September 17 proclaimed Constitution Day in Union County

Community
Constitution Day

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Constitution Day will be observed on September 17th with Constitution Week to last until September 23rd.

“On this day in 1787, the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America. With this proclamation, we’re giving official recognition to this document and the anniversary of its signing,” read Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris from the proclamation. “I ask the citizens of Union County to reaffirm the ideas the framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian

of our liberties.”
Two members of the Sons of the American Revolution, Jared Ogden and James Cook, dressed in full regalia, received the proclamation from Commissioner Paris.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of the Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution President Jared Ogden expressed his appreciation, especially during these times.

L to R: Commissioner Lamar Paris, Jared Ogden, James Cook

“With the backlash against authority, against peace, against prosperity basically, we feel that reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Constitution are so critical, especially now,” said Ogden.

A school in Iowa first recognized Constitution Day in 1911, and in 1917, the Sons of the American Revolution began a committee to promote the holiday. The committee included President Calvin Coolidge, John D. Rockefeller, and General John Pershing as members.

In 1940, Congress created “I am American” Day, which was held on the third Sunday in May to celebrate citizenship. In 1952, Congress moved “I am American” Day to September 17th and renamed it Citizenship Day.

The present holiday came into being in 2004 as an amendment to a spending bill. It renamed Citizenship Day as Constitution and Citizenship Day. The law also mandates that all public schools and federal agencies offer programming on Constitutional history on that day.

https://youtu.be/bnXjsKfLaO4

Roadways become impassable during winter storm

Community, News

Blairsville, Ga. – Winter weather is taking its toll on our area and Union County is beginning to feel the brunt of the storm.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office is keeping citizens updated via Facebook and recently released a warning stating, “Roads in Union County are becoming impassable. There are several vehicles including tractor and trailers stuck in the roadway. Please stay off roads!!”

In neighboring Fannin County, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Robert Graham explained the situation, ““The pavement was wet when the snow started falling, so the wet areas on our roadways have turned to ice.”

Roads in Union County are experiencing a similar condition with ice being reported under the thick layer of snow.

Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris shared on Facebook, “Do not get on the highways. They are slick and dangerous.”

“It is foggy and the visibility is low and all highways are slick,” Paris continued emphasizing the importance of avoiding travel at the moment.

Paris urged people to not drive around  sightseeing and to wait for conditions to ease up.

Union County Fire/Rescue and EMA are also confirming that there are multiple accidents in the county and that several roadways are being shut down.

All Union County emergency services are asking citizens to remain home at the moment, unless absolutely necessary to get out, and allow crews and personnel time to address issues and to try to make the roadways safer for travel.

FYN will bring you updates on the winter weather throughout the day.

 

Featured Image Courtesy of FYN viewer Doug Brown.

Point to Point Environmental releasing remediated water into city sewer system

News
Point to Point Environmental

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Water treated by Point to Point Environmental from the county’s 2019 underground fuel tank leak will start going into Blairsville’s sewer system. This will continue for the foreseeable future until Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD) signs off on the remediation.

At the Jan. 7, 2020 city council meeting, Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris and Point to Point Environmental Representative Kevin Brown asked for the city to accept the treated water instead of shipping it to a holding tank elsewhere.

In 2019, an underground fuel tank began to leak at Union County’s maintenance facility and Point to Point was hired to clean up the contamination in the groundwater. An 18 feet deep, 50 feet long, and three feet wide trench is currently catching the water, which is then treated to meet EPD standards.

The fuel tanks provide gasoline or diesel to the sheriff’s office, fire department, county vehicles, and some city vehicles. The county already has new above-ground tanks installed at the maintenance center.
Initial costs for Union County were $30,000, but the state has a $1 million liability fund in place for potential fuel leaks.

“We come up with the $30,000 to start with, but in the end, we have no idea where it’s going to be related to that $1 million. Once that’s gone, the county will be responsible for all of it, so we’re looking to try and save as much money along the way as possible,” explained Paris.

Point to Point Environmental conducts regular tests on the water to measure contamination levels. The results from the previous test were clear, which is why the county would like to start putting the water into the city sewer. Approximately 2,500 gallons would go into the system twice a month. They also test the water twice a month.

