Blairsville City Council closes rental properties to fight COVID-19

Community, Health, News
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BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a special emergency meeting held on April 2, 2020, Blairsville City Council unanimously approved the closure of city rental properties for the next 28 to 30 days and issued a shelter in place order for city residents.

The city council and mayor took these actions in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 within Blairsville, Union County, and the North Georgia mountains. On April 1, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced he would sign an executive order for a statewide shelter in place to last until April 13.

From the ordinance:

“The City of Blairsville is closing to all tourists and leisure visitors. Effective immediately, no lodging establishment shall accept reservations until further notice, including extension to current reservations. Effective Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., all hotels, short term (as defined as less than 28 days) vacation rentals, and other transient rentals to include marinas, RV parks, campgrounds, Airbnb, VRBO, rental cabins, rental homes and time shares shall cease renting to tourists for 30 days. This ban shall not apply to rentals to transitory military personnel, first responders, health care workers, construction workers actively engaged in projects in the City or in Union County, City employees and contractors engaged in essential City services and others engaged in formal business in the City of Blairsville.”

See entire ordinance here: Ordinance 2020-02

The North Georgia mountains and communities like Blairsville have experienced an influx of out-of-towners since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Georgia. Many from the metro-Atlanta area have tried to escape the virus by visiting second homes or hiking on the weekends. Local county commissioners asked the United States Forest Service (USFS) to close the Appalachian trailheads, and USFS has done so.

Orange Cones were also placed by GDOT along Neel’s Gap to prevent tourists from parking along the road and walking any trails. Georgia Forestry Service received direction to keep a closer eye on park-goers, not permitting groups larger than ten to congregate.

City council declared a state of emergency on March 25, 2020, which banned large public gatherings, closed on-premise dining and several non-essential businesses. Essential businesses are defined according to Union County’s first amendment in its state of emergency.

Non-essential businesses, not previously listed, are asked to close, work remotely, and at a minimum practice social distancing under the shelter in place directive.

No curfew was put in place at this time.

Mayor Jim Conley did state that the council could always come back and make the ordinance stronger if necessary. The city can make an ordinance stronger than the impending order from the governor, but not lesser.

Councilmember Tony Dyer made the motion to approve the ordinance. Councilmember Betty Easter seconded it and members Rhonda Mahan and Mary Ruth Cook also voted in favor of the ordinance. Buddy Moore was absent.

 

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