McCaysville citizens may be footing the bill for Park Renovations

OneGeorgia Authority Answers BRMN Questions

To find answers to questions, the citizens of McCaysville have been asking, Blue Ridge Mountains News reached out to several entities. Chairman Zach Welsh of McCaysville Downtown Revitalization Committee (sent January 17, 2020) and Greensfield Outdoor Fitness Equipment (only contact via their website) have not responded as of January 25, 2020.

One question brought up at recent McCaysville City Council meetings may have been officially answered Friday. OneGeorgia Authority (OGA)'s response is essential for understanding why other questions were asked repeatedly when the first wasn't answered, most notably dealing with why Mayor Seabolt sidestepped the formal bidding process.

EDITOR'S NOTE: City officials have been aware of this situation. Readers can now have a better understanding of why questions have been repeatedly brought before the Mayor in recent meetings. Citizens want answers about what will happen now and why is the city continuing to spend, as with the exercise equipment. BRMNews relayed the questions to our readers but until official response from state was received our reporters were not allowed to speculate or use the rumors.

During the Public Comment section of the McCaysville City Council meeting in September 2019, BRMNews reached out to Mayor Seabolt inquiring about the OneGeorgia Authority grant and the $200,000 private donation the city placed in its 2017-2018 budget. It appeared by the Mayor's actions and tone of voice he considered the questions of no importance to be answered.

BRMNews visited the Park on September 9, 2019 to obtain photographs and to document progress for future reports. Holloway Trenching employees were leveling some ground near the river side.

Visibly there was some activity going on at the 4-acre park along the Toccoa River but no EPD paperwork was posted for public view.

On BRMNews' next visit, September 27, 2019, laminated paperwork was now posted on a utility pole. The papers were dated September 26, 2018. The majority, if not all of the major renovations had been completed by both businesses, as photos indicate. BRMNews is awaiting further confirmation of filing dates and possible approvals.

Research showed Beaver Home Improvement had completed renovations to the City's restrooms located on the one-acre property adjacent to the four-acres on or about July 2019. It is unknown as to when Holloway Trenching officially completed their portion of work.

In the October 2019 City Council meeting, there was no mention of BRMNews' inquiry about the $500,000 Grant nor the Private Donation in the minutes for the September meeting. BRMNews keeps recordings of McCaysville City Council meetings for future reference(s).

The question of, "when will the city of McCaysville be reimbursed?" depends on how OneGeorgia Authority deals with the choices the Mayor of McCaysville made when choosing who to award the park renovations. Will OneGeorgia Authority overlook this? Or, will McCaysville citizens be the ones to pay all the monies for the park and not the funds allocated for the City Park awarded in June 2017?

Get answers from your elected officials today!

NOTE:

Georgia Open Records Act

Any citizen of the state can request public records and requesters do not have to state a purpose. Once they have been obtained, there is no restriction on how records can be used, and agencies have three days to supply a response.