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Democrat wins Miami mayor’s race for the first time in nearly 30 years

By
Adriana Gomez-Licon
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Miami mayor-elect Eileen Higgins celebrates at a watch party after winning the Miami mayoral runoff election, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — Democrat Eileen Higgins won the Miami mayor’s race on Tuesday, defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump to end her party’s nearly three-decade losing streak and give Democrats a boost in one of the last electoral battles ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She spoke frequently in the Hispanic-majority city about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard of many people in Miami who were worried about family members being detained. She campaigned as a proud Democrat despite the race being officially nonpartisan and beat Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager, who said he called Higgins to congratulate her.

“We are facing rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanizing and cruel, especially against immigrant populations,” Higgins told The Associated Press after her victory speech. “The residents of Miami were ready to be done with that.”

With nearly all votes counted Tuesday, Higgins led the Republican by about 19 percentage points.

The local race is not predictive of what may happen at the polls next year. But it drew attention from the two major national political parties and their leaders. The victory provides Democrats with some momentum heading into a high-stakes midterm election when the GOP is looking to keep its grip in Florida, including in a Hispanic-majority district in Miami-Dade County. The area has shifted increasingly rightward politically in recent years, and the city may become the home of Trump’s presidential library.

“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs,” said Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.

Some nationally recognized Democrats supported Higgins, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel traveled to Miami on Sunday and Monday to rally voters for the Democrat who served as a Miami-Dade county commissioner for seven years.

Higgins, who speaks Spanish, represented a district that leans conservative and includes the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana. When she first entered politics in 2018, she chose to present herself to voters as “La Gringa,” a term Spanish speakers use for white Americans, because many people did not known how to pronounce her name.

“It just helps people understand who I am, and you know what? I am a ‘gringa,’ so, what am I going to do, deny it?” she told the AP.

Republicans’ anxiety grows

Republicans in Florida have found strong support from voters with heritage from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, because they likened some members of the Democratic party’s progressive wing with politicians from the governments they fled. Trump and other GOP members have tapped into those sentiments over the past eight years.

However, some local Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated since November’s elections when Democrats scored wins in New Jersey and Virginia, where both winning gubernatorial candidates performed strongly with nonwhite voters.

The results from those races were perceived as a reflection of concerns over rising prices and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican whose district is being targeted by Democrats and includes the city of Miami, called the elections elsewhere a “wake-up call.” She said Hispanics also want a secure border and a healthy economy but some relief for “those who have been here for years and do not have a criminal record.”

“The Hispanic vote is not guaranteed,” Salazar said in a video posted on X last month. “Hispanics married President Trump, but they are only dating the GOP.”

David Jolly, who is running to represent Democrats in the Florida governor’s race next year, said the mayoral election was good news for Democrats in what used to be a battleground state.

“Change is here. It’s sweeping the nation, and it’s sweeping Florida,” Jolly said.

Miami mayor-elect gains national platform

The mayoral position in Miami is more ceremonial, but Higgins promised to execute it like a full-time job.

The city is part of Miami-Dade County, which Trump flipped last year, a dramatic improvement from his 30 percentage point loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

As Florida’s second-largest city, Miami is considered the gateway to Latin America and attracts millions of tourists. Its global prominence gives Higgins a significant stage as mayor.

Her pitch to voters included finding city-owned land that could be turned into affordable housing and cutting unnecessary spending.

Columbus Fire & EMS launches innovative 911 program

By
Robbie Watson
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(Daniel Purcell)/NowGeorgia.com

Columbus Fire & EMS now offers non-emergency 911 callers the option to connect virtually with a board-certified ER doctor and patient navigator to receive instant access to care, discuss treatment options, and access follow-up support without long ER waits or high costs.

This service benefits both the community and the city’s emergency response system. For residents, it means faster access to medical care, lower out-of-pocket costs, and personalized follow-up support. For the emergency system, it helps keep ambulances and ERs available for patients with life-threatening conditions.