“The water right now coming out is clean, and they anticipate that will remain, but extensive testing will be done along the way,” said Paris. “Point to Point Environmental would like to put the water into the sewer system because it would save them a lot of money, which in turn saves the county a lot of money.”

Council member Robert Moore asked, “When is [water remediation] done?”

Brown answered that once the remedial goal is met, submitted to the state, and the state gives approval, then the water would stop being pumped into the system. It could go on for one to two years. The county has offered to pay for a regular sewer tap for the duration of the remediation. The city can also install a water meter, so everyone knows the exact amount of water going into the city sewer.

Mayor Jim Conley stated, “You’ll have to come to the nearest manhole [to dump water].” He also confirmed pricing for the service. Point to Point Environmental and the county would pay standard rates like any other customer.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Jody Cook confirmed, “[It’s] no big issue for the plant.” It can easily handle the addition.

2020 budget increases approximately 14 percent, revenue also up

Featured Stories
2020 Budget

BLAIRSVILLE, GA – On Dec. 27, 2019, Commissioner Lamar Paris approved the 2020 operating budget and cited higher costs, insurance, and salaries as the reasons behind the almost 14 percent increase from 2019. However, the county’s also taken in more revenues to account for the growing budget.

“Something we work many months on preparing,” opened Paris. “Our goal is, and always has been, to keep our millage rate and tax rate as close as to what it is each year without raising the public’s taxes.”

It will cost $19,462,648 to operate Union County in 2020, and several departments are seeing a bump in budgets for various reasons.

Insurance costs have increased an average of $450,000 every year for the past four years. The county workforce is “getting a little bit older,” and medical care continues to go up every year.

Property and liability insurance have also risen roughly $50,000 in the last four years.

2020 budget

Revenues meet expenditures in 2020.

Board of Elections must purchase new all new voting equipment for 2020 because the entire state is switching to a new system. Voters will now receive a paper ballot after casting votes electronically to confirm their selections before leaving their voting precinct. The state is providing funds to cover the initial costs. Currently, no one knows the final expense for the additional security and machines. Overall, Elections received around $50,000 in additional funding for the new technology.

“It seems like every service in the county is going up because when you’ve got a good economy, everything costs more,” said Paris, “You’ve got to pay people to keep people.”

Asphalt prices went up to $11 per ton, and in 2019, Union purchased 9,300 tons of asphalt, resulting in another $100,00 from the budget.

Court costs also continue to go up – public defenders by $50,000; juvenile Court went up by $60,000; and district attorney’s office by $70,000.

Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) budget features of $500,000 increase for a total of $3,605,857.Most of the funds will go toward deputies’ salaries to prevent workers from leaving for higher jobs in other counties. Salaries have consistently risen over the last four years to keep the UCSO workforce.

“In Jan., UCSO is trading in their ten highest mileage 2018 Ford Explorers for ten 2020 Dodge Durangos. We’re in full compliance with that, and we understand that. I think that’s the best thing they could do, but again that’s more money. What we’re trying to [identify] is we can find the right vehicles and trade them on a year to two-year basis, which is something we’ve never been able to do before. We could get a cost of trade in as little as $2,000 to $4,000 trading in the vehicle and getting a brand new one the next year. Not sure how that’s all going to work, we’re in the process, but we’re having to pay the first time, this [year],” Paris explained the new vehicle trade process for the UCSO.

The 2020 budget doesn’t require the county to dip into the fund balance. Revenue equals expenditures for the year. The fund balance, as of now, has around two months in reserves. Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA) recommends county governments keep at least two months of regular operating revenues on hand to cover expenditures.

“We wouldn’t be able to do [everything] without more revenue coming in the last four years,” stated Paris. “We’d have to raise taxes so much without our revenues.”

In 2019, building permits are up $130,000; Title Ad Valorem increased by $310,000; real estate transfer rose by $35,000; LOST is up $300,000; transportation fares up by $10,000; and insurance premium increased by $400,000.

