Background Bishop and an older article from the Banner-Herald before editing
Just thought I might post some of the unedited stories I have written for the Banner-Herald's Oconee Living section:
City clerk Carolyn Pritchett pointed out to acting Mayor Nedra Johnson that the sidewalk on Price Mill Road did not connect in to the actual subdivision.
Council member Frank Parks made a motion to approve the plat contingent upon the State Department of Transportation’s approval of an entrance and deceleration lanes on Highway 441 and the reworking of the sidewalks to join into the subdivision.
Johnson said she would call developer Ken Beall to make sure the sidewalks would connect.
“It might’ve been an error on their part,” said Johnson. “It was part of the settlement.”
and a more recent one:
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Bishop town council
April. 12, 2005
Oconee Living section -Athens Banner-Herald
Bishop begins zoning work sessions
By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Correspondent
The Bishop town council members, led by Mayor Johnny Pritchett, took a long look at reworking the zoning ordinances which began with a charette process almost a year ago after the regular meeting Monday evening at the Chandler-Marable house.
The work session let the council members input their ideas in a free-flowing format less constrictive than the formal meeting. The next two council meetings will be on Tuesdays to give Northeast Georgia Regional Development member Lee Carmon the chance to attend and give her input on the zoning matters.
Bishop resident E. Wayne Norris peppered Pritchett with questions about the rezoning process and as to whether he would be able to see the final version before the next meeting. Pritchett invited Norris to stay and observe the work session following the regular meeting.
The May meeting of the Bishop Town Council will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 after the semi-annual Town Supper Monday, May 9 across the street at the Community Center.
Mayor Pritchett led the brief meeting with updates on insurance and the work on the porch.
“It’s on ongoing saga” said both former Mayor Nedra Johnson and Pritchett. The front porch of the Chandler-Marable house had already suffered some damage before an auto accident rendered the front of the building unsafe for public usage.
Pritchett has pursued an estimate of $1784 from an adjuster for the damage done by the auto accident. The city has a deductible of $1000 which would be refunded from the insurance company of the person driving the automobile if subrogated properly. The insurance adjusters accounted for only a portion of the porch’s problems.
Bishop has received bids of $3550 (Phoenix Enterprises) and $5505.25 (Remodeling Specialists) to fix the porch in its entirety. Council members agreed that the full porch should be repaired and not done in spots or spurts. Pritchett said he would go over this year’s budget to find the funds necessary to facilitate the repairs. No formal action was taken as far as the bids.
Bidding process may begin to renew the insurance for the city, which expires July 9. Local agent Rick Waller is looking into the cost to compare quotes for the city.
Pritchett read a letter from the Sheriff’s Department reporting that there were two calls answered in Bishop during the month of March, along with 306 patrols, 2097 inspections and 10 traffic stops.
Pritchett added that Oconee County tax commissioner could collect, bill and deposit taxes for $250 which is $25 less than the TDS billing rate which currently only covers billing. Pritchett had a copy of the agreement that the City of North High Shoals uses with Browning’s office.
Bishop resident Charlie Brooks picked up a copy of his business license for Brooks and Brady. City attorney R. Judson Huff had made some updates to the proposed business license ordinance changes and it was tabled until next month.
Ken Parsons, son of long-time city council member Harold Parsons, let his father know he did not want to continue putting up flags along the city’s electrical poles. Bishop usually keeps flags up from July 4 through November. The younger Parsons also suggested to his father that the city make some improvements to the stanchions to support the flags. Pritchett thought that the city could possibly use those improvements to hang some Christmas decorations in the future.
Bishop business owners Bill and Beth Gilmer have been having an ongoing battle with the Oconee County Health Department over the food service preparation at the Cross Roads Café and Flea Market. They had a petition to sign to protest the continued closing of the city’s only eatery. Under advisement from Huff, Pritchett was unable to sign the petition although he really wanted to for his life long friend. Seems the County wants Gilmer to haul his 12,000 lbs trailer to and from his commissary at the Apalachee Bait Store daily to wash the few utensils such as a tongs and spatulas.
“I do like the city of Bishop,” said Gilmer.
“(Your restaurant is) a vital part of Bishop,” echoed Pritchett.
Council member Frank Parks was particularly incensed about the battle with the health department. Gilmer gets his meat daily from Sam’s Club, most of his plates are disposable, and has a bathroom within the prescribed 200 feet of the restaurant.
Council member and fruit stand vendor Vern Hammond described how mountain fairs and stands are able to sell anything baked or cooked at home from their roadside shops but he is unable to do so.
Pritchett described a “win-win” situation for the city and county in getting the entire portion of Cemetery Road paved by signing over the Bishop LARP funds to the county with a letter.
“It’s good for the city that we’re getting it done,” said Pritchett. “The county would be paving it in a couple of months anyhow.”
Dan Matthews
Bishop town council
Nov. 9, 2004
Oconee Living section
Athens Banner-Herald
Bishop town council
Nov. 9, 2004
Oconee Living section
Athens Banner-Herald
Bishop balances between old and new
By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Correspondent
Bishop council members took a look at the preliminary plat designs for the Townside subdivision and found a few discrepancies between what they had agreed upon with developers of the so-called Ballard property a couple of months back.
Correspondent
Bishop council members took a look at the preliminary plat designs for the Townside subdivision and found a few discrepancies between what they had agreed upon with developers of the so-called Ballard property a couple of months back.
City clerk Carolyn Pritchett pointed out to acting Mayor Nedra Johnson that the sidewalk on Price Mill Road did not connect in to the actual subdivision.