Deputy Chief Jules Hazen with Columbus Fire & EMS says, “CFEMS wants patients to receive the right care at the right time.” He added, “With RightSite, citizens connect directly with an ER board-certified physician for real-time guidance, avoiding unnecessary ER visits. This approach keeps emergency units available while ensuring patients get the care and follow-up they need.”

Columbus’ 911 Center, which operates under the Columbus Police Department, will play a key role in linking callers to an ER doctor and patient navigator. When a caller describes a situation that does not require lights and sirens, dispatchers can ask the caller, “Would you like to see an ER doctor right now?”

“This upgrade reflects our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and the well-being of our citizens,” said CPD’s 911 Director Tracie Abell. “Integrating telehealth into 911 operations improves outcomes, strengthens our emergency response, and ensures the highest level of care for every caller.”

RightSite Health currently partners with 911 and EMS agencies nationwide to reduce unnecessary ER transports, improve access to care, and ensure emergency systems remain focused on true emergencies. RightSite’s CEO, Jamo Rubin, MD, added, “Partnering with Columbus Fire & EMS lets us bring ER-level care straight to patients’ homes. Our goal is to get patients the right care and connect them with the resources they need—right when they need it.”

Fani Willis fights earlier subpoena but is set to appear before Georgia lawmakers soon

By
Ross Williams
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Sen. Bill Cowsert at Senate Special Committee on Investigations meeting on Nov. 13, 2025, at which Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had been scheduled to appear. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is calling on the Georgia Supreme Court to dismiss a subpoena to answer questions from a state Senate committee investigating her historic 2023 indictment of President Donald Trump.

Former Gov. Roy Barnes, an attorney arguing on Willis’ behalf, told justices that a subpoena issued by the Senate Special Committee on Investigations is moot.

Barnes argues that the committee, led by Athens Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert, who is running for Georgia attorney general next year, does not have the power to issue subpoenas under state law. Barnes said a single-chamber committee cannot subpoena testimony unless it is empowered to do so by statute or by the General Assembly as a whole.

The state’s highest court heard oral arguments on the matter Tuesday.

“For over 150 years, the General Assembly has been very reluctant, particularly when it is only one house of the General Assembly, of giving to a regular or special committee of either house the right to exercise the power of subpoena, and for good reason,” Barnes said.

Barnes said that reluctance helps protect the balance between the branches of government, giving the example of a 2021 effort in the Montana Legislature seeking to subpoena the emails of Supreme Court justices there in an effort to root out alleged bias.

Barnes further argued that the subpoena is not valid because it was issued in August 2024 under the 157th General Assembly of Georgia. That body dissolved in January when the 158th General Assembly was sworn in, Barnes said.

“The General Assembly dies and has no further effect when a new General Assembly comes in,” he said.

Barnes said that Willis plans to appear before the committee on Dec. 17 pursuant to another subpoena filed in November, after the passage of a law sponsored by Cowsert granting new powers to investigatory committees, including subpoena powers.

Attorney Josh Belinfante, arguing on Cowsert’s behalf, said the original subpoena is not moot.

“There is simply zero constitutional text to support that argument, and there is no reason this court should adopt it now,” Belinfante said. “Nor does the fact that the witness has agreed to testify on Dec. 17 change the calculus today.”

Belinfante indicated that Willis testifying could largely resolve the issues at hand, but he also expressed skepticism that she will do so.

“We remember that we had dates before and it did not work out,” he said. “We hope that it does.”

Willis has been resisting calls to appear from the start. In October, Cowsert said the parties reached an agreement that Willis would testify at a November hearing, but when the day came, she did not appear, with the committee citing a scheduling conflict.

Willis’ election interference case centered on Trump’s now-infamous phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which Trump asked Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn the election.

Co-defendants were also accused of acts including an intimidation campaign against poll workers, a breach of Coffee County’s election systems and a plan to certify a false Trump victory. Four of the 18 alleged co-conspirators pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Trump and the other defendants.

But Willis’ hopes of taking the case to trial turned to dust after a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she hired for the case led to accusations of a conflict of interest and her ultimate removal from the case. Late last month, a Fulton County judge dismissed the case once and for all after a special prosecutor found that charging a sitting president was unrealistic.

