The Traveling Hobo Cafe, Mirko Pasta beer & wine license approved by Watkinsville City Council

The lunch and dining choices for restaurant goers in Watkinsville expanded with the unanimous approval and addition of The Traveling Hobo Cafe at 20B Greensboro Highway. This is the former location of the Big Easy Cafe and several other restaurants as well as next door to Kiki's Bake shop.

Watkinsville street department hard at work

Amkee Ervin recently moved to Bishop from Savannah where they developed the concept for the burger based restaurant (Sliverado's Saloon and Kitchen in Savannah) that will be open for lunch and dinner here in Watkinsville very soon. They are hoping for an opening during the first week of September contingent upon health department inspection and approval, per the City Council approval.

Mirko Giacomantonio, namesake and recently re-purchased ownership of the Town Center restaurant Mirko Pasta from David Weeks, appeared and received approval for a beer and wine license. He was unaware that Watkinsville voters had approved a liquor by the drink referendum until informed immediately prior to the meeting.

As always, City Council member Mike Link did not vote for approval of beer and wine license for Mirko Pasta, and has remained staunchly anti-alcohol in any way, shape or form, despite the obvious economic development in favor of the city of Watkinsville and area restaurants remaining competitive against eateries outside of the municipality. 

Link seemingly remains intractable in his opposition to all things distilled in local restaurants, despite eating at them with some regularity, especially during election cycles where he is opposed.

Robin Pledger was absent for the contemplation about his Rogers Concrete Construction, LLC business license at 1221 Industrial Drive, Suite 7. Presuming no withdrawal of this application, this appearance will be tabled and put on the agenda for next month.

Councilman Brian Brodrick presents Watkinsville Beautiful Yard award

After getting late addition to the agenda approved, bids for the 9 Water Street Comfort Station were unsealed and two proposals were considered, and city engineer Mark Campbell was happy to report that these two were within 8% of each other, proving their relative merit if nothing else.

Structural Resources Limited of Athens was selected and voted on unanimously after review, motion and seconding.

Council members Marci Campbell and Mike Huff

Campbell talked about the electric photo-voltaic charging station possibilities, and no action was taken as to whether there will be one or two parking spots with electric car charging possibilities.

Mayor Charles Ivie asked for and received recommendations for a group or company to clean up around the Pulpit Rock area of the new back area of Watkinsville Woods (near the Bishop Atticus Haygood/Chappelle Gallery off Main Street). Council member Brian Brodrick had a recommendation for Mayor Ivie, and no one else from the audience or council had any other suggestions.

Mayor Ivie also spoke passionately about the progress of the School Street section of the Streetscape II project, and did his best to quell rumors of lack of milling or paving of both sides of the street. The project is currently at a standstill because of Atlanta Gas Light having to move a pipe into a nonexistent (as of yet) culvert that is entirely too close to the building as is. That project will go up for bid the first week of September and hopefully be completed soon thereafter.

The sewer line on the industrial underbelly of Watkinsville is awaiting some resolution of discrepancies between county and state mandated codes on the Highway 15 adjacent area.

Reconciliation reports and the minutes from the last meetings were approved. Councilman Link recommended a change to the minutes that was reflected in the approval.

Council member Marci Campell accepted appointment to the Artland Committee that is seeking out statuary spots in the City of Watkinsville. Debra Harden is the chair, along with Dave Shearon of Ashford Manor and several other members, including Cindy Farley of OCAF.

Shearon spoke about the mystery property owner contemplating demolition of an old house on Second Street after reading about an advertisement on Craig's List essentially offering to gut the historic property, despite its deteriorated and ram-shackled condition.

Members of the adjacent church have been in communication with Mayor Ivie as to the proper ways to consider demolition of a historic property such as this, and Councilman Brodrick briefly discussed some of the tools in the city's considerable arsenal to halt any rogue destruction of any property.