About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2022)
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 The Braselton News Page 3A Braselton Parks Developer seeks DDA support for downtown Braselton projects By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews. com Braselton developer Matt Ruppel has asked the town's downtown develop ment authority (DDA) for its support regarding a pair of major projects he has in the works. Ruppel, who spoke to the DDA on Thursday (Dec. 8), plans to build what will eventually be a 30-home townhome development — called Laurel Park — adja cent to the town’s library on Davis St. and Hwy. 124 and a commercial devel opment on Harrison St. on the site of the old Braselton High School. “We're going to be put ting those in front of y’all again asking you (for sup port)." he said. He previously sought and gained a letter of DDA support for a boutique ho tel project on Davis St. which was later approved by both the Braselton Plan ning Commission and Bra selton Town Council. During his comments. Ruppel — whose three downtown projects total 105,000 square feet and $25 million of capital in vestment — briefly updat ed the townhome project and commercial develop ment projects. He said analysis and en gineering study of a poten tial traffic light at Hwy. 124 and Jesse Cronic Rd. has delayed the townhomes, which have been hit with a number of delays during the planning process. He also said a three-story building adjacent to the townhomes has been de signed, but couldn’t offer a more extensive update on that facet of the project until the townhomes have been permitted. Meanwhile, Ruppel said he's close to finalizing plans for a three-building commercial development on Harrison St. In other projects. Ruppel said his vision for a “green stream” trail system run ning along a creek from Braselton Brewing Com pany to residential prop erty on Davis St. remains in the works. He said that he, K&S Homes and Len nar Builders would donate land to the town for that project. Ruppel said he’s working to finalize a sur vey for the trail. “Hopefully, kind of the first quarter of next year or something, we can kind of get that at least 100% ac tionable." he said. DDA TO HIRE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN CONSULTANT The DDA voted to spend $22,000 to hire a consul tant to assist with a new downtown master plan up date. which will help guide growth and direction of the downtown district. DDA chairperson Hollie Ansley said the money has already been allotted in the DDA's budget. “This kind of gives us a seat at the table with tour ism or URA (Urban Re development Agency) and helps us. the downtown de velopment authority, kind of drive the master plan." she said. OTHER NEWS In other news, the DDA: •will determine design projects for 2023 during its January work retreat. No date for that retreat has been set. •announced a Cinco de Mayo theme for its May 4 Toast to Braselton fund raiser, the DDA’s largest fundraising event of the fiscal year. Braselton leaders considering options for riverwalk surface By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com The Braselton Town Council’s options for im proving the Mulberry Riv erwalk could include up grading to an asphalt trail instead of gravel. The council will con sider a $1.2 million pro posal for an asphalt trail rather than a crush-and- run trail, which would cost $700,000. Should the council opt for asphalt, the town would lose $200,000 worth of trail grant money available with the crush- and-run plan. SPLOST funds, however, could be applied to the asphalt proj ect. The town recently re opened the Riverwalk af ter an extended closure for its riverbank stabiliza tion project. The town put mulch on the 2.3-mile trail to allow for citizen use, but that surface was not intend ed as a longterm solution. It was noted that if the council moves forward with crush-and-run rather than asphalt, it could pave over the gravel surface with asphalt at a later time. Building an asphalt trail would, however, require state and federal permits and public hearings be cause it would lie in the stream buffer. In a related matter, the only plantings remain in the riverbank stabilization project before that work is complete. Voting map Braselton council provides first approval of new voting districts The Braselton Town Coun cil has provided initial ap proval of new voting districts — the first of two required approvals. The new district maps must be OK'd at two consecutive council meet ings. The council voted 5-0 Monday (Dec. 12) to accept the new map. New voting districts are required every 10 years. The changes from the pre vious district map include taking a non-contiguous leg of District 1 in northern Bra selton and placing it in Dis trict 2. All districts must now be contiguous. The new-look District 1 now pushes further west, running past Hwy. 211 in a section lying south of 1-85 that was formerly in Dis trict 3. Meanwhile, a swath of District 1 north of 1-85 now reaches to Hwy. 211, cutting into old District 2 territory. The council held a Thurs day (Dec. 8) public hearing over the new voting districts with no one speaking in sup port or opposition. Crescenti continued from 1A participates in its Legacy Builders group. “Thank you so much,” she said when she accepted the award. “Thank you for all being here today and I also want to congratulate all of the ladies who were also in this nomination.” “Thank you so much for this wonderful country that has given me so many op portunities.” she added. “I truly love this