The 2020 budget doesn’t feature the U.S. Forestry permits for the new gun range. SPLOST, grants, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will help to fund the range. DNR offers a matching incentive to counties who open a gun range up to the public. This project is currently in the early stages, including determining the final cost.

2020 Commissioner Meetings Schedule Released

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BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The Union County Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meetings on the third Thursday of each month in 2020. It will take place at 6 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse located at 65 Courthouse Street, Blairsville, Ga 30512 in Courtroom A, unless otherwise posted.

The dates are as follows:

Jan. 16

Feb. 20

March 19

Apr. 16

May 21

June 18

July 16

Aug. 20

Sept. 17

Oct. 15

Nov. 19

Dec. 17

Meetings are open to the public and all interested parties are invited to attend. Individuals with disabilities and require certain accommodations in order to comfortably observe or participate in the meetings, please contact the County Clerk at 706.439.6000 to allow Union County to make reasonable accommodations.

2020 Budget Hearing to be held on Dec. 23

Announcements, Police & Government, Press Release
2020 budget

UNION COUNTY, Ga – Commissioner Lamar Paris invites citizens a public hearing concerning the 2020 budget on Dec. 23, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. in the Union County Courthouse.

Everyone’s invited to attend and offer opinions on the 2020 fiscal year. Here’s a PDF view of the proposed budget: Copy of 2020 Proposed Budget-Public Hearing Notice and Called Meeting

2020 budget

Copy of proposed 2020 budget which totals at $19,462,648.

Currently, Union County has proposed a $19,462,648 budget to cover operating costs for the coming year. However, this number could change before final approval.

Another public hearing concerning the transfer of land will be held beforehand at 4 p.m. at the courthouse as well. The county will be transferring surplus property to the Union County Development Authority. The land is property on Young Harris Street in the City of Blairsville also known as Old Fort Sorghum. Please send your comments either in the mail or email on the unioncountyga.gov site.

On Dec. 27, 2019 at 4:30 p.m., a called meeting will take place to adopt the budget and approve the transfer of property resolution.

 

GDOT Purchases Land to Widen Hwy. 515

Police & Government
515

Blairsville, Ga – Commissioner Lamar Paris discussed purchase and settlement with GDOT to expand Hwy. 515/76 between Blairsville and Young Harris.

The widening of Hwy 515 from Blairsville to Young Harris took another step forward with GDOT officially purchasing Land Lots 269 and 270 for $450,000. The 1.264 acres runs along Hwy. 515 and to the right of the Farmer’s Market.

“This county property purchased almost two years ago as part of the Davenport property, and some of it happened to be a really nice piece right on the highway,” stated Paris, “I think we bought 11 acres for $767,000 give or take 10 or 20K.”

Commissioner Lamar Paris spoke on GDOT’s plan to widen 515 from Blairsville to Young Harris.

Paris also bestowed 0.076 acres at the Glenn Gooch By-Pass and Hwy. 515 intersection to GDOT for the road expansion. He explained the donation was a thank you to GDOT for their speedy work and assistance with the Farmer’s Market Way Road.

“We really hated to lose this one acre right on the highway, but it really reduced the amount of money we had in [initial purchase],” said Paris.

The initial purchase of the property came from the General Fund, and once the settlement comes through the $450,000 will transfer back into that account.

County Improvements

Additionally, Paris addressed improvements ongoing throughout the county.

The parking lot for the new recreation center complex on the Glenn Gooch By-Pass is near completion, and building construction should begin within the next 30 days.

“We’re beginning construction of Pickleball courts,” explained Paris, “We’re finally adding eight pickleball courts behind the Health Department. We began the grading, and we’ll have a specialty company come in to pave the surface because it has to be too exacting standards.”

New addition and pad for Fire Station completed.

Curb on Pat Colwell Rd expanded and Roads Department working on roads around the county.

“Our Road Department is completing patching miles and miles of county roads and will begin resurfacing some of those and paving others. We hope to have complete in 45 days,” Paris said.

New Meek’s Park sign installed and active along Hwy. 515.

New Meeks Park sign up and running for Union County residents.

“It’s pretty awesome. Landscaping will be finished next week. This will be an electronic sign, aside from being big and impressive looking, it will really be able to give information to the public,” stated Paris.

