The city of Blue Ridge held a special called meeting on January 22, 2013. The agenda of this meeting included a reading of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Ordinance, appointing a member to the Planning Commission Board and consider a rezoning request.
The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is to ensure that the city is prepared in case of an emergency situation such as flooding, hurricane, fire or some other natural disaster. Assuming the city is prepared, they can receive federal funding in the event of a disaster. Mayor Whitener had this plan reviewed by city attorney, David Syfan.

“In order to have this fall back funding available in the event for a hazard or disaster, I think we need to enter into a plan”

said Syfan. Syfan also suggested actions that could be taken on behalf of the city. Since the recommendations were made at the end of November, the city of Blue Ridge has completed several of the tasks and have others in the process of being completed. Syfan suggested twenty seven terms of action, including a flood insurance program, the public notification system, fire alarms, narrow band communications, radio transmission, road maintenance and many more.

Mayor Donna Whitener took great honor in being able to perform the next task on the agenda. A member of the Planning Commission Board resigned, so Whitener asked Fannin County native, Thomas Kay to serve on the board. Kay agreed.

“I’m excited and ready to get to work”

he said. Kay’s term on this board will be a four year term.

As a final matter of business, the City Council reviewed and approved the rezoning request regarding the property located at 480 West Main Street. The property is currently zoned as a C-1 (Limited Commercial) building. The council approved the change and the property will be under a new zoning code of CBD, which means Central Business District. The plan for this property is to convert it into a restaurant.

FYN will follow the progress of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Ordinance and the new restaurant coming to town. The next council meeting is the regularly scheduled one that will take place on February 12, 2013.