June meeting of Watkinsville City Council passes without incident but with lots of GIFs

From left, Blake Giles' shoulder, Johnny Lay's head, David Shearon, Chief Lee O'Dillon.
 The Watkinsville City Council meetings are always a hoot for me, and the June 2014 was no different other than the air conditioning gave out and Mayor Charles Ivie engineered a strong open-doored cross-current in the pleasant second Wednesday evening as the regular monthly meeting.  

There was lots of silent public hearings and other adoption of various budget issues.

I enjoy watching the machinations of municipal government and the many people who parade in front of the town council to usually receive approval for their business or building permit. 10th District run-off candidate Mike Collins came to the meeting and met with not everyone in the room. Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast co-owner David Shearon came merely to cheer on his friend and co-hort Melissa Piche who may have done more to bring Watkinsville's many tourists a guided tour of some of the more infamous haunts around our little town. 

Watkinsville is a place where people want to live, do business, and set up medical practices, among many other growing, vibrant signs of a small town thriving.

The council members always seem to give due diligence to whatever topic crosses their agenda. Mayor Ivie did find the flat roof plans from after building of the very 1970s Community Center with its very leaky ceiling. The idea is to build a non-flat roof in the future in the much needed improvement to the highly used Community Center. The grading, paving and building of signals and crosswalks at the intersection of 441business (Main Street) and Experiment Station Road is just the latest sign of our growth as a city and county seat.

Let us hope any future roads or growth in the city are not as stark, sign-less, and seemingly unfreindly as the hideously ugly new Oconee Connector exit off of the 10 By-pass near Epps Bridge Parkway. There are no directions for people who might want to shop or go to Atlanta or find a hotel. The City of Watkinsville (through the Oconee County Tourism and Welcome Center) at least now has a place where maps of the many area attractions are available 24 hours a day, 7 days on Main Street.

Will trucks always rumble and rattle down Main Street to shake the walls of the city's oldest businesses? (Hope not). Will there always be good places to eat and shop and meet people? Will folks keep moving here? I hope so.





Voting in the affirmative.
Emily Stanley and Liz Hansford-Skowroski
The June meeting of the Watkinsville City Council went well and without major disagreement or the attendance of Mike Huff. All six business licenses were passed and the budget adopted.
Kristin Bradford and her husband brought treats from Kiki's Bake Shop at the old Granary location at 20 Greensboro Highway, Suite C.

Liz Hansford-Skowroski received a license for Georgia Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Care at 2 S. Main Street



Melissa Piche received a business license to revive her North Georgia Tours which includes the ghost tour of Watkinsville.

Jaime and Noemi Sauceda received a $25 gift certificate for having a beautiful yard at 83 Mimosa Drive.

Lawyer Anne D. Carter exchanged cards with city attorney Joe Reitman after she received a license for her law practice.

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