country.” Other nominees for the award were: Traci Bled soe, executive director of Peace Place Inc.; Priscil la Murphy, city manager of Jefferson; Dr. Martha Shannon, veterinarian and owner of Shannon Veter inary Services; and Lisa Stephens, founding direc tor of Legacy Youth Men toring. “The Woman of the Year Award honors the individ uals who have achieved professional excellence, mentored, actively served the community and helped other females to reach their leadership potential,” Elizabeth Evans, the chair of the Women in Business Committee, said. “Each of these women are truly making remarkable things happen in our community.” Keynote speaker Steph anie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey's Corporation, spoke about how commu nity and resilience con tributed to the company's growth and success. She said she was “blown away” by the nominees' stories of resilience. “All of you are my ‘she- roes’ and you really rep resent what it means to be resilient.” still likely wrap up in June, but staffing the building and sup plying it will likely take anoth er two or three months. Williamson said supply issues related to medical gas materials and equipment have caused the longest construc tion delays. “That one probably set us back the most,” Williamson said. Williamson said the project will still likely cost close to the original $52 million price tag. The facility will house the out-patient surgery center on the first floor, which will in clude four operating rooms and two procedure suites. The other two floors will be used for physician office space. The center will help the Braselton campus handle its heavy surgery load which stands at roughly 700 proce dures a month. Williamson noted that surgeries patients postponed during the pan demic are being addressed now. “Both here and in Gaines ville, our surgery numbers have been very strong in ’22," Williamson said. The facility will initially be geared toward orthopedic sur geries. but Williamson said the hope is to phase-in specialities like urology and gynecology. Williamson noted that sur geries performed in the am bulatory surgery center will typically be less complex than those done in the hospital and generally cost less. “We're going to have a large focus on our mission — we're a non-profit organization — so a big part of this project is our commitment to also serve the indigent population," he said. “We will be leveraging the new platform there to help us fulfill that overall mission.” Williamson said NG- MC-Braselton is eager to serve a fast-growing area Construction continued from 1A within the 1-85 coordinator. “Just seeing the volume of growth that we continue to see in our residential roof tops, we’re just trying to keep up with it,” he said. The construction of the am bulatory surgery center comes as NGMS-Braselton recently announced a major expansion of its campus. That project will add 235,000 square feet of clinical space, including two new patient-care floors and 150 licensed acute care beds, bringing the hospital's total li censed bed count to 284. The project will also expand the emergency department from 23 to 46 rooms, among other additions. The project, slated for completion in 2026, will cost $565 million. Williamson noted that the Braselton campus opened in 2015 with 100 beds. The hos pital is now moving toward 300 beds with an emergency department that's doubling and operating rooms that are also doubling. “So. it’s exciting to be a part of that, to be able to have a leadership and governing board that sup ports the growth and have the wherewithal to be able to do it,” he said. “Again, that’s our mission. We’re here to serve the communi ty and feel very fortunate to be in a position to be able to grow these healthcare resources for the communi ty's benefit.” December 14, 2022 ~ Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1. Threadbare clothing 5. Become friendlier 9. Amorphous mass 13. Various forms of the same speech sounds 16. lamp 17. Mediterranean plants with large edible flower heads (2 wds) 19. Mac 20. A.T.M. need 21. Drill bits 22. Kuwaiti, e.g. 24. Throughout (music) 27. Ed.’s request (acronym) 28. Arctic 30. Toni Morrison’s “ Baby’ 31. Big East team 32. E or G, e.g. 34. Surface of a ship’s hull above water 37. Container with historical records for future discovery (2 wds) 39. Afflicted with oxygen- deficient blood 41. “ say!” (contraction) 42. Norse god of mischief 43. DeLuise, actor 45. Dead, as an engine 49. Arthur Godfrey played it 50. Innocent 53. Doctor Who villainess, with “the” 54. Yogi’s sidekick 56. Cal. col. 58. “Concentration” pronoun 59. Tried by military law (2 wds) 63. The “A” of ABM 64. At some time later 65. Gift on “The Bachelor” 66. New newts 67. Blanched DOWN 1. Hodgepodge 2. Attraction 3. Worldwide 4. Blubber 5. Massenet opera 6. Stinger 7. Amazon, e.g. 8. Chinese dynasty from A.D. 386-556 9. Write a shared online journal 10. Along an inland body of water 11. Pigged out 12. Hounds 14. Dash 15. Cicatrix 18. Cast y” 23. Very brief bathing suit 25. One who accepts charges 26. Support, with “up” 29. Audition tape 31. Means of support 33. “Absolutely!” 35. Telekinesis, e.g. 36. Brood sullenly 37. Prepared foods intended to be eaten elsewhere 38. Formally surrender 39. Train’s lounge area (2 wds) 40. Lennon’s second wife (2 wds) 44. Cautioned against doing (contraction) 46. Spanish dish 47. Sick 48. Mottle-colored t-shirt 50. Bunk 51. “Where the heart is” 52. Entices 55. Cheese on crackers 57. cross 60. “ Maria” 61. Call, as a game 62. 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