Development Authority pays off streetlight debt, still weighs who covers future costs

In April 2025 the Habersham County Development Authority considered continuing an existing streetlight billing arrangement at the Airport Business Park, which carried a $19,000 installation balance. Members voted 6-0 to table the item until Jim Butterworth and Mike Franklin could meet with the City of Baldwin.

At the June 12, 2025 meeting, members discussed the risk of turning the $19,000 streetlight installation balance over to business park property owners, noting that if those owners defaulted, HEMC would be out the money. The board tabled the matter by consensus (6-0) until July.

The item was tabled again at the July 10 meeting (5-0, until August) and the August 14 meeting (6-0, until September), with no resolution reached.

On September 11, 2025, the Development Authority voted 6-0 to have Patti McLarty obtain the payoff amount for the streetlight hardware and installation from HEMC and process the invoice for payment. The same meeting noted unpaid common-expense balances owed by business park tenants, including $447.90 from Don Higgins and $268.84 from Wade Rhodes.

By November 13, 2025, the $19,000 balance owed to HEMC for the streetlight installation had been paid. In June 2026, the authority reported it had spent roughly $47,000 total on the streetlight installation and continues to pay HEMC a monthly bill of $165, with members discussing future maintenance and who should be responsible for the ongoing cost.