Watkinsville City Council approves Orchard Street and Wellness Cottage new businesses
In a largely uneventful regular meeting for the month of September, it was announced that Gary Crider, who has pretty much been in on everything with Watkinsville Woods from day one, will be paid $16.00 an hour for 20 hours a week to officially get paid as a 1099 Contractor (not a city employee).
Pardon me if I editorialize much earlier than usual in these newsy reports, but this may be the best possible hire for the ambitious Watkinsville Woods with photographer and weed warrior Gary Crider, living adjacent to the property to begin with, been pulling long hours for months yanking invasive shrubbery and keeping the rare plants, and has an army of volunteers of all ages at his rarely needed assistance.
He has worked on many areas in Athens and surrounding areas as a volunteer. Among others who have worked long hours on the Watkinsville Woods project that I have been profoundly grateful to meet is Walt Cook, who has the trail named after him in Athens.
City council member Mike Huff has really been the person responsible for helping organize all the volunteers and other groups, but there are many others who have worked very well on this project also. Many thanks to everyone including the Chappelles, the Woodruffs, the Brodricks, the Wards and others I am neglecting.
Back to the municipal machinations, two businesses were approved, including the ladies boutique Orchard Street on 10 S. Main Street, owned by Mollie Nix; and the senior care centered The Wellness Cottage at 108 McRee Street in partnership with Lisa Dixon and Timothy Bowers.
Nix hopes to open Orchard Street on the first week of October. She will have massage therapy and yoga balls for mild physical therapy for senior citizens. There were some concerns over parking and drainage on the parking lot area.
Two flashing crosswalks with poles and signals will be installed on Main Street at Eagle Tavern's crosswalk and the School Street crosswalk in the two busiest pedestrian corridors for the city.
The cost of the new flashing warning lights will be $4,000.00 less the original estimated $22,000.00 price tag. These are safety and traffic calming measures that are much needed in downtown Watkinsville, and I am grateful for this decision to make people walking on the sidewalks safer when crossing Main Street.
Atlanta Gas Light continues to hold the School Street completion hostage as they follow the Department of Transportation ordered gas line moving may delay the paving for as long as another month.
Steps have been taken to allow merchants and businesses on School Street to have a little better access to their customers while bids are being taken to move the pipe line a few feet.
The millage rate will be reduced to 2.854 mills and there will be a much better hydraulic leaf scooper for all your Watkinsville fall foliage for the Street Department.
Eddie and April Harder won the Watkinsville Beautiful Yard award for 46 South Main Street.
Council member Brian Brodrick was not present for tonight's meeting.
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| Gary Crider using his trail saw. |
He has worked on many areas in Athens and surrounding areas as a volunteer. Among others who have worked long hours on the Watkinsville Woods project that I have been profoundly grateful to meet is Walt Cook, who has the trail named after him in Athens.
City council member Mike Huff has really been the person responsible for helping organize all the volunteers and other groups, but there are many others who have worked very well on this project also. Many thanks to everyone including the Chappelles, the Woodruffs, the Brodricks, the Wards and others I am neglecting.
Back to the municipal machinations, two businesses were approved, including the ladies boutique Orchard Street on 10 S. Main Street, owned by Mollie Nix; and the senior care centered The Wellness Cottage at 108 McRee Street in partnership with Lisa Dixon and Timothy Bowers.
Nix hopes to open Orchard Street on the first week of October. She will have massage therapy and yoga balls for mild physical therapy for senior citizens. There were some concerns over parking and drainage on the parking lot area.
 |
| The Wellness Cottage is coming to Watkinsville with Lisa Dixon and Timothy Bowers |
Two flashing crosswalks with poles and signals will be installed on Main Street at Eagle Tavern's crosswalk and the School Street crosswalk in the two busiest pedestrian corridors for the city.
The cost of the new flashing warning lights will be $4,000.00 less the original estimated $22,000.00 price tag. These are safety and traffic calming measures that are much needed in downtown Watkinsville, and I am grateful for this decision to make people walking on the sidewalks safer when crossing Main Street.
 |
| April Harder receives honor from Mayor Ivie. Photo by Dan Matthews |
Steps have been taken to allow merchants and businesses on School Street to have a little better access to their customers while bids are being taken to move the pipe line a few feet.
The millage rate will be reduced to 2.854 mills and there will be a much better hydraulic leaf scooper for all your Watkinsville fall foliage for the Street Department.
Eddie and April Harder won the Watkinsville Beautiful Yard award for 46 South Main Street.
Council member Brian Brodrick was not present for tonight's meeting.
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