The City of Copperhill called a workshop meeting just hours prior to the scheduled time to discuss surrendering properties along West Tennessee Avenue Wednesday, September 16.
Ultimately, with Aldermen Ray Tanner and Bill Standridge absent, the council agreed to surrender properties to both Wayne Daniels and McCaysville Properties (Mike Galinski) while keeping some for themselves.
Although Galinski was not present for the workshop Wednesday, September 16, Georgia-licensed attorney Lynn Doss attended to negotiate for Galinski.
Additionally, Doss agreed to write up a quick claim deed, free of charge, for the city in order to obtain the baseball field property, which the city has been trying to acquire a deed to for some time.
The section of block 11, closest to Raymond’s Copper Curve, will remain in the city’s hands along with a piece within block 9.
Daniels will have a section in block 9 that touches his property line, and McCaysville properties will get the in-between sections that touch their properties.
Leading up to the decision, Doss explained that it would be more beneficial for the city to surrender the land that is between Galinski’s properties in order to obtain a larger amount of taxes.
She also said, “It would be a whole lot better for Mike if his is all together.”
In response, Alderman Tara Akins said, “The thing is, we as aldermen and mayor, we are here for the citizens, the community, and when I say the community, I’m talking about the tri-state area, not what’s good for Mike.”
Akins has been adamant about keeping the land for the city to ensure that it can still be used for recreation by the community and visitors.
The week prior, a called workshop was held for the same reason, to negotiate surrendering property with no deed, and the city did not intend to grant McCaysville Properties anything.
During that workshop, the council met with Wayne Daniels to discuss surrendering a piece to Daniels.
Daniels agreed that if the city would surrender the piece that meets his property, he would implement a culvert system and 20-foot wide walkway or path to the river for the city to access, and he agreed to pay for the city’s attorney fees associated with the request.
McCaysville Properties was also requesting pieces of land that are touching their properties’ lines, but no one attended the workshop on their behalf.
An official vote was to be cast during the city’s regular meeting Monday, September 21.