Business owner wants downtown cleaned up

By
MARY ANN ANDERSON
A longtime downtown Hazlehurst business owner appealed to the Hazlehurst City Council to address conditions surrounding the old jail and former City Hall area, saying deteriorating buildings, abandoned vehicles and concerns about homeless people entering vacant structures are hurting downtown businesses.
Heather Mims, who has operated Cut-N-Up in Hazlehurst for nearly 30 years, told council members during last Thursday’s monthly meeting that she and her customers regularly see boarded windows, wrecked police and other junk vehicles, along with other unsightly conditions near her South Williams Street business.
“Something’s got to be done with that old jail over there,” Mims told the council.
Mims said she had previously contacted Mayor John Ramay and law enforcement and had taken photographs documenting her concerns. She complained that despite discussions about improving downtown, the area around her beauty shop has continued to deteriorate to the point she often sees wharf rats.
“It’s ridiculous what I have to walk out to every day of my life and my customers to pull up and look at,” she said.
Mims also raised concerns about homeless people entering or staying in vacant buildings near her business, particularly the old jail. She said the situation makes her concerned for her personal safety.
Police Chief James Mock responded that officers had received a previous call concerning a man at the property and that he personally responded and arrested the individual. He said he subsequently contacted the mayor about securing the former City Hall building to prevent people from entering it.
During the sometimes-heated exchange, the council acknowledged that improvements to the area have been discussed for years.
Ward 1 Councilman Dwyane Johnson told Mims that the city had turned the old City Hall property over to the Downtown Development Authority and said she deserved to know what plans the authority has for the property. He promised to contact the DDA and accompany its representatives to meet with her.
“I can promise you that someone will be talking to you in the very, very near future,” he assured her.
Johnson also discussed the possibility of obtaining grants for downtown improvements and acknowledged that previous plans had not been completed.
“In the past, we talked to someone about fixing that old City Hall, but everybody has their own opinion and nobody ever gets it done,” he said, promising Mims that he would work with her to determine the status of plans for the property.
Mims also questioned the condition of the old caboose downtown, saying it should be restored as part of efforts to make the area more attractive.
The council agreed that the caboose and other downtown features need attention, including replacing lights, improving sidewalks and adding benches and other amenities. It was also noted that grants and grant writers could potentially help finance some of the work.
Mims said she had previously been told there was money available to demolish or improve property near the old jail. During the discussion, City Clerk Vernice Thompson noted that there had been consideration of converting the old jail into a small coffee or snack shop through the DDA.
“All I’m asking is let’s get something done with that jail,” Mims said. “It’s a disgrace.”
The mayor told Mims that the city would address her concerns and encouraged her to contact him if she did not see action.
“We will most assuredly be addressing that immediately,” Ramay said. “You have my phone number. If I’m not addressing it, you call.”
Thompson added that the leadership of the Downtown Development Authority was in transition following the resignation of its president and that she would determine who currently serves on the DDA board. She also addressed one of the wrecked cars near Cut-N-Up and explained to Mims that an insurance inspection is still pending.
Following Mims’ comments, David Moore of the Hazlehurst Police Department said police patrols in the area would be increased in an effort to keep people from entering the vacant buildings.
Mims thanked council members for hearing her concerns but made clear that she expects action.
“I’m just tired of it,” she told the mayor. “I’m asking for help, and that’s all I can do is come ask for help, and I pray that it’ll be resolved.”
Among the routine matters, the council approved travel and expenses for Saundra Toler of the Hazlehurst Police Department to attend the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Georgia Crime Information Center training symposium Oct. 26-27 at Jekyll Island. The council also approved Toler, who is also clerk of Municipal Court, attending mandated training at the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education’s Municipal Court Recertification program Nov. 4-6 at St. Simons Island.
After approving July water and sewer adjustments, departmental reports and the check register, the council also heard brief reports on the animal shelter, Municipal Court, police department, public works and water department through Inframark. No major issues were reported.
In an ironic note, just prior to Mims’ impassioned address, Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Joint Development Director Oakley Perry spoke of his recent attendance at the Georgia Downtown Association’s annual conference. He told the council that the conference had “inspired” him to help improve downtown.
“Downtown is the heart of our city,” Perry said.
Perry also announced that the Chamber of Commerce had set Thursday, Oct. 29, as the date for community-wide trick-or-treating downtown. He explained that if the event were held Saturday, Halloween, businesses might not be able to participate as easily. Friday would not work either, he said, because the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets football team would be playing out of town.
Maps of participating businesses will be distributed by the Chamber shortly before the event.