The section of the state constitution organizing the Legislature states that there “shall be a different General Assembly for each two-year period.” The justices appeared to back up Barnes’ argument that the Legislature that issued the subpoena is no longer around to enforce it.

Chief Justice Nels Peterson said the Legislature is the only state body described in the constitution as reconstituting in that way.

“There’s no other place in the constitution that I’m aware of that provides that, say an executive branch agency or a court becomes different simply because the people constituting the entity change over,” said.

Peterson also appeared to agree that the second subpoena carries greater authority because of Cowsert’s bill.

“I think we would be in a much more challenging constitutional space had the General Assembly not acted in 2025, both the House and the Senate, to confer this power of subpoena on committees that now has been exercised in this most recent subpoena that service has been acknowledged,” he said.

Following arguments, Peterson told the sides that they would have a resolution within the time required by the constitution, which means the end of March at the latest, but he said the court will look forward to a status update follow Dec. 17, when Willis is supposed to appear before Cowsert’s committee.

District Attorney announces conviction in major drug trafficking case

By
Robbie Watson
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District Attorney announces conviction/NowGeorgia.com

Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Don Kelly announced the conviction of Clarence Warren AKA “squirrel” on 18 felony counts including trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin.  Warren was also convicted of firearms charges including possession of an illegal weapon and a stolen weapon.

The 88-count indictment against Warren arose out of an extended investigation by members of the Columbus Police Department’s Special Operations unit which began in May of 2019. According to the officers Warren was not making much of an attempt to disguise his drug sale activities and openly discussed amounts and pricing of heroin and methamphetamine with his customers on social media.

Through analysis of Warren’s social media records officers were able to determine that he was distributing large amounts of heroin in the Columbus area and was traveling to the Atlanta area to obtain the drugs using a series of cars rented for him by a co-defendant.

“The amount of fentanyl being distributed by Warren was really alarming,” said senior assistant district attorney Kimberly Schwartz. Warren had enough fentanyl to kill 29,525 people. District attorney Kelly noted that this was one of the largest drug and gun seizures in recent memory in this area. “We commend the good work of the Columbus Police Department in conducting a great investigation and bringing us strong evidence. Taking a dealer like Warren out of commission is the sort of case that makes a substantial positive impact on the safety of the community,” Kelly said.

Superior Court Judge John Martin sentenced Warren to serve a total of 20 years in the penitentiary, followed by 20 years on probation and a $10,000 fine.

Trump to send $12 billion in one-time payments to farmers to offset ag losses

By
Jacob Fischler
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Under a $12 billion farm subsidy plan, $11 billion, would go to row crop farmers who grow barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame and sunflower, according to a USDA statement. This crop in north Georgia was maturing in May. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(States Newsroom) — The federal government will provide $12 billion to U.S. farmers who have been hurt by “unfair market disruption,” President Donald Trump said at a White House roundtable event Monday.

Trump said repeatedly the funding was available thanks to tariff revenues, framing his aggressive trade policy as a boon to farmers rather than a drag on their global market share as critics of the policy suggest.

“I’m delighted to announce this afternoon that the United States will be taking a small portion of the hundreds of billions of dollars we receive in tariffs…  and we’re going to be giving and providing it to the farmers in economic assistance,” Trump said.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, though, told reporters following the event that the money came from the department’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which is funded through regular appropriations from Congress, according to a White House pool report.

The money, which the administration officials described as “bridge payments,” would be in farmers’ hands by the end of February, Rollins said.

While not officially marketed as a part of a series of Trump events spotlighting affordability issues, the president said several times he was addressing an affordability crisis he “inherited” from President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

“The Democrats cause the affordability problem,” Trump said. “And we’re the ones that are fixing it.”

The bulk of the funding, $11 billion, would go to row crop farmers who grow barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame and sunflower, according to a USDA statement. The department was planning to reserve $1 billion for unnamed specialty crops, Rollins said.

