County Commissioner's Office

County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner 

Q.  We saw that dirt was being hauled to the golf course.   What is going on?  Why are you spending money on a golf course that only a small portion of people in the county utilize?
A. While I understand someone’s concern that does not play golf, our golf course has been a tremendous economic development tool.  We have over 550 paid members.  The course has over 20,000 rounds of golf played a year for a total income last year of $690,000.   When I first took office six years ago, one of my first instructions to the golf course was that it had to pay for itself and not require any tax payer funds to operate.  They have been able to accomplish that and at the same time constantly improve the course. 

The staff and community have embraced the course.  It provides an outstanding green space right in the middle of town; it is a superb recreation opportunity that all walks of life take advantage of in the county.  We have an active youth golf association and high school golf team and our retired population certainly takes advantage of the course.  Over the past five years, over many non-profit organizations have held fund raising tournaments at Butternut Creek  raising well over $ 150,000. This is money that goes directly back into our community.

Q.  How does Butternut Creek compare to surrounding courses? 
A. Butternut Creek Golf Course is now to the point that we have one of the outstanding public courses in North Georgia and are rapidly developing a reputation for excellence. Outside county play (the ones that pay the most) continues to increase each year. The current construction project is designed to improve access to the course and to improve the parking lot, which because of its steep grades, has continued to make it dangerous and a continuing problem for navigation by some of our senior citizens.  This project will also increase outside play, which makes up a large part of the golf course budget.

Q.  Will this road project make the golf course more accessible?
A.  Absolutely.  We will have a new access to the golf course by way of the driveway to the Holiday Inn Express, which will also allow signage along Hwy 515 to attract new golfers.

Q.  What other plans do you have for the golf course area?
A.  I have spoken about this earlier, but our goal would be to eventually build a combination building, taking advantage of the view and one of the most scenic places in Union County.  By building a multi-use structure that would not only house golf, but could also house the Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority, people other than just golfers would be able to enjoy the scenic area.  In addition, this building would have a community room that would have a gorgeous view of the golf course and surrounding mountains and be available for public use for weddings, family reunions and other community events.

As part of the plans to allow for more future parking to accommodate a building, the deteriorating tennis courts have been abandoned for additional future parking and new tennis courts have been constructed at Meeks Park next to the swimming pool. 

Q.  I think you are trying to do too many things in the county and that is why our taxes went up so much.  Why don’t you stop spending money?

A.  Wow! What can I say? If you want to live in a county that is not going to progress, not going to plan for the future, and not going to continue to provide activities for our citizens and youth, you are in the wrong county.  While our property taxes have recently taken a hit, the vast majority of the tax increase came from needs and growth the school system has experienced and not from county government expansion.  Union County government and our employees continue to provide our citizens with excellent services and facilities at a very reasonable cost with one of the lowest tax rates in the State of Georgia.  We will continue to do that in the future. Thanks for your question.

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