JAN. 6, 2014 - BLAIRSVILLE - By Norm Cooper The Blairsville City Council first meeting on 2015 featured a full house of elected and appointed officials and a sparse crowd, including only one member of the media, that being with the Union County GA Magazine. Interesting listed under Old Business was the item “City Charter”, an item listed month-after-month-after-month year-after-year-after-year with no action. There is usually the standard remark of “it’s a work in progress” but no indication of what that progress is. No action or discussion was taken on that item on Tuesday. Various council members assume the role of liaison with various departments annually. Continuing into 2015 those are: Rhonda Mahan Police Department; Betty Easter Airport; Tony Dyer Streets/Sidewalks; Martha Cone Historical Society; Buddy Moore Water/Sewer. Moore continues as Mayor Pro-Tempore. The council must yearly approve appointments. Continuing their duties are City Clerk Janice Gratton, Superintendent of Elections Janice Gratton, City Attorney Janna Davenport Akins, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Program Manager Darren Harper, and City Council representative Rhonda Mahan to the DDA board. Housekeeping measures included authorizing Gratton to advertise the November 2015 election with items required by state law, approving intergovernmental agreements with the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and the Downtown Development Authority. The council extended the yearly $5,000 donation to the public library and extended a contract with Randy Day of Union County Government for Erosion and Sediment Enforcement. Chip McGaughey of EMI (contracted city engineers) presented a list of potential items for the Water Treatment Plant upgrades. The cost of the entire list is estimated to be about $1.6 million. Most items for the plant can be paid through Special :Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, of which approximately a half million dollars will be available. Items ranged from “needed soon” to “need at some point”. A list of priorities will be created and presented at a future meeting. The council approved a variety of occupational tax certificates and sign permits for businesses locating inside the city limits. (The county government has no such requirements. The only businesses needing a license in the unicorporated area of the county are accommodations style businesses.) A presentation by an air med transport service had two plans: One plan for city full time employees with the city government picking up the tab, and another plan for property owners who actually live in the city, which would benefit very few. Business owners and residents who rent are not eligible. Discussion was tabled with no action. Union County Sheriff Mack Mason thanked the city council for the cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office, City Police Department and City Council Government. (See more posted later this week). Mayor Jim Conley chaired the meeting. See current and past issues of Union County GA Magazine at https://unioncountymag. The only publication distributed in Union County with ALL Issues, ALL Content, ALL Advertisers, ALL the Time On Line.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 03:49:52 +0000
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