The Crawford City Council unanimously approved two commercial projects at its meeting on Feb. 10.
The businesses include a storage and office space at 1232 Athens Road — the lot next to the Red Rabbit — and a grab-and-go coffee shop.
The coffee concept, presented by Stags Oristaglio, will be on Park Avenue behind the Barber Shop. The plan hasn’t been approved by the Health Department, which is required before receiving a business license.
Additionally, Oristaglio is working on water, sewage and a name.
The storage/office space will be a private facility used to store equipment for Mike Carroll’s Heating & Air, which is based in Elberton.
“I like positive businesses coming to the city,” Mayor Alan Erwin said.
The Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office will also begin to use the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department’s building to train its only K-9, a 7-year-old German shepherd named Roni.
The training will focus on building clearings and narcotics searches.
The only condition from Crawford, which owns the building, was that the Sheriff’s Office sign a liability waiver.
In other business:
Athens-Clarke County assistant fire chief Ryan Martin reported that the new training room at the fire department is 98% complete and that it’s waiting for results from a recent ISO review. The department consists of 7-9 members, including a new junior firefighter.
It was confirmed that the cane corso that has been roaming the town and attacking other dogs has not been captured, as of Tuesday.
Donny Faust, lead operator at the water department, reported that temporary raw water pumps are online and working at the water plant. He said they need about $10,000 for equipment in order to do E. coli testing. They hope to secure safety grants through the Georgia Municipal Association for safety gear like vests and cones.
- The owner of the apartment complex behind the Golden Pantry has agreed to repair the broken sign and repaint it white after the city requested it be fixed or removed.
Lexington
Lexington is continuing to work on the Beth-Salem Presbyterian Church.
Mayor Evelyn Reece has submitted a federal grant for structural and electrical work, and she is completing a Georgia Trust Grant for window restoration.
The city seeks donations to cover the remaining $2,000 gap for the window project.
Reece said she is prioritizing record-keeping and ensuring compliance with the Open Meetings Law. Reece said the Downtown Development Authority is 3-4 years behind on required reporting, and she is pushing to put all meeting agendas on the city website.
Reece said all elected officials, herself included, must complete state-required training. Several members are scheduled for upcoming sessions in Athens.
In other news, the Lexington City Council:
Announced a public hearing scheduled for March 12 for the GEFA grant, which will fund filters for uranium removal in Centerville well.
Debated development priorities, with some DDA members favoring downtown Lexington, while others want to focus on the Community Center.
Instructed the city attorney to contact the Public Service Commissioner regarding over $4,000 in damages caused to a water main by a large utility company, Reece said.
Planned to repave West Church Street using LMIG and T-SPLOST funds, and to find a consultant for the project.
Said the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department would like to add a Jaws of Life apparatus and is seeking more volunteers, particularly those who can provide administrative help with paperwork.
Reported progress is being made on the building at 112 W. Main St., where custom-engineered roof trusses have been installed, with roofing happening soon.
- Appointed Kathrine Clark as secretary to the Historic Preservation Committee.
Maxeys
Maxeys received a $4,000 donation from the A.T. Brightwell Scholarship Foundation at its Feb. 10 meeting.
The scholarship, established in the late 1950s through the will of Guy Brightwell in memory of his father A.T. Brightwell provides full tuition to eligible students who live within a 1-mile radius of Maxeys and meet academic requirements set by the board of trustees.
John Stephens presented the check, which includes $2,000 for 2025 and $2,000 for 2026, in appreciation of the city’s support for the organization.
The city also received $11,000 in Georgia Department of Transportation grants for roadway improvements, with the funds being allocated toward work on city streets and thoroughfares, which have not been specified.
Communication between the city’s water tank and pump has been restored after more than eight years, Maxeys mayor Edward Toledano said in an email.
The fix hopes to prevent tank overflows that waste water and drive up power costs from the pump running continuously.
Brightwell Park’s outdoor pavilion has been completed.
The city is applying for a grant to continue improvements at the Maxeys Community Center and the park.
In other news, the Maxeys City Council:
Approved two building permits for home renovations.
Accepted an evergreen tree donation from the Maxeys Woman’s Club to serve as a permanent Christmas tree at City Hall.
- Scheduled septic tank service at City Hall and the Community Center next month.