Payments to arrive before GOP law kicks in

Trump, Rollins and other Cabinet-level officials said the payments were to be used as a “bridge” before policies enacted in Republicans’ massive spending and tax cuts law this year are implemented.

“This bridge is absolutely necessary based on where we are right now,” Rollins said.

They blamed the Biden administration for a more negative outlook for farmers. Biden failed to close trade deals and a focus on environmental policy led to increased costs for the agriculture industry, they said.

The package limits payments to $155,000 per recipient, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce told reporters on a conference call late Monday afternoon.

Iowa farmer Cordt Holub spoke at the White House event, where he thanked Trump for the package.

“I want to say thank you for this bridge payment,” he said. “It’s Christmas early for farmers.”

Louisiana rice farmer Meryl Kennedy said the industry was struggling, but thanked Trump for the aid funding and changes to reference prices in the Republican megabill.

“Our farmers can feed this nation and many nations abroad, but we need fair trade, not free trade,” she said.

Tariff impact ignored

But they did not mention the effects of tariffs, which critics of the president have said are responsible for diminishing agricultural exports and hurting farmers’ bottom lines.

House Agriculture Committee ranking Democrat Angie Craig of Minnesota said in a statement the package “picks winners and losers in the farm economy,” and would not provide certainty to farmers or reduce high operational costs.

“It will not bring U.S. agricultural exports back to pre-trade war levels,” she said. “It also ignores (the) fact that the president’s tariffs are responsible for the immense financial strain felt not just by America’s farmers, but also working people, manufacturers, retailers and small businesses. All Americans are tired of the affordability crisis created by this administration and congressional Republicans. We will be right back here a year from now unless the administration changes its policies.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, also slammed the program.

“The reason farmers need relief at all is largely because Donald Trump betrayed them and decimated their businesses with his disastrous tariffs,” Schumer said in a floor speech Monday. “Now, Donald Trump is patting himself on the back, acting like a hero to farmers while using taxpayer dollars to clean up the mess he created. It’s textbook Donald Trump incompetence.”

Another round?

Asked by a reporter during the roundtable if he would be open to another round of relief for farmers, Trump said it would depend on how international trade develops and said farmers would not want further aid.

“It depends on where we go,” he said. “China is buying a lot. Other countries are buying a lot. And you know, the interesting thing about the farmers, they don’t want aid. They want to just have a level playing field.”

He later indicated it would be unnecessary.

“We’re going to make the farmers so strong — and I’m not even talking about financially, because they just want to be able to produce what they can produce,” he said. “We’re going to make them so strong that it will be, indeed, a golden age for farmers.”

Rollins told reporters following the event that Trump was “open to more.”

Gov. Kemp kicks off the Capitol holiday season with annual Christmas tree lighting

By
Sarah Kallis
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Governor Brian Kemp applauds the Spelman College Glee Club at the 2025 Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony

(GPB News)- Gov. Brian Kemp, first lady Marty Kemp, and their daughter Amy Porter Kemp lit the Georgia Capitol’s Christmas tree Monday, kicking off the holiday season at the capitol.

“Tree lighting represents the start of an often busy Christmas season for many of us,” the governor said. “It’s also a reminder of the meaning of the season, the birth of our Savior and good overcoming evil. It’s a time to pause and reflect on the blessings in our own lives and find ways to pay those blessings forward.”

This year’s tree is a 26-foot tall red cedar from a family farm in Lindale, Ga. It will stand tall in the rotunda of the capitol throughout the Christmas season for visitors to admire.

The ceremony also included a performance of Christmas carols by the Spelman College Glee Club, and a speech from radio personality Clark Howard about Clark’s Christmas Kids, an initiative embraced by the state to provide Christmas gifts to nearly 10,000 children in Georgia’s foster care system.

Watch the full tree lighting ceremony here.

McDonald’s employee killed in late-night shooting in Northeast Georgia; GBI investigating

By
Joy Purcell
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ELBERTON, Ga. — A late-night shooting inside an Elberton McDonald’s left one employee dead Tuesday, sparking a homicide investigation now led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Police say the gunman fled before officers arrived.

