by Linda Erbele
White County News
The Cleveland city council, following an executive session during its meeting April 14, unanimously approved an agreement to convey a small plot of land off Donald E. Thurmond Parkway to Grace of Georgia Developments, LLC, to provide access for the new development of a boutique hotel, assisted living facility, and medical office building. There will be no cost for the parcel to the developer.
As previously reported in the White County News, the Grace of Georgia development will be built off Underwood Farm Road, but access through Underwood Farm is by emergency only. The driveway to the buildings will be off Thurmond Parkway.
According to the motion made by Councilman Jeremy McClure, the size, shape and character of the parcel has no development possibility and use as access to the adjacent parcel is “the highest and best use of the property.”
The land for access is a portion of Tax Parcel No. 048A 079A. McClure added that conveying the property is in accordance with Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. 36-37-6(g), which authorizes the selling or conveying of parcels “so shaped or so small as to being incapable of being used independently”.
The motion included the provision that ownership of the parcel will revert to the city if construction of the access has not commenced by Dec. 1, 2028.
In other business, the city held a first reading and public hearing of its resolution 2025-15 to change the city council meetings to the first and third Mondays, beginning July 1. No one commented during the public hearing.
City administrator Kevin Harris encouraged all residents to join the city in celebrating Georgia Cities Week, April 21-27. The city will hold a kick-off for the week Monday, April 21 at Freedom Park, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free Kona Ice will be provided to all and the city’s new vehicles, purchased with SPLOST, grants and ARPA funding, will be on hand for viewing. The city’s newest fire truck will be there as well.