorest Business LLC, Chicago’s Pizza Inc, Shore’s Country Store, Clarkesville Chevron, Raina Rakin Enterprises LLC, Glenn Ella Springs Inn, Duncan Bridge Market, Circle K Stores Inc, One Stop, Haye’s Country Corner Store, A to Z Grocery, Nacoochee Valley Grill LLC, Cool Springs Exxon, and Riverbend Convenience.
Other business
In other business, Habersham County commissioners are expected to:
- Approve the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-250 for Animal Control and consider IT’s purchase requests for FY24 computer upgrades.
- Consider a request to accept three roads in the Hearth Stone Subdivision into the County Road Maintenance System.
- Hold the first reading of an amendment to Chapter 62 of the Habersham County Code of Ordinance to add a section on tow trucks and wreckers services.
- Address construction contracts for the Airport Runway Overlay Project.
The regular commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Habersham County Courthouse in the Jury Assembly Room at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville.
