County Commissioner's Office

County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner

These questions were asked in the March 7th issue of the North Georgia News in the Viewpoint section:

Q. Should revenue collection just happen to exceed budget, which I believe is the case, what will be done with the excess money?  Will such funds be held and applied toward the following year’s budget, or will any surplus be treated as found money, and thus disbursed as the commissioner sees fit?
A. It would be great if I could tell you that we would have a budget surplus at the end of the year, however, we are just half way through the 3rd month of our budget year and it is impossible to know at this point.  I do not budget for a surplus.  In other words, we try to keep our budgeted expenses and revenues as close as possible so that we are not taxing the public and putting their money in the bank.  We feel the public had rather have the use of that money.

If we are lucky enough to not have any unforeseen expenses and were to have a surplus, the money will be held over and utilized the following year.  We do not allow any department to spend extra money at the end of the year if they have a surplus.  We expect them to factor that into their following year’s budget.

Q. Why is there still no traffic light at the 4-way stop sign in front of Bi-Lo?  My understanding was that Bi-Lo would have a traffic light installed there and that was about five years ago.
A. This is a city issue and not a county issue.  We would ask you to call City Hall to find out information about what is going on in the city limits of Blairsville.  The county government has no control of issues involving city property.

Q. I see the city is cleaning up “but what about all the trash on the county roads, Pat Haralson, Pat Colwell, old 76 are worse than ever?” 
A. First, Pat Haralson, Pat Colwell and old 76 are not worse than ever.  They are on a regular cycle and Pat Colwell was picked up in February and ½ of old 76 (Blue Ridge Hwy) was picked up this week.  We have two crews picking up trash while the weather is bad.  They have picked up over 20 miles of roadway since last Friday. This includes Ivy Log, Track Rock Gap, Town Mountain, Bunker Hill, Queen Gap Connector, Hayfield, Pleasant Grove, Copperhead and Jones Creek.  We have a new detainee crew for a few months that is doing nothing but picking up road trash every day.  While the person making the above comment must live on one of the stated roads, they are not the only roads in the county and we try to cover the entire county. So be patient and we will get to your road.

If you see anyone illegally throwing out litter, please call the 911 center with the vehicle description, location, and tag number if possible.

Q. What is Union County doing for the “Great American Clean-up” this year?
A. We are doing a lot.  For starters, we will be having a free week of accepting scrap tires at the transfer station.  We have instituted new rules at the transfer station and the sign should be installed next week which requires everyone to sweep out their trailer or truck before leaving the transfer station, so you should start having a broom on board if you have any loose trash in your truck or trailer.  We will have a free junk car pickup for a short period of time.  If you know someone that would want to get on the list for the free junk car pickup, have them call my office at 706-439-6000.  We will also be reminding the public about the free signs we install in your area when you, “Adopt-a- Highway”.  Watch the paper for more details!

Q. You stated that you did not know about the resort prior to the alcohol vote.   Is that true?
A. Yes

Back to List Page