Council member Frank Parks made a motion to approve the plat contingent upon the State Department of Transportation’s approval of an entrance and deceleration lanes on Highway 441 and the reworking of the sidewalks to join into the subdivision.
Johnson said she would call developer Ken Beall to make sure the sidewalks would connect.
“It might’ve been an error on their part,” said Johnson. “It was part of the settlement.”
Johnson - who was mayor of Bishop from 1990-2000 - took over the reigns again after Emerson Smith resigned to take the post of Election Supervisor. Pritchett’s husband Johnny – a former Oconee County commissioner and fire marshal in Athens – Clarke County – will take over as an elected mayor in January.
Two candidates for the council attended the meeting despite losing the recent election – Joey Allen and Jeni Key – were both praised by Johnson and encouraged to keep giving their input in to city matters.
“We need you,” said Johnson to the two young candidates. Key lost to Pritchett for mayor and Allen lost to Vern Hammond for a council slot.
Johnson worked well with former mayor and council member Emerson Smith to answer questions about various and sundry paperwork. Smith reported he had contacted former Bishop Mayor Robert Bachman about finding a new CPA for the city since auditor Don Briscoe was still missing.
Smith also praised all the poll workers and help from Pat Hayes of Oconee County and the poll workers from the city of Watkinsville with the recent municipal election.
Council member Hammond suggested using pea gravel for the proposed driveway for the town hall.
“It packs down almost like cement,” said Hammond. He added that is costs $500 a load.
and a more recent one:
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Bishop town council
April. 12, 2005
Oconee Living section -Athens Banner-Herald
Bishop begins zoning work sessions
By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Correspondent
The Bishop town council members, led by Mayor Johnny Pritchett, took a long look at reworking the zoning ordinances which began with a charette process almost a year ago after the regular meeting Monday evening at the Chandler-Marable house.
The work session let the council members input their ideas in a free-flowing format less constrictive than the formal meeting. The next two council meetings will be on Tuesdays to give Northeast Georgia Regional Development member Lee Carmon the chance to attend and give her input on the zoning matters.
Bishop resident E. Wayne Norris peppered Pritchett with questions about the rezoning process and as to whether he would be able to see the final version before the next meeting. Pritchett invited Norris to stay and observe the work session following the regular meeting.
The May meeting of the Bishop Town Council will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 after the semi-annual Town Supper Monday, May 9 across the street at the Community Center.
Mayor Pritchett led the brief meeting with updates on insurance and the work on the porch.
“It’s on ongoing saga” said both former Mayor Nedra Johnson and Pritchett. The front porch of the Chandler-Marable house had already suffered some damage before an auto accident rendered the front of the building unsafe for public usage.
Pritchett has pursued an estimate of $1784 from an adjuster for the damage done by the auto accident. The city has a deductible of $1000 which would be refunded from the insurance company of the person driving the automobile if subrogated properly. The insurance adjusters accounted for only a portion of the porch’s problems.
Bishop has received bids of $3550 (Phoenix Enterprises) and $5505.25 (Remodeling Specialists) to fix the porch in its entirety. Council members agreed that the full porch should be repaired and not done in spots or spurts. Pritchett said he would go over this year’s budget to find the funds necessary to facilitate the repairs. No formal action was taken as far as the bids.
Bidding process may begin to renew the insurance for the city, which expires July 9. Local agent Rick Waller is looking into the cost to compare quotes for the city.
Pritchett read a letter from the Sheriff’s Department reporting that there were two calls answered in Bishop during the month of March, along with 306 patrols, 2097 inspections and 10 traffic stops.
Pritchett added that Oconee County tax commissioner could collect, bill and deposit taxes for $250 which is $25 less than the TDS billing rate which currently only covers billing. Pritchett had a copy of the agreement that the City of North High Shoals uses with Browning’s office.
Bishop resident Charlie Brooks picked up a copy of his business license for Brooks and Brady. City attorney R. Judson Huff had made some updates to the proposed business license ordinance changes and it was tabled until next month.
Ken Parsons, son of long-time city council member Harold Parsons, let his father know he did not want to continue putting up flags along the city’s electrical poles. Bishop usually keeps flags up from July 4 through November. The younger Parsons also suggested to his father that the city make some improvements to the stanchions to support the flags. Pritchett thought that the city could possibly use those improvements to hang some Christmas decorations in the future.
Bishop business owners Bill and Beth Gilmer have been having an ongoing battle with the Oconee County Health Department over the food service preparation at the Cross Roads Café and Flea Market. They had a petition to sign to protest the continued closing of the city’s only eatery. Under advisement from Huff, Pritchett was unable to sign the petition although he really wanted to for his life long friend. Seems the County wants Gilmer to haul his 12,000 lbs trailer to and from his commissary at the Apalachee Bait Store daily to wash the few utensils such as a tongs and spatulas.
“I do like the city of Bishop,” said Gilmer.
“(Your restaurant is) a vital part of Bishop,” echoed Pritchett.
Council member Frank Parks was particularly incensed about the battle with the health department. Gilmer gets his meat daily from Sam’s Club, most of his plates are disposable, and has a bathroom within the prescribed 200 feet of the restaurant.
Council member and fruit stand vendor Vern Hammond described how mountain fairs and stands are able to sell anything baked or cooked at home from their roadside shops but he is unable to do so.
Pritchett described a “win-win” situation for the city and county in getting the entire portion of Cemetery Road paved by signing over the Bishop LARP funds to the county with a letter.
“It’s good for the city that we’re getting it done,” said Pritchett. “The county would be paving it in a couple of months anyhow.”
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