Elberton Police responded to the restaurant around 10:19 p.m. on December 9. They found a male employee on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided first aid until EMS arrived. The victim was taken to Elbert Memorial Hospital, where he later died, police said. His name has not been released.

Investigators believe the shooting followed an argument between the victim and another man in the lobby. During the dispute, the suspect pulled out a gun and opened fire.

The Elbert County Coroner’s Office is working with local law enforcement and the GBI. The victim will undergo an autopsy at the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Elberton Police are not releasing further details. All inquiries are being directed to the GBI.

Anyone with information is urged to call the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-8477 or the Elberton Police Department at 706-213-3130.

Baldwin to finalize new city manager during council meeting

By
Patrick Fargason
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The Baldwin City Council. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)

BALDWIN-  The Baldwin City Council is expected to finalize the appointment of Tiera Morrison as the city’s next city manager Tuesday night, marking the conclusion of a months-long search for the city’s top administrative role.

Morrison, the sole finalist announced in November, is slated for appointment during the regular meeting following the council’s 6:30 p.m. work session.

According to a city release issued Nov. 19, Morrision brings extensive public-section management and public-health experience, having supervised more than 50 employees and overseen multi-million-dollar budgets. City officials said they anticipate her leadership will strengthen long-term planning and day-to-day operations. Morrision is schedule to take her loyalty oath during the meeting.

The council will meet for its final meeting of 2025 with several wastewater and budget-related items set for discussion. Votes are expected on a sewer credit settlement agreement, un-committing funds within the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Operations and Maintenance reserve, and the purchase of new aerators for the plant. The actions continue the city’s ongoing efforts to update wastewater operations and address associated costs.

Members will also review the 2026 meeting calendar and an acknowledgment from the state Department of Revenue regarding an agreement with automated enforcement provider Altumint.

Residents will also be reminded that 2025 property tax bills have been delayed. Once mailed, payments will be due 60 days from the mailing date. The city will post the date online and include it on water bills.

 

Mihalick’s 24 points pushes Raiders past Lions in top-10 billing [VIDEO]

By
BLITZ Sports
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In a top-10 battle between #10-ranked Habersham Central (4-1) and #7 Franklin County (4-2), the Raiders won in front of the home crowd with a high-scoring second half. The final read 64-40 in favor of Hab Central, though scoring was at a premium in the opening half.

Franklin County got rolling quick when Bentley Huff hit a 3-pointer, but Jake Mihalik had a 3-point play and then a triple right before the end of the first, putting the Raiders ahead 14-10.

In the second, it was knotted at 19 apiece briefly, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Mihalick and Eli Maye started to create some padding. Donnie Warren had a big basket too as the Raiders were up 29-23 at the half.

A low-scoring third quarter saw Habersham add just a dozen more, while the Lions went cold from the floor and scored just four points. The game was still tight until the closing seconds of the third, when Maye connected from beyond the arc and drew the foul, hitting his shot at the line for a rare 4-point play. All of a sudden, Habersham was feeling comfortable with a 41-27 advantage.

Hudson Huff and Bentley Huff tried to mount a comeback, but Judge Wilbanks drained a trifecta to put the game on ice with just over four minutes left.

Mihalick led all scorers with 24 points, as Wilbanks had 11 and Maye 10. Warren finished with eight, Micah Huff had six, and Sy Ward closed shop with five points.

The Lions were led in scoring by Bentley Huff with 12, while Hudson Huff had 11. Jordan Ardister and Drake Nix each had five, while Sam Shaver added three.

Lady Raiders lead wire-to-wire in win over Franklin [VIDEO]

By
BLITZ Sports
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The Lady Raiders never trailed at the conclusion of any quarter in a 61-45 Monday home win over Franklin County (2-4), as seven different players chipped in with scoring.

Habersham Central (2-3) got a quick start with Daytona Underwood and Tessa Murdock combining for 10 points in the opening stanza.

Oaklee Jackson buried a big 3-pointer to double up Franklin at 27-13 midway through the second, and it was a 32-16 halftime advantage for the Lady Raiders.