Union County $2.2M Over Budget in 2018

News, Police & Government
2020 Budget

Blairsville, Ga – Union County went $2.2M over budget in 2018 due to unexpected health care costs and rises in service expenses.

Auditors advised the amending of the 2018 budget after expenditures exceeded expectations for the year. The total operating budget for 2018 amounted to $18,908,000.

Several areas of the operating budget experienced higher costs than anticipated, but the biggest expense was health insurance.

“Our medical insurance went up $569,000 last year, completely out of the blue,” stated Commissioner Lamar Paris, “we’re working hard this year to get that cut back, working with our employees, try to work on healthy habits, where they go to the doctor, when they do to the doctor, and increasing employee costs.”

The county also hired a new online doctor, where they can talk to a doctor at any time.

“It’s a benefit to our employees and hopefully our bottom line too,” said Paris.

Aside from health insurance, other departments/offices that went over were general administration by $167,391, sheriff’s office by $563,356, jail by $143,668, and fire department at $172,950.

General Administration included repair and maintenance, and SPLOST can’t provide funds.

Budget UC 2018

Overview of 2018 operating budget.

“We redid a whole section of the courthouse roof,” explained Commissioner Paris, “We try to use SPLOST wherever we can for any capital improvements, but on a repair, we can’t do that. The roof was $37,000 over budget. Contract labor was $20,000 over budget.”

The Sheriff’s office experienced a host of costs increases just like other county offices.

“Salaries were up $173,000 and that’s happening because sheriff’s deputies and all other counties, everybody’s going up and when one goes up, they all go up. So their deputies want more money or they’ll go to that county. It’s a real tough thing how you balance what the pay is and what the pressure is coming from other places,” stated Paris.

The county and Sheriff Mack Mason came together to find a number that satisfied deputies, but the expense didn’t factor into the initial budget. Uniforms, vehicle repairs, vehicles, and supplies also caused the overages. Capital assets and some SPLOST covered part, but not all of the costs.

Jail also raised salaries, which accounted for $82,000, and paid $10,000 in overtime.

Fire department went over due to salaries and buying a new ladder truck for the county.

“Had a couple of guys that drove all over the Southeast looking at fire trucks,” said Paris, “finally, found one that we bought for $93,000. It’s eight years old with 30,000 miles on it. The company that sold it to us completely went over it and redid it. We never had a ladder truck, and we needed one a long time.”

Typically, ladder trucks cost around $1M-plus for brand new trucks. Also, the fire department started new training procedures and developed new facilities to teach firemen how to carry people out of a fire.

County also hired a public defender to speed up the trial process for inmates to lessen jail expenses from 2017. Last year, inmate cost was $118,000, and this year, it’s $19,000 due to the new public defender.

Revenues and property tax collection exceeded the budget by $150,000, charges for services exceed by $277,000, sale of capital assets exceeded by $400,023, and $1.5M of fund balance was used.

The fund balance equalizes expenses over revenues, and the $1.5M is less than last year. Hopefully, by next year,

everything will equal out, and the fund balance won’t be needed.

Contract Agreements

The hospital’s helicopter service, provided by Air budgeMethods Corporation, was renewed in a contract that runs through May 31, 2019. The county agreed to pay half of $76,765.00 to continue the service. It’s an increase from last year because initially, the company wanted to pull out of the area. It will not exceed that amount, and Union General will pay the other half.

“When you go over there and look at the helipad and think that in little Union County,” Paris marveled, “that no matter what happens you can be flown to wherever the emergency room is that you need to go to, just to have that available, we never ever had that available until ten years ago.”

Legacy Link, the service that helps run the senior center, and the county renewed its contract for the fiscal year 2020 for $95,000 as well as a commitment letter for $11,450.00.

Construction Starting on New Rec Center and Finishing on Farmer’s Market

Community, News
public hearings millage rate courthouse Qualifying meetings state of emergency property

Blairsville, Ga – Commissioner Lamar Paris approved the contract with BM&K Construction to build the new Union County Recreation Center.

