The Blairsville City Council’s Nov. 12 monthly meeting saw the first reading of the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. The city’s retirement benefits were revisited after a decision earlier in the year to offer a raise for retirees.
Effective Jan. 1, the change must be approved by the council via ordinance before any increases in benefits can occur. As previously reported, the city’s monthly contribution to the Defined Benefit Retirement Program will be going up by about $8,000 to a total of $25,370 a month.
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The item will be returned to the table in December for official adoption before the plan launches at the start of the year. The council approved the outline.
An intergovernmental agreement between the city and county came up for discussion. Also serving as a resolution, the document outlines upcoming projects that Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VI funds can be used for – provided voters support continuing the SPLOST next May.
Ahead of voting results, the council approved the resolution, which was also accepted by Sole Commissioner Harold Collins this month.
As discussed in the July 8 regular City Council meeting, the agreement specifies that the city will receive 9% of SPLOST VI proceeds if the referendum passes. That is 0.5% greater than the city’s distribution in the currently running SPLOST V.
Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce President Steve Rowe provided a preview for some of next month’s events. Chamber staff and volunteers are preparing for the yearly Tour of Trees, which will be on display throughout the Community Center in December.
Other festive events will take place on Dec. 6, including the Holly Jolly Christmas and Breakfast with Santa at the chamber, and the annual Christmas Parade through Downtown Blairsville later that evening.
Airport Manager Dan Firebaugh revealed he will be stepping back to part-time beginning in January 2026. Kevin Potts, who was hired as assistant manager this past January, will take up the reins as airport manager at that time, and Firebaugh will become a consultant.
“I’m not going anywhere. I mean, I’ll still answer my phone,” Firebaugh reassured. “Kevin’s learned a lot in a short period of time, and he’s done a great job. And he’s taken the ball and ran with it, doing a lot of things that I didn’t even think about doing. It’s going to be good.”
Mayor Robert “Buddy” Moore believes “we’re in good hands down there.”
Following the ordinance violation of a clerk at Blairsville Quick Stop for selling alcohol to a minor, two employees have undergone alcohol sales training. According to City Attorney Marvin Harkins, the business will once again be able to sell alcohol on Nov. 21, and the clerk who committed the offense has been retained.
The Blairsville City Council and Mayor Moore meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. inside City Hall, located at 62 Blue Ridge Street.