Bella Rosene and Jackson, along with Underwood, owned the second half. Rosene had all of her team-high 17 points in the second half, while Jackson connected on three more deep shots.

A pair of triples by Jackson in the fourth sealed the win, while Underwood had back-to-back buckets late to put the finishing touches on it.

Underwood had 16 to pace Habersham, while Jackson and Murdock each finished with 12. Makenzie Gosnell and Kenzie King both added seven, Sadie Chambers had four, and Macy Huff had three.

For the Lady Lions, it was Rosene leading with 17 points, followed by Nykhia Johnson with 13. Kallie Thrift added seven in the contest.

Cornelia to weigh emergency pause on annexation requests after major proposal collapses

By
Patrick Fargason
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Cornelia City Commission (Patrick Fargason/NowHabersham.com)

CORNELIA, Ga. – Cornelia city commissioners will hold a special called meeting at noon today to consider an emergency moratorium on new annexation requests. The move comes less than a week after a three hour public hearing ended with the collapse of the proposed Red Apple Corridor annexation.

The meeting, to be held in the Cornelia Municipal Courtroom, features only one item on the agenda; whether or not to temporarily halt acceptance of annexation applications while the city reviews its procedures and service capacity. The public may speak during the forum portion of the meeting, with comments limited to three minutes.

City officials say the pause is intended to give staff and elected leaders time to examine existing annexation rules, evaluate current and future water and sewer capacity, and consider updates to the city’s annexation ordinances. The review follows intense public scrutiny of the city’s annexation process during last wee’s hearing, where residents questioned service demands, infrastructure limits, and zoning impacts.

Residents interested in Cornelia’s growth, services, and long-term planning are encouraged to attend. Commissioners are expected to adjourn shortly after taking up the moratorium.

Clarkesville Council honors outgoing mayor, tackles other year-end business

By
Patrick Fargason
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Outgoing Clarkesville Mayor Barrie Aycock accepts a plaque commemorating her years of service from incoming mayor Franklin Brown. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – The Clarkesville City Council concluded its final meeting of 2025 Monday with a tribute to Mayor Barrie Aycock, who presided over her final council meeting after nearly a decade of service.

Incoming mayor and current councilman Franklin Brown presented Aycock with a plaque recognizing her commitment to the city. Aycock reflected on her longstanding working relationship with Brown and his decision not the challenge her in past elections.

“Ten tears ago when I first ran, he could have run, but he had a business to take care of,” Aycock said. ‘Then four years ago he could have run again, and he asked me if I wanted to run again. I said yes, and Franklin said, ‘Well I won’t run against you.’ So I’ve always appreciated that.”

Brown offered his own lighthearted farewell: “I hope you live 125 years, and the last voice you hear is mine.”

Impact Fees

Earlier in the meeting, City Manager Keith Dickerson gave council members an update on the development of an impact-fee spending plan. Dickerson stated he has spoken to planning consultant Bill Ross of Bill Ross and Associates, who is preparing a draft outlining suggested fees and eligible projects allowed under state law.

Dickerson said one potential long-term use of impact-fee revenue is a future fire station, but stressed that the process requires strict compliance. “It’s a very complex, date-and-time-specific item,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson emphasized that no commitments have been made and no votes have been taken.

Board appointments

Councilwoman Angelia Kiker (center) congratulates Rick Coulon and Gloria Camp for being named to the Clarkesville Housing Authority Board. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)

The council unanimously approved Darrin Johnston, Sean Nix, Liz Treadwell, and Lisa Nicholson to the Habersham County Library Board, and approved Rick Coulon and Gloria Camp for the Clarkesville Housing Authority Board. Both items were passed without discussion.

Other business

Members voted to update the city’s retirement benefits through the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System. The update adjusts employer contributions beginning in 2026 to keep the plant actuarially sound.

The council also approved the city’s 2026 meeting and holiday schedules, and voted to amend the city’s property tax due date. City Clerk Julie Poole said she hopes to mail residents their tax bills later this week.

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