Blue Ridge, Ga. – City Council met Friday, April 30, 2020 in a special called meeting to appoint a Hearing Officer that will oversee a case involving the possible “suspension and revocation of an occupational tax certificate allowing for the sale of alcoholic beverages”.
Blue Ridge Municipal Court Judge Robert Sneed will be put in place as the hearing officer.
City Council meets to instate Hearing Officer.
Council members were unable to speak on the specifics of the case, with Mayor Donna Whitener telling press, “All questions on the matter will have to be directed to the hearing officer.”
The case is presumably involving the City of Blue Ridge vs. The Blue Coyote, a restaurant in the Commercial Business District of Blue Ridge.
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The May meeting of the Blue Ridge City Council could see a motion to investigate uncollected taxes with the blame being laid on Mayor Donna Whitener and Finance Director Alicia Stewart.
Council Member Rhonda Haight read from a prepared statement during the April meeting. Haight wanted to go on record to clear her name of any matters relating to the delinquent taxes owed to the City.
“I do not want to be associated with delinquent taxes,” Haight stated adding, “I had no knowledge and most of the council members did not.”
Haight goes on record about City’s uncollected taxes.
Mayor asked to return key to City HallCity Council, Election, News
March 11, 2021
, by Natalie Kissel
Blue Ridge, Ga. – Mayor Donna Whitener was asked to turn in her key to City Hall as council members expressed their concerns over the upcoming election.
“With all that has been going on over the past couple of months, which the public is just now starting to find out about, to be very honest, I don’t know that I feel comfortable with the election that is coming up and not having an unbiased party being over the election,” Council Member Nathan Fitts expressed his feelings on the upcoming election.
Blue Ridge, Ga. – The recent censure of Council Member Nathan Fitts could lead to legal proceedings that would cost the taxpayers of Blue Ridge.
Feb. Zoom City Council meeting in which Panter brought forth the censure of Fitts.
Fitts’ personal lawyer and previous City Attorney for the City of Blue Ridge, R. David Syfan, sent an Anti Litem Notice (intent to sue) to those members of council, including the Mayor, who pursued and voted in favor of the censure.
“Honestly I sit here as a council member embarrassed to even have to discuss these items,” Fitts said informing the public that an Anti Litem Notice had been sent.
DDA and City Council discuss Blue Ridge’s parking situationDowntown Blue Ridge, News
March 4, 2021
, by Lauren Souther
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Blue Ridge City Council and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) held a joint called meeting on Monday to discuss the DDA’s plans and parking predominately.
DDA Chairman Cesar Martinez addressed the working relationship between the two groups. He stressed that they both need to be together on issues like parking, economic development, or signage. He asked for the city to include the DDA in conversations about projects that fall under their authority.
“We can’t be two separate organizations going after the same thing. We need to be together. If it’s a project that we’re working on with the city, then we need to be involved in that,” Martinez explained.