Watkinsville turns 200 - how should we celebrate?

Watkinsville City Council
Jan. 11, 2005
Oconee Living Section
Athens Banner-Herald

Watkinsville Council approves traffic signal, franchise agreement

By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Correspondent

The city of Watkinsville is 69 years older than Oconee County, and the municipality wants to know how you think they should celebrate the big 2-0-0 bicentennial birthday this year.


The Watkinsville City Council formally approved the bidding process for the light at the intersection of Simonton Bridge Road, Harden Hill Road and Main Street and also approved a franchise agreement with Georgia Power at their meeting Wednesday.

The intersection was graded “F” by the engineering firm of Mattern and Craig. Traffic engineer J. Wayne Craig was on hand to answer questions and ask for a motion to take bids from firms for construction on the black painted mast arm light costing the city some $30,000 with the State DOT supplying the lights and hardware. It will be timed and hardwired to the other traffic signals in town.

The franchise agreement allows Georgia Power to pay for moving telephone poles. There was some discussion about one awkwardly placed telephone pole on the sidewalk in front of city attorney’s R. Judson Huff’s law office on Main Street.
Council member Mike Link remembered when the power pole was around before the sidewalk was placed there. Mayor Jim Luken has been in discussion with Georgia Power about the intersection and other pole placement in the city.

Council member Samantha Purcell read the proposed Urban Forest Ordinance for the second time. Council member Brian Brodrick made a few suggestions that will be enacted in time for the Feb. 8 meeting. The ordinance will not affect homeowners’ ability to cut existing trees but instead offers guidelines for developers and homebuilders tree canopy. It is based on a similar ordinance in the Morgan County municipality of Madison.

In an otherwise brief agenda, the council approved business licenses for:



· Reverend J.S. “Jerry” David of Statham in Walton County will have an appointment-driven J.S. Automobile Repair mechanics shop on 28 Barnett Shoals Road in the old Combs battery garage. He plans to work on transmissions, as well as motors and is going to paint the exterior and interior with a privacy fence in the rear of the premises for possible overnight car storage. He also pledged to have no junk cars and not have other people than himself hanging around the business.




· Matthew Richards will begin selling parts for vintage BMW motorcycles at his business Matt Richards Motorcycle Parts at 1461 Greensboro Highway next to the Shell Station. He had been renting from Nathan Mende but wanted to come in the city limits.


· Jeannette Gladney appeared for John Cown and received permission to begin conducting business as El Guapo Development. The name means “the handsome” in Spanish and is named after a pet. It will have an office in the back of Our Town Realty on 25 N. Main Street.


Also a building permit was given to Mark Tatum for remodeling after a house fire in the future residence of Angela and Mark Whisnatt at 15 White Street Extension.

Luken also unveiled a management and discussion analysis done by the auditing firm of Treadwell and Tamplin. He also hopes for citizen involvement in the bicentennial of Watkinsville and an ad hoc committee to suggest some celebration activities in summer and autumn. Suggestions swirled from a bicentennial bike ride to an oldest citizen contest to t-shirts or license plate holders. Input was solicited by all interested individuals.

Board of Commissioners member Chuck Horton reacted favorably to the plans and added, “Any series of events you may have will only enhance what you are trying to do.”