County Commissioner's Office

County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner

Q.   We have seen some clearing on the East side of Highway 515 near the airport and Kiutuestia  Rd (K Road).  Has Wal-Mart started construction?
A.  No.  This is the Airport Terminal Road that is under construction.  We received a county contract from the Georgia Department of Transportation to build this road.  This means that because we have SPLOST, we are able to pay for our portion of this road project.  However,  the vast majority of the funding is coming from GDOT. 

Q. What is Airport Terminal Road  going to access?
A.  As the name implies, this road will eventually lead to the new airport terminal area located across the runway from the current terminal.

Q. Does the road have other uses other than access to the airport terminal?
A.  Absolutely.  This is one case when we were able to get three for the price of one.  First, it will provide access to the newly graded airport terminal area.  The fifteen acre pad was virtually land locked.  When the airport receives their funding, they will begin building a new terminal area at this location.  Having direct access to the airport and signage off Hwy 515 will be a tremendous asset.

Second, this new road will provide access to over 30 acres of property already owned by the Union Development Authority that was land locked by Lake Nottely lake bed and Coosa Creek environmental preserve, just outside the lake bed. With only a limited amount of grading,  new industrial sites will be available at a very nominal cost.

Third and most importantly, the edges of this roadway will be the location of the new water and sewer lines.   

Q. Why was it necessary to extend the water and sewer lines?
A.  The new utility line extensions  will access the new airport terminal and  the new industrial sites.  These utility extensions are also necessary to access the Wal-Mart site should they decide to build along Hwy 515. 

Q.  What is the latest on Wal-Mart? Are they coming? (This is the most often asked question I receive.)
A.  Everything is still progressing  positively and we are getting closer to their reaching a final decision.  The real estate closing for the property has been delayed yet again, but we should know something for sure within thirty to forty-five days whether this project is going to happen or whether the decision could be further delayed.  Five more Wal-Mart projects in Georgia have been put on hold recently, but so far we are not on that list.

If you have any questions please email me at unioncounty@uniongov.com, call 706-439-6000 or write to 114 Courthouse St., Blairsville, GA 30512. Lamar Paris, Commissioner.

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