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Goldtown Hiram Business Association outlines events plan, seeks city coordination on signs and sponsorship
Summary
A representative of the Goldtown Hiram Business Association told the council the group has about $22,000 and plans a Taste of Hiram event; discussion with city staff highlighted limitations on city sponsorship and potential need to amend the sign ordinance for a donated lit 'Hiram' sign.
HIRAM, Ga. — Tyrone, representing the Goldtown Hiram Business Association, updated the Hiram City Council on the group's event-planning and marketing work and asked the council to coordinate on signage and sponsorship rules.
Tyrone told the council the association received a check and now has about $22,000 in the bank. The association is testing marketing approaches (mail drops, billboards and yard signs), plans a "Taste of Hiram" event on March 29 in Old Downtown Hiram, and is considering Easter photo-op displays and other pop-up signage to promote downtown activity. "We're testing the effectiveness of a mail drop versus billboard versus other things," Tyrone said.
Council staff and a council member discussed logistics and limits on city involvement. Staff said the city can pay for or provide an event planner or promotional advertising but — based on recent guidance the city received from the state — cannot directly sponsor an event in the same way it might have in prior years. A staff speaker said if council desired a donated lit "Hiram" sign downtown, she would need particulars to determine whether it complies with the sign ordinance and, if it does not, the council could consider amending the sign ordinance (a process requiring public hearings).
Tyrone said the association would provide designs for review and requested that the city and the association "sit down" to develop a schedule and pre-approval process for events. The council and staff encouraged a meeting to review proposed event layouts and sign designs before any installation.
Separately during staff comments the council was told Camp Pointe registration had reached roughly 50% capacity after a few business days of registration, and the city noted a town hall planned for Friday and other upcoming community events. The council did not take formal action on the association's requests at the March 4 meeting but agreed to meet with association leaders and review proposals.
