The commissioner, in his column states "what the county needs is new business and jobs which is the secret to keeping taxes low. He goes on to say that Union County was poor, the people were poor, bad roads, no parks, poor medical services" I guess the local government wants the people to stay poor and the county to stay poor.

He continues to state that he was very vocal in not wanting Wal Mart to come to Union County. He gave some lame reason about county property being used for business. Why Not? Every county in Georgia does.

Now, does he really want Wal Mart or not? Is his archaic form of government( sole commissioner) receptive to new business? To get new business to move into a county the government must be receptive and welcome them.It would appear that Wal Mart would fit this criteria, approximately 400 new jobs in the county and a lot of tax money.

Hopefully, with the current influx of people( not the poor people of Union, as the commissioner thinks we are) will tilt the balance of power and change the governing body to a 5 member commission in which the people will have fair representation.

Shucks

Wal Mart will bring an influx of new business and retail into an area that sorely needs it.

Yes, housing is a problem for low income employees. I was at Disney Worl 2 weeks ago and all the talk and newspaper articles were lamenting the fact that Disney employees cannot live in Orlando because they cannot afford the houses. There are 52,000 employees at Disney in Orlando, 80% are minimum wage or slightly higher. So. the problem is everywhere, not just in Union County. There are no quick fixes or easy answers.

Shucks

quote:

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I guess the local government wants the people to stay poor and the county to stay poor.

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We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

If sole commissioners are so good, why are 99% of all Georgia counties goverened by 3 or 5 man commissioners. One commissioner cannot provide fair representation for all segments of the county. It is just too many hats to wear.

Any article is subject to the interpretation of the reader and I have been guilty myself as well as a lot of posters on this forum. I stand by my interpretation of this article and am disappointed the commissioner would make such a derisive statement about the people of Union County.

Just one of the Po Folks

Shucks

The idea of a multi person commission sounds good until you have to deal with them as I have had to in the past in my work. What you get is a bunch that can't agree on much of anything and each have their own agendas. When you have a multiperson commission you will have to have a county manager to handle the day to day activities of the county. Most multiperson commissions are made up of part timers, they continue with their everyday lives and only make decissions at commission meetings (once a month or called meetings), very few have actual offices where they can be approached on the verious need of the average citizen of the county. I had rather have one person to go to wheither to complain or to thank.

As for Walmart, I hope we arn't forced to have one here with all the added traffic and confusion. I buy from Walmart probably three or four times a year and am glad they are there when I can't find something locally. I feel that the local merchants will suffer as a result of Walmart. What I also dread are the "out parcels" around the Walmart being developed bringing even more traffic, do you want this area to be like Ellijay? Do you want your children to be able to purchase property here? How many of the jobs that go with a Walmart will be taken by people that are already here and really need work and how many people will move here just because of the jobs?

By the way, if you don't already know I'm a local, grew up in the "poor" days and wish that we could go back to some, not all, of the ways that this area was then.

The growth and expansion in the county will, as it always has, make the rich, richer, and the poor, poorer. Build it in Blue Ridge, I had rather drive 20 miles that put up with the traffic locally.

Lamar's words from the newspaper: "If we were still the county of 20 or 30 years ago, it would be safe to say that most of those moving here now would have skipped right over us and gone to a more properous and progressive area."
"It is easy for those younger people and people who have moved here and have never seen a major economic slow down to not be able to understand what this community was like before there were any decent paying jobs."
"The main issue that many tend to forget is that Union County WAS poor and our people WERE poor."
"Those who have known me know that I was very vocal in my opposition to Wal-Mart coming to Union County SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I stated then that it was fine for Wal-Mart to come to Union County, but they should find their own property and not build on property given to the county for community uses."

But, I guess that is meat for another post!

As a newcomer, I made no bones about it that I supported Wal Mart coming to town. I just assumed that most newcomers wanted growth and the "natives" did not. I now believe that I am wrong. It is the "natives of Union County" that want some change in their lives. The newcomers want the county to stay serene and isolated, natives want change to emerge into the new age. Somewhere there has to be a happy medium as growth is becoming to emerge.

I cannot fault them for that. It is no secret that Union County is on the low side when it comes to median family income. With Wal Mart and other retail they will have more buying power for the funds they have and can buy locally.

Mr. Reed's letter opened my eyes to be more accepting of the "old" and the "new" and to accept natural change.

Shadow

Why is it that newcomers are always criticized for wanting to change everything, but if it's a change that natives want, then newcomers are standing in the way.

There is a double standard here I think.

The only reason newcomers get beat up over trying to change anything, is because they promote changes that natives don't happen to want themselves.

I'm sorry; I'm not trying to start something, but it needs to be said.

Natives say we knew what the area was like before we moved here, so we should not expect to change it. Well, there was NO Wal-Mart when we moved here, so why do they get to change that?

I guess they are the only ones who get to make changes?

There is no logic to this way of thinking; just selfishness.

Wildflower

Id say the locals who want the Wal Mart are tired of commuting outside of our neck of the woods to get good and fair prices.. after all, this is where we live. Whats good for the goose is indeed good for the gander.. locals didnt pick this area.. we were born here, raised here and love it here wether there is a wal mart or not.. it would be nice to have one tho.. lotsa people aint never seen the city.. and I doubt wal mart will bring sky scrapers here.. meaning they dont wanna see the city life of a BIG city. There is a difference in Alltitude and attitude.

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

I shop at Alexanders, Foodland, Hughes outdoors, and other local stores first.

Why put up with the traffic and confussion, we had a new couple join our church a recently saying they had moved here from Ellijay to get away from all the over crowding. Drive through Ellijay several times a week and see how you like putting up with the traffic.

Guess I just like what little peace and quiet we have left.

why

So while I am along many of my age group, I can vouch for most my age who are raising their families.. and who I am dear friends with.. Wal Mart is wanted by the young generation maybe moreso than that of the older. The needs are more in demand to furnish their children with nice clothes and toys REASONABLY.

I gather that even most of the middle age folks here know that its needed.

Times have changed for sure but even in the 80s and early 90s, we had discount stores. Lays and Sky City. They werent locally owned. They didnt make it because of they werent grounded corp's. Not because they werent used here. My mom worked for both companys and made minium wage and thats what paid her power bill. She was a department manager after Sky City opened and made .50 more an hour than the other employees under her.. so tho she wasnt booming with money.. she had a job.. and while most retired folk or well off folk arent worried about the little man or woman trying to make it day by day.. I think you might should. Its selfish to say that they dont count and to neglect the fact that they still have the race to run.

Right now with gas prices, my complaint wont be that I have to sit at the red light or that maybe the county or state whatever will make routes that arent as congested already. Even with the gas prices, it is still cheaper for my family to shop Walmart from grocerys to just about anything they offer.

And Ive lived here all my life, Ive heard all of my life... "We need something here to furnish our needs.." That was coming from locals older than I.

Lets give us more building stores which variety is good.