Commissioner meets with Business Women of Blairsville
By KATHLEEN MCKEVITT

Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris was guest speaker at the Business Women of Blairsville's weekly meeting.

As part of the Commissioner's remarks the group learned that the expected annual growth of the county is still at 4 percent, with 700-800 building permits being issued each year. "If that should rise to over 1000, or growth rise to over 5 percent, then we have a lot of quick planning to do," said Paris, "but our planning is in keeping with the present growth. My concern remains that the taxes are being paid primarily by homeowners because business growth is not presently at the place it needs to be to help homeowner's shoulder the burden."

Two large businesses, a resort on Georgia routes 515 and 325 (Pat Colwell Road), and the highly possible Walmart also on Hwy. 515 will build up in 2007, and be complete in 2008. Only approval of Department of Transportation permits remain before building could begin.

The County is hoping for more 30-50 employees-sized businesses, and looks to the completed expansion of the City airport to make the city more attractive to prospective business owners. Paris remarked further that "half the county is green space, and half available for building, making it a very attractive place to come and live. That green space will always be there."

The Commissioner and the County Board are working on new ordinances to help protect both homeowners and all people when growth begins to impede on back country roads, and the optimum operations of sewer and water systems and traffic.

The Business Women of Blairsville began in June of 2006 for the purpose of entrepreneurial business women coming together to help each other in providing leads, sharing information on each other's businesses, helping each other get greater name recognition generally, to help insure success and prosperity for new businesses.

Entrepreneurial business women are welcome to attend any meeting - which is each Tuesday at 8 a.m. at Cook's Restaurant. Speakers in the coming weeks will include business accountants, the Blairsville City Mayor, and committee heads from local government agencies that will bring in information that is important to the business owners of the area.