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November 23, 2006
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Commission meeting
By CHRISTIAN LEHMAN

The monthly county commission meeting yielded some good news for the residents of Union County, as the days of being forced to drive to Blue Ridge or beyond for drivers license tests and renewals appear to have ended. Union County and the Department of Driver Services have reached an

intergovernmental agreement" that will allow for the opening of a permanent driver's license examining center in Blairsville. Union County will provide 1,500 square feet and two paved areas, one for cars and trucks and one for motorcycles. The new office will be located beside the Road Department facility and is set to open shortly after the new year.

The Tax Assessors Office has moved into their new space in the front of the courthouse, completing the office shuffling that has been occurring within the courthouse. According to the commissioner, "The front of the courthouse is now open." The County hopes to host an open house to show off the new courthouse within the next thirty days.

Also of note is an agreement between the county and Blue Ridge EMC for the installation of a fiber optic network between county offices and buildings. The fiber optic network will allow county officials more convenience in communicating with each other and is said to pay for itself within a couple of years.

Among the routine county business for the month were two Proclamations. First, November 13 was officially Georgia Retired Educators Day, honoring all retired teachers

who have contributed to education to generations of Georgians. Second was a proclamation recognizing November 11 as Veterans Day, honoring all who have served our country past, as well as those who continue to defend our freedom at home and abroad.

Finally, starting the first week of January, the Union County Jail will open a new kitchen area, freeing up sheriff's deputies from going to collect meals twice a day from the Union County Hospital. The investment in kitchen equipment is said to offset the cost of purchasing meals from the hospital in about two and a half years.