Mt. Airy sets Chase Road speed limit

MT. AIRY, Ga. — The Mt. Airy Town Council unanimously approved a 35 mph speed limit Monday for the portion of Chase Road within the town limits, a move that begins the process of allowing radar enforcement on the roadway.

Mayor Adam Tullis said the action was requested by Police Chief Jamie Bowden as part of the permitting process with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“Jamie is trying to do some permitting on Chase Road about radar,” Tullis said. He noted the road is already posted at 35 mph approaching Mt. Airy from both the Cornelia and Habersham County sides, making the same speed limit appropriate within the town limits.

Bowden recommended the town establish the speed limit at 35 mph.

“I think 35 would probably be the best thing,” Bowden said. “Then later on, if you decide that you’re going to try to go through the process, you can try to reduce it if you want to, but I think 35 is the safest way to go ahead.”

Councilman Patrick Ledford asked whether adopting the speed limit would allow officers to use radar on Chase Road.

Bowden said the council’s action is the first step in the approval process.

“If y’all approve the speed limit to be 35, it would be just a formality with paperwork,” Bowden said. “Then DOT would basically have a traffic and engineering study to make sure everything’s approved for that area to be able to do.”

Asked how long the process could take, Bowden estimated it would be about two months to complete the engineering study, install the required signage and receive final approval.

“I think that would kind of slow some of the people down, and then with the future growth that’s coming through there too,” Bowden said.

In other business, the council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance establishing a franchise agreement with Habersham EMC.

The measure follows a first reading approved in June. Tullis previously said the agreement formalizes the town’s franchise fee arrangement as Habersham EMC’s service area within Mt. Airy has expanded.

“Georgia Power — we’ve had an agreement with Georgia Power for franchise fees forever,” Tullis said during last month’s meeting. “Habersham EMC… this is establishing franchise fees with Habersham EMC.”

The council also unanimously appointed Walker, Pierce & Tucker as the town’s new auditing firm.

City Clerk Sheri Berrong said finding a replacement auditor proved more difficult than expected because many accounting firms are leaving the governmental auditing business.

“Most of the recommendations I received when I reached out, they said that they were getting out of the governmental audit business,” Berrong said.

Firms cited the work as being “very time-consuming and not cost-effective” because of the regulatory training required each year.

Berrong said she eventually connected with Walker, Pierce & Tucker, which performs audits for the cities of Helen, Lula and Cleveland. She said finance officials in Helen and Lula spoke highly of the firm’s work and responsiveness.

“He’s great to work with. He’s easily accessible, not just during audit season, but during the course of the year,” Berrong said. “If there’s a question about how to book a transaction or something, they are very responsive.”