Hart BOC Tables Decision on More Funding for Railroad St. Project

Hart County’s Board of Commissioners has tabled a request by the TORCH group for extra funding to accelerate their plan for a permanent location for the Hart County Farmer’s Market.

TORCH is the non-profit group formed to oversee the fundraising and renovation of Railroad St.

Under their plans, the farmer’s market will eventually locate to a permanent site on Railroad St.

At their meeting Tuesday evening, TORCH president Mary Gidley and board members Bill Griggs and Sharon Morse came before the Commission to ask for an additional $25,000 from the County.

“The farmer’s market has lost their home,” Gidley told the Board. “We have been requested by the City and the County to include the farmer’s market in phase one of the Railroad St. project.”

Gidley said the City of Hartwell had already approved and allocated $25,000 towards the project.

Under phase 1, the existing train depot and adjoining platform would be renovated to house the farmer’s market.

In 2012, the Board of Commissioners offered TORCH $5,000 in inkind services towards the massive renovation project, which will turn a dilapidated area and street into a park with walking trails, shops, restaurants.

But Tuesday, commissioner Joey Dorsey said renovation of Railroad St. is a private project and the County should not spend taxpayer money on it.

“The taxpayer can only take so much,” he said. “We struggle and we struggle every year to get a balanced budget,” Dorsey said. “I just don’t see the County spending taxpayer money on property that’s owned by private citizens.”

But Gidley said TORCH had a 99-yr lease on all of the properties on Railroad St and the County could donate money legally.

Gidley said a lot of businesses on Depot St. are already supporting the Railroad St. renovation project.

“Betty Faye has opened a bakery to open on the park because of the Railroad St. project,” Gidley pointed out. “Crystal’s Closet has located there. Another business told us they want to open the back of their business so they can put in an ice cream parlor back there that accesses the park. The Downtown Cafe wants to extend the decking behind their restaurant so they can have outside seating back there. So, there’s a lot of things already starting to happen on Depot St. because of the renovations on the Railroad St. project.”

Commissioner Jim Carey asked Gidley if TORCH knew what the exact economic impact would be on Hart County.

But Hart County Chamber Executive Director Nicki Meyer reminded the Board that a renovated Railroad St. would be another destination area for tourists, which would bring in more tax revenue.

“You talk about economic impact, you’re now talking about tax revenues becauses you have new businesses that have invested here,” Meyer told the board. “You’re talking about improvements to the tax base once all these improvements have been put into place. You’re talking about a destination location. Do I have an exact dollar amount on what the economic impact will be? No. We won’t know that until we start seeing it getting up and running.”

After about 45 minutes of heated discussion and public comment, Commissioner RC Oglesby motioned the request be tabled to give the board time to go over the plans and give the county attorney time to review the legal issues concerning the County’s involvement.