The facility will include a double gym and will be located next to the Health Department. Construction on the recreation center should be completed by March 10, 2020. The contracted amount for the facility is $3,320,00.00

“It’s going to be a beautiful facility, and the contractor should start right away. We’re excited about that,” said Commissioner Lamar Paris.

Commissioner Paris speaks to all the construction projects going on in the county.

Also, the new entrance to the Farmer’s Market will be opening soon, hopefully by the June 1 opening of the Farmer’s Market. The pavements complete, and striping still needs to be finished.

“Department of Transportation has to come and make the three-way light a four-way light at the by-pass intersection and 515, explained Paris, “They’ve assured us that they will let us know that they thought with a two-week notice that they can get it done.”

Additionally, the county approved a resolution to reapply for a non-operational Army Tank through the Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command for display at the Leon Davenport’s Building. It’s the third time that the county has applied for a tank.

“We’ve been totally frustrated for five years solid, and the gentleman who started the process just died a few months ago. We’re very sad about that and we’re trying to increase our efforts, go our congressman and maybe go down to the army depot to find out why we’re not being considered for a tank,” said Paris.

Union County adopts April as Child Abuse Proclamation

Featured Stories, News
commissioner construction projects

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.- Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris greeted each person in the audience at the Union County Courthouse with a handshake before taking his place at the podium to begin the meeting on March 21, 2019.

He made a correction to the February 21 meeting minutes to read “the new access road from Highway 515 to Panther Way.” It was erroneously stated by the Commissioner as “the new access road from Highway 515 to School Circle”.

Paris then introduced Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Executive Director Linda D’Angelo

D’Angelo approached the Commissioner’s Office to obtain his signature on a proclamation claiming April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley was not able to be at the meeting, but met with Paris earlier in the day to place his signature on the proclamation.

Paris signed the document with D’Angelo watching. A round of applause was heard throughout the audience.

In two other items of business, Paris mentioned a contract was made between the County and Hayes, James and Associates for Groundwater and Methane Monitoring for the Union County Transfer Station (Advanced Disposal Services) located on Deep South Farm Road. The monitoring will ensure methane levels are minimized and ground waters are not damaged.

Hall, Booth, Smith, P.C. has signed a contract with Union County to provide legal services. The firm is “a full-service law firm with six regional offices strategically located throughout Georgia: Albany, Athens, Brunswick, Columbus, and Tifton.”

The Commissioner’s Office granted Painted Bunting LLC a business license.

Paris concluded the meeting at 6:17 p.m stating he needed to be in another meeting at 7.

The next Commissioner’s meeting will be on April 18, 2019.

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Commissioner Paris: ‘It could have been so much worse!’

News

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris convened the January commissioner’s meeting Jan. 18, 2018, at 6 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse.

Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris

In his commissioner’s comments, Paris, referring to the winter weather and extremely low temperatures that plagued Union County this week, said, “As difficult as this has been, it could have been so much worse”. Paris said, incredulously, there was not one structure fire (only a very few chimney fires) and there were a great many automobile mishaps, but no serious injuries associated with any of them.

The commissioner recognized and thanked the Blairsville City and Union County agencies and their personnel that braved the snow and cold: the Blairsville Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Union County Road Department. Paris said there was one hiker up on the Appalachian Trail in Suches that called in at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday morning requesting assistance. He was told, said Paris, since it was not a life or death emergency, to either shelter in place or that a team would meet him at the trail exit. The hiker managed to find his way out on Wednesday morning, Paris said.

Paris approved Resolution R-2018-01 setting the qualifying fees for the 2018 Election as required by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 21-2-131. That fee, he said, is set at $108 per candidate. Paris said the only seats up for election in May are three Union County Board of Education seats.

The commissioner approved Resolution R-2018-02 amending the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia 401 (a) Defined Contribution Plan for Union County Employees. As discussed in the July 2017 commissioner’s meeting, this amendment increases the matching percentage the county pays out to employees who participate in the 401 (a)/ 457 (b) employee savings program (similar to a 401 (k)). This plan will go into effect in February 2018. A defined contribution plan limits any liability to Union County for future retirement benefits, as opposed to a defined benefit program, which does entail future liability.

