Watkinsville Council Approves Two Business Licenses, Grants A Beer and Wine License

Watkinsville will soon be home to two more small businesses.

At a meeting last week, council approved business licenses for Adara Salon and Spa -- a full service spa offering hair care, manicures, pedicures and massage therapy-- and Industrial Safety -- a business offering companies onsite safety training for their employees.

Adara Salon and Spa is located at 31 Water Street behind Oconee State Bank.  Pamela Saye said she and the salon's two other employees are all from Oconee County.

Council also heard from Don Phillips, who said Industrial Safety hopes training programs will bring people from all over the Southeast to Watkinsville, which would boost the local economy. The address for Industrial Safety is 1120 Industrial Drive.

In other news, both Mayor-elect Charles Ivie and former mayoral candidate Dan Matthews attended the meeting.  Current Mayor Joe Walter congratulated Ivie and thanked both men for their willingness to serve.

"It's not an easy thing to leave your comfort zone and run for office," Walters said. "I just want to publically say thank you to both."

Running for office is time consuming, a little bit expensive, and it takes a lot out of a person, he said.

"A lot of people want to see change but they don't want to do much a bout it.  The fact that two people would run for the office is something we all need to be thankful for," Walter said.

In his mayor's report, Walter described the and annual events as "big successes."

Walter also reported the owner of A Top Notch Tree and Lawn Care volunteered to put up Christmas lights in the city and Greenbriar Leaf Farm plans to donate a 20' tall Christmas Tree that will be lit on the last First Friday of the year, Dec. 2. 

Also at the meeting, council:

• Granted a beer and wine retail license to J&B Food Mart located at 1461 Greensboro Highway.
• Discussed a more detailed draft of the revised Business License Ordinance.  Some changes include the prorating of business license fees as well as the imposition of late fees for businesses that neglect to renew licenses in the stipulated time frame. A committee will meet over the next month to discuss the changes and additions.
• Learned the City has received notice from the Georgia Department of Transportation to proceed with Streetscape II.
• Congratulated Hayden Young on his recent Eagle Scout service project, constructing a fence around the unmarked graves at Watkinsville Cemetery.
• Learned the Watkinsville police department issued 69 citations last month: 47 for speeding 22 mph or more over the speed limit.