Hopes for new parking lots for downtown, 2020 officers and a resignation were all topics when Blue Ridge Downtown Development Authority (DDA) members met Monday, January 6.
Mayor Donna Whitener raised hope of public parking lot on the corner of Depot Street and West Main Street behind Coldwell Banker, and DDA Chairman Cesar Martinez spoke of a lot behind Blue Jeans Pizza.
Whitener said of the space behind Blue Jeans Pizza, “From my phone conversation today, it’s still going to move forward as a parking lot, and then we have another alternative maybe coming up for another parking lot that would be on this end of town ... It’s the corner here, across from City Hall, where the, this corner where the building was just torn down, the old school board building, and behind Coldwell Banker there.”
Martinez suggested holding a meeting to discuss current parking situations with the public, but no definite plans were made.
Martinez announced the resignation of Gene Holcombe as business development committee chair. Martinez will head up the committee until the seat is filled.
For 2020, Martinez was re-elected chairman, Nathan Fitts was re-elected vice chairman, and Jay Hamilton was re-elected secretary and treasurer.
The annual treasurer’s report was on the agenda, but was tabled until the next meeting after Hamilton said he was not prepared to present a full budget. He added that the budget is “roughly right around $51,000.
“Again, I would not hold to that yet because I would preferably like to provide the public with a little bit more info,” he said.
The design committee proposed three different concepts for a signage project. The project consists of signs for parking, information and streets.
Whitener said that a new bill in the Georgia House of Representatives may trump the design committee’s ability to choose signage adding, “We may have all that control taken away from local government anyway,” so the committee may want to wait instead of beginning large design projects.
Martinez felt there would be no harm in going ahead and making plans regarding new signage.
Community Outreach Chair Susan Catron said, “Going in to the new part of the year, I’ve got to put my committee together. I’ve got two (recommendations) ... I haven’t had any new recommendations.”
There are no requirements to serve on the community outreach committee, according to Martinez. Anyone interested can head to the City of Blue Ridge’s website and fill out an application to be reviewed by Catron.
Holcombe and Parking Committee Chair Brandon Lofton were absent, so no updates on their committees were available.