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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21,2018 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com
Honestly Local
Gainesville may sell Engine 209 land
Realty company health system top potential buyers list
BY MEGAN REED
mreed@gainesvilletimes.com
The city of Gainesville hopes to
sell the land at the intersection of
Jesse Jewell Parkway and West
Academy Street, the site of Engine
209 Park, and relocate the historic
train, with the goal of redevelop
ing the land and spurring addi
tional downtown growth.
The Gainesville Redevelop
ment Authority voted to take over
the 1.7-acre city-owned property
at its meeting Thursday. The
Gainesville City Council voted
unanimously Tuesday to hand the
land over to the redevelopment
authority.
State law allows municipalities
to create development authorities
that purchase, lease and dispose of
property and can accept and apply
for grants and loans to improve
properties. Gainesville created its
authority in 1999.
Municipalities themselves are
required to take the highest bid
der when selling land, but devel
opment authorities have more
flexibility with land sales.
“We don’t just want the per
son who will pay the most for the
property. We want the best quality
development, especially for such
an important piece of property
downtown,” city spokeswoman
Nikki Perry said.
The authority is offering the
Engine 209 site to the Northeast
Georgia Health System for $1.2
million as part of an agreement
reached when the city took over
the health system’s contract
for the land at 110 Jesse Jewell
Parkway, on the midtown end of
Gainesville’s pedestrian bridge.
Cara Mitchell, the secretary
for the authority, said Thursday
she would recuse herself from
the matter because her law firm,
Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard &
Walker, represents the health
system.
■ Please see ENGINE, 9A
Decorated cop
resigns after
DUI arrest
County solicitor reviewing
officer’s pending cases
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
A Gainesville Police Officer who had been
awarded for DUI arrests and occupant safety viola
tions in the past was charged with DUI in Novem
ber. He resigned that week, and
Hall County Solicitor General
Stephanie Woodard is now review
ing some of his pending cases.
“We are reviewing any cases in
which he would be a witness for
the state, but it is not a circum
stance that would affect his cred
ibility as far as the truthfulness of
the word of that officer,” Woodard
said.
Adam Blake Davis, 30, of Cornelia, was charged
with DUI and speeding by the Hall County Sheriff’s
Office Nov. 10.
A deputy stopped his 1995 Dodge Ram truck at
1:21 a.m. on Interstate 985 northbound near Exit 8.
■ Please see DUI, 8A
Davis
Former candidate
charged with
insurance fraud
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Wil
liams was charged with insurance fraud and false
report of a crime by a Hall County
grand jury Tuesday.
Williams, who also served as a
state senator from Forsyth County,
faced three charges after an inves
tigation by the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation.
Northeastern Judicial Circuit
District Attorney Lee Darragh
confirmed Williams was indicted,
saying he had received the case a
few weeks ago.
Williams did not immediately return a request for
comment.
■ Please see FRAUD, 8A
Cops, kids, Christmas smiles
AUSTIN STEELE I The Times
Gainesville Police officer Chase Fears helps Carter Jordan, 8, right, find out the price of a toy during Shop with a Cop at
Walmart in Gainesville on Thursday, Dec. 20. Each child was given $200 to spend on whatever they wanted.
Gainesville Police’s annual event helps 25 local families
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
Amid the frantic holiday shopping
Dec. 20, Officer Chase Trammell
detailed the finer points of “Battlefield
V” versus “Fortnite” with Blake Jor
dan in the Gainesville Walmart, as the
12-year-old tried to decide how to spend
his $200.
“When I’m not working and not deal
ing with my 4 year old, I’m playing
Xbox,” Trammell said.
Trammell worked to get Blake
squared away with all his
video game wants as Gaines
ville Police celebrated its 16th
annual “Shop with a Cop.”
The event served 25 fami
lies with a final price tag of
roughly $5,200 over two days of
shopping.
It was a bittersweet afternoon
for Chief Carol Martin, who will
be retiring next year and handing the
reins to Deputy Chief Jay Parrish.
“It’s sad, but I’m having a good time. I
enjoy watching the kids run around try
ing to figure out what they’re
going to get,” said Martin,
who assumed command of the
department in 2014.
Manning the cart through
the video game section, Martin
helped a young shopper along
with her officers.
“It’s the last one, and every
one knows she loves Christ
mas,” Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said, who
took up bagging and checkout duties as
■ Please see COP, 8A
Martin
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Lake Lanier level: 1,070.19 feet
Full pool 1,071. Down 0.12 feet in 24 hours
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Account
Manager
706-905-9072
1766 Cleveland Highway
Gainesville, GA 3050
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