After opening the floor to public speakers at the start of their Sept. 9 regular meeting, the Blairsville City Council and Mayor Robert “Buddy” Moore heard a grieving mother turn her pain into a warning for others.
Susan Cave lost her son to kratom use last year and came to warn the community about the dangers of the drug.
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Widely available for retail, kratom is legally sold in Georgia, but people like Cave are making considerable efforts to ban it. Often touted as a harmless energy-booster, kratom comes in a variety of forms. Cave’s son took it to try and treat his anxiety and depression.
City Attorney Marvin Harkins said a new law has made it illegal to sell kratom to anyone under 21 or for anyone under 21 to possess it. Otherwise, kratom is “perfectly legal to have and ingest,” and he compared the legalities surrounding the substance to those limiting cigarette use.
Mayor Moore asked for clarification about the possibility of banning kratom locally; Harkins said that while such a decision was technically possible, there would still be the possibility of someone leaving the city or county to purchase it.
In unfinished business, the council held the second reading of the city millage rate following its introduction in August. As one of three different local property tax levies – the others dictating county and school board portions of tax bills – it had to be set independently of the others.
To keep collections revenue-neutral compared to the previous levy, the city once again adopted its rollback rate, which is 1.064 mills for 2025.
“The city adopted its 2025 millage rate … by way of an ordinance approving the new rate. Pursuant to the city’s charter, an ordinance cannot be both introduced and adopted at the same meeting,” explained Harkins after the meeting. “It takes two separate meetings to pass it.”
Fire Chief David Dyer said the new 911 Dispatch Center that is under construction should be ready for move-in by next summer. The floor pad has been placed, the walls are coming up, and the department is working on equipment contracts to properly gear up the new space.
August was the busiest month “in a while” for the Blairsville Police Department, according to Police Chief Michael “Bear” Baxter. Despite the 128 calls for service and 23 accidents, “overall, all is well” – especially after the biggest Duck Derby fundraiser since the event first started. More than $35,000 will go to December’s Shop With A Cop children’s Christmas program.
The Blairsville Downtown Development Authority reported that many merchants experienced “the best Labor Day weekend in sales that they’ve ever had in Blairsville.”
Several financial decisions were also made toward the end of the meeting, including the approval of a Georgia Mountains Regional Commission application for a Community Development Block Grant-Employment Incentive Program that would cover infrastructure improvements.
As part of the agreement, $1,000 accounts for application services, while $30,000 covers administrative services if the application is approved. Secondly, the council approved a renewal of liability insurance for the airport through Global Aerospace for 2025-2026, totaling $19,881.
