City discusses sewer update and local potential hazard

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Blairsville Sewer

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The state fiscal recovery grant would assist in extending city sewer toward the Blairsville Movie Theater and bowling alley.

Currently, $250 million is on the table for municipalities to apply for by October 31.

The extension could cost around $2,282,000. It would begin around Rib County and include a pump station around the bowling alley area. A gravity sewer setup would also be necessary.

The city could have to match the grant and $250,000 has been discussed. If the city doesn’t receive the grant, they don’t pay out any money.

Councilmember Mary Ruth Cook asked how many people would benefit from the extension. Mayor Jim Conley stated those at the bowling alley, movie theater, Victoria’s Attic, and along the road would benefit. The possibility of sewer branching off further could be an option later.

The extension would be 10,000 feet or around a mile and a half.

Existing water lines in the area must be moved as well once the widening of Hwy. 515 begins. The state’s assisting with that process.

Everyone voted in favor of applying for the grant.

411 Hwy. 515 Potential Hazard

Councilmember Tony Dyer opened the commentary, “Does anyone disagree with me that it’s a dangerous hazard area. It looks like to me could possibly be a health issue. Last, an obvious eyesore.”

Conley agreed with him and had asked City Attorney David Barrett what they could do about the issue.

Blairsville does have a nuisance ordinance and the general state nuisance ordinance.

“Whether it’s an endangerment to people, whether it’s unsightly, unseemly, those sorts of things for a community if you’re going to enforce it by nuisance. Now, nuisance is something that goes through state law as a Superior Court law,” Barrett explained.

The city ordinance also includes that the city judge under municipal court can enjoin the superior court injunction and have a $1,000 per day fine for the violation.

Barrett recommended trying to amicably resolve the issue.

The owner of the property, and city council candidate, Frank Pack was in attendance. He stated he cleaned the entire property himself and no debris was left.

“Y’all are real smart and know all these things that everybody can do. There is no help out there. You can’t just say, ‘you gonna half to do this.’ Well, that’s great, but who’s going to do this?” Pack asked.

He said the only thing left on the property was the floor to cover the basement.

Cook asked about the air conditioning unit and truck motor on the property.

Councilmember Robert ‘Buddy’ Moore commented that debris was left on the property.

“There’s a stack of 2x10s on that concrete pad,” Pack confirmed.

Dyer and Moore added at the end of the discussion that the amicable agreement didn’t appear possible.

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