Blairsville, GA – It’s been a long time coming, but the new five thousand square foot Blairsville Airport Terminal building is now a reality. Airport Manager John Hamler said a few finishing touches and delivery of some new furniture are all that’s left to do before the grand opening takes place in July.

The 157 acre Blairsville Airport (KDZJ) is operated by the City of Blairsville and is an FAA Level III facility with a 5005 foot long (1525.52 meters), 100 foot wide (30.48 meters) runway that can accommodate most general aviation aircraft, including small jets.

Along with the new terminal building, the Blairsville Airport will also be getting a 2,200 gallon Jet-A fuel truck to accommodate the increase in air traffic and to ensure the well being of aircraft by eliminating the necessity of having to tow planes to a fueling area. Hamler said that a broken wheel strut due to a towing mishap could cost the City of Blairsville up to six figures, which makes the $45,000 cost of the fuel truck well worth the money. Blairsville Airport also has 100 –low octane gasoline available. At this time, self-service is not available.

Hamler said that plans are currently in the works to widen the landing strip safety areas at both ends of the runway and to extend the length of the runway by 200’ (60.96 meters), which will make it 5205 feet long (1586.48 meters), just under one mile. Also planned is a taxi strip on the north side of the runway, which will allow planes to ‘back taxi’; that is, wait to take off at the same time other planes are landing. As it is now, planes must taxi down the runway before take-off, so airborne aircraft must fly in a holding pattern until the runway is clear. The City of Blairsville has contracted with Croy Engineering to make these improvements.

New terminal on L; Proposed taxi way between new terminal and runway.

New Blairsville GA Airport Terminal building – back side

Hamler said that pilots currently must rely solely on GPS to navigate to the Blairsville Airport, but that FLIR and ADSB II capabilities are coming soon. He said these navigation aids are more accurate and much more user friendly.

Old Blairsville Airport Terminal building.

Dassault Aviation FALCON 2000; about the largest jet KDZJ can accommodate.

Since the new terminal building is on the north side of the runway, the Blairsville Airport entrance will be directly across from the entrance to the Blairsville Walmart on Hwy 515. As it is now, the old terminal building is on the south side of the runway, so the current entrance is off of Old Blue Ridge Hwy (onto Airport Road). After the transition is made, aircraft owners will still have access to their hangers on the south side of the runway via a coded gate.

Blairsville, GA – The Blairsville City Council convened for their October Meeting on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 6 p.m. at Blairsville City Hall. Mayor Jim Conley, City Attorney David Barrett, City Clerk Kaye McCann and all City Council Members were present. Also attending were Department Heads Darren Harper (DDA), Otis Franklin (Water and Sewer), Jody Cook (Wastewater Treatment) and Blairsville Police Chief Johnny Carroll. Dick Mills, part owner of Nate’s Wings, Burgers, and Seafood and owner of 7M Family Farms, and, Wayne Tanner, Charlie Brown and Pete Barley of Blairsville Cruisers were also present.

Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley

Mayor Conley called for a Public Hearing for proposed Amended Sections 10-76(a), 10-76(b) and 10-79(n) of the Alcohol Ordinance (2017-03) regulating signage advertising or promoting alcohol sales. He opened the floor for comments. Mills asked, in light of other restaurants in the downtown Blairsville area that advertise alcohol sales, if the Council was now allowing same.

Conley replied that, no, they were addressing the issue. Mills conceded that he had not read the proposed Amended Ordinance and was not familiar with its limitations on restaurant owners. Conley closed the floor for comments and asked for a vote. The proposed Amendments were approved unanimously; however, McCann said later there may be further Amendments proposed so that the Blairsville City Alcohol Ordinance mirrors the Union County Alcohol Ordinance. Later in the Meeting Conley again opened the floor to Mills.

Dick Mills of Nate’s and 7M Family Farms

Mills asked why he was directed recently to remove a 2’ X 4’ free standing sign advertising Nate’s specials for the day that had been placed on a city sidewalk. He said other restaurant owners have, not just signs on city sidewalks, but tables with customers seated and wait staff running food. Mills said he felt this was not fair. Councilman Tony Dyer conceded that there were violations in town that needed attention. Conley and the Council assured Mills that his complaint would be considered and resolved.

Pete Barley, Wayne Tanner, Charlie Brown conversing with Darren Harper

Blairsville City Council

Conley recognized Brown of the Blairsville Cruisers for Public Comment. The Blairsville Cruisers raises money to help kids and needy families. Brown said his organization was concerned that the crowds on the Square were not nearly as big as crowds at the Farmers Market and asked whether the Mayor and the City Council was interested in them continuing to appear each month on the Square. He queried whether the downtown businesses might be interested in staying open on the evenings when the Cruise Ins are on the Square to attract more business and more donations. Conley and the Council all answered positively; that they had no desire for them to discontinue the monthly Cruise In on the Square. Harper added, in his Department Head Report, that there are plans for additional events after the Cruise Ins on the Square to attract a more diverse and grander crowd on those Saturday nights.

Regarding the Truck Ordinance, Conley reported it’s still a work in progress and that Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris is going ahead with plans to put a turn lane on Hwy 129 South at Shoe Factory Road. Conley observed that the real problem at that location is vehicles that want to turn onto Hwy 129 from Shoe Factory Road, especially those turning left off of Shoe Factory Road onto Hwy 129 South.

Department Head reports were as follows:

• Blairsville Police Department – Chief Carroll reported that there were several more truck route violations in September. He said this was due to independent truckers hauling water for hurricane relief getting misdirected through Blairsville to Cott Beverage. That aside, it was a quiet month in the City of Blairsville.
• Downtown Development Authority – Harper reported the next DDA Board Meeting will be held at City Hall at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 10th. Halloween on the Square will be on Tuesday, Oct. 31st this year. Harper said this is one of the biggest events on the Square in Blairsville next to Christmas and that the Square will be packed with merchants. Saturday, Oct. 21st the Blairsville Cruisers car show will be on the Square with an event planned after the Cruisers show, which ends at 7 p.m. He said the Christmas Parade will be on Dec. 3rd this year and that there will be a ‘kids’ event after the parade featuring Santa Claus and the ‘Christmas Cow’ sponsored by Chick-fil-A, among others.
• Water and Sewer Maintenance – Franklin reported that another of the buildings has opened up for occupancy at the Overlook Apartments behind Butternut Creek Shopping Center. A routine month in his department.
• Wastewater Treatment – Cook reported that there was an EPD inspection the previous week that passed with no points against them. He said that the controller for the SBR pump at the North Georgia Tech lift station malfunctioned and allowed the pump to run dry which ruined the motor. He said Pro Pump Solutions was called in to lift the burned up pump out and they dropped it back into the wet well causing more damage. But, he said, they will pay for the damage they caused. He said there is another SBR pump that needs attention, but it’s still under warranty.

Conley brought up the review of bids and estimates as follows:
• Airport – Camera System – $5,290 for a 2 megapixel system installed – Tabled for further investigation.
• Airport – 12,000 gallon Jet-A Fuel System and Foundation – Bidders:
o Laney Construction – concrete and wiring
o Rebel Services – concrete and wiring.
o Charles Noble – tank
• Water/Sewer Maintenance – Hydraulic Thumb (claw) for NH LB75B Backhoe – $7,100 – (Backhoe would need hydraulics installed for this piece of machinery) Approved. SPLOST
• Wastewater Tr. Plant – clean, inspect and repair North GA Tech Pump 1 – $11,981 – Approved. SPLOST
• Wastewater Tr. Plant – Upgrade controller at North GA Tech College – $5,980 – Approved. SPLOST
• City Paving Work – ASC Paving Division – $40,337.60 ($10,220 work, $30,117.60 asphalt) – Rogers St., Reed St., Hunt-Martin St., Young Harris St. – Approved. SPLOST

The November Blairsville City Council Meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 because Election Day 2017 will be Tuesday Nov. 7.

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