Qualifying fees set, multi-unit development moratorium extended

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Qualifying fees have been set for Union County’s 2020 elections through a consent agenda meeting on Jan. 20.

The qualifying fees are as follows:

• Commissioner – $2,918
• Tax Commissioner – $1,492
• Clerk of Superior Court – $1,492
• Magistrate Judge – $1,492
• Probate Judge – $1,492
• Sheriff – $1,492
• County Coroner – $155
• County Surveyor – $54
• Board of Education – $108

FYN is awaiting confirmation on the qualifying dates.

Emergency Moratorium on Multi-family Unit Developments

The moratorium enacted on Aug. 6, 2019 was extended for 120 days from Dec. 4, 2019. The county is working with Georgia Mountains Regional Commission to establish wording for an ordinance and are waiting for this is be completed.

New Purchasing Manual

A new purchasing manual was approved that establishes purchasing policies and procedures for all departments and offices under Union County government. It went into effect on Jan. 21 and supersedes all previous instructions and policies. The new manual was needed to improve and update policies.

Firefighter Property Program (FFP) Cooperative Equipment

The FFP agreement between the Georgia Forestry Commission and Union County government was approved on Jan 20.  The 5-year arrangement allows for local fire departments to use surplus military equipment for fighting fires and emergency services. Administrative fees will be $100 per transaction for non-titled property and $200 per transaction for titled property.

Also, the 2019 Local Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) of $13,033 was accepted with a 50 percent match for the Union County Fire Department.

Public Defender Services

Union County along with Towns, Lumpkin, White, and the Public Defender Office of the Enotah Judicial Circuit have entered into an Indigent Defense Services agreement. The cost to Union is $113,526.70 for 2019-2020. Additionally, Union has committed an extra $20,000 to have a public defender assigned to the county five days a week.

Warranty Deeds

The 9.502 acres of surplus property located on Hwy. 515 East was officially transferred to the Union County Development Authority. The deed was dated June 20, 2019.

The settlement statement and warranty deed of the 12.009 acres, used for soccer fields, confirmed the purchase of the property for $150,000. The fields will continue to be used for soccer fields and MUSA will make updates to the fields.

A quitclaim deed was also issued for the tract or parcels of land lying in land lots 285, 286, and 291 in the 9^th district, 1^st section of Union County, so the road department can begin servicing the road Madeline Way. When the subdivision was developed, it was agreed that if the road leading up to the subdivision was built to county specifications it would become a county road. However, the developer never contacted the county, so now the estimated 1.44 acres needed to quitclaimed to follow through with the agreement.

A consent agenda was necessary for the January commission meeting due to the Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris feeling under the weather during the regularly scheduled time.