CLARKESVILLE — The Clarkesville City Council has two new members, and both are eager to begin their service to the city and build on its current momentum.
John Mitchell and Steven Ward were sworn in Monday to begin their four-year terms on the council. Mayor Barrie Aycock also was sworn in for another term.
“I’m honored to be asked to serve as a city councilman in Clarkesville,” Ward said. “I think they’ve been doing a fantastic job as it is, especially with the rebuild and bringing some extra business into downtown. I just hope to be able to take that momentum and help move it forward to use whatever abilities or skills that I have to tell about the city. That’s my main goal.”
Similarly, Mitchell hopes to help Clarkesville move forward.
“As a new resident to Habersham County, I’ve worked in Habersham County for five years, but I moved to Clarkesville three years ago,” Mitchell said. “I fell in love with the place just being up here, and I wanted to be able to contribute to the growth and potential that it has. I moved up here right after the fire, so I wasn’t here when that happened. I’ve seen some of the rebirth and growth, and I want to be able to promote that any way I can. I want to be a facilitator of that as much as possible as a member of the council.”
Additionally, Mitchell brings strengths in wastewater treatment operations and hopes he can use that knowledge to help the city.
“I know that’s always a challenge for small municipalities – infrastructure issues,” Mitchell said. “There are a lot of things I’m hoping to be able to bring to the table to help the city overall, because it’s a community where I live, and I want to live and have other people want to move here, too. We have a lot of competition up in this area, and I think we’re sitting in a good spot to really get in the mix with tourists as well.”
Also during Monday night’s meeting, Councilman Terry Gladden was elected to serve as mayor pro tem for 2018.