Paris approved a Shared Well Water and Easement Agreement between Rachel L. Hancock, Worley E. Scogin (by Rebecca J. Scogin), and Rebecca J. Scogin for access to a well located on Union County property. There will be no cost to either party, said Paris. The property, he said, is located at Union County Fire Station 12 in Choestoe on Highway 180. Paris said a verbal agreement had existed for years and this written Agreement makes it official.

A business license for Cathy Brackett Rental was approved by Paris.

 

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Union Reappraising Land and Homes Values Per State Guidelines

News, Police & Government
reappraising land

Blairsville, Ga – Union County to begin reappraising property values due to sales of homes and property far outpacing actual lvalue with assistance from an outside organization.

Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions (GMASS) and Union County entered into a contract for the organization to handle the bulk of the reappraisals for $620,000 and went into effect on April 24, 2019.

“GMASS will provide Union County updated pricing schedules and inventories of real property by performing field inspections of all properties in the county,” Commissioner Lamar Paris explained.

Lamar Paris

Commissioner Paris explains the reasoning behind reappraising land and homes in the county.

Paris outlined the reasoning for reappraising 22,000 land parcels, citing county falling behind in the state set sales ratio of 40.

The appraisal office staff will remain the same size with maybe one additional hire. The reappraisal will ensure everyone pays their fair share in property taxes. However, it does not affect the actual property tax going up or down, but the millage rate.

Paris clarified, “Usually, the millage rate will decrease once values are reappraised, and values are low like they are now. If they raise your value, that means the millage rate should drop because we’ll need X number of tax dollars, whether we have a reappraisal or whether we don’t.”

Each year Georgia conducts a sales ratio study across each county, which compares the appraised/assessed value of a property. If a home’s appraised for $100,000, then it’s assessed for $40,000. The $40,000 represents the taxed amount.

In other words, the assessed value bases property taxes on the 40 percent.
A sales ratio of 40 percent is considered fine by the state. Once it starts dropping below, then the state begins penalizing counties.

“For the past few years, sales of homes and property in many cases is far outpacing the appraised value,” Paris stated, “when we had the recession everything was good as far as our appraisals go, really all the way up to 2015.”

For two years, Union County’s sales ratio was 37.8 percent, which triggers a levy on property taxes on utilities. Right now, Union can’t receive $30,00-$40,000 from power companies because of the low sales ratio.

2003 marked the last time Union County underwent the reappraisal process. It takes two years minimum, so the tax year of 2021 should have everything assessed.

“In 2015, our ratio was 40.6 percent, and in 2018, it was down to 37.8, and we anticipate it to be lower next year,” stated Paris.

Last Chance to Publicly Voice Concerns about New Gun Range

Community, News
weapons carry class

Blairsville, Ga – Proposed gun range on Hwy. 180 close to moving ahead in the process if the final public hearing on May 30 goes well.

The May 30 public hearing will take place at the Civic Center at 6:00 p.m. and will be the last required hearing for the public to attend and voice concerns about the new gun range.

“We’re making steady progress on the gun range on Hwy. 180,” said Commissioner Lamar Paris, “Similar to the range in Towns County, but much better and much different range. We’re now going through the process with the Forest Service, and they’re conducting their environmental studies.”

The Forest Service wants a third public hearing to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to come forward to learn about the project.

Blue Ridge District Manager for the Forest Service Andy Baker and Union County Sheriff Mack Mason will direct the meeting. They will give their presentation and field any questions attendees might have about the gun range.

Sheriff Mason will speak at the gun range hearing. Courtesy of UC Sheriff’s Office.

After this hearing, the public can file questions with the Commissioner’s Office and the Blue Ridge Forestry service.

“Sheriff Mason’s been the park behind the gun club, getting it organized, finding a sufficient property, and working with the Forest Service. All the tests out there have been positive so far, said Paris.

Another public hearing will be held on May 23 at 4:30 at the Union County Courthouse about transferring the surplus property on Hwy. 515. This property was originally purchased for a shotgun range, but environmental studies and growth of residential property has deemed it unsuitable. The hearing will discuss transferring the property to the development authority because the county can’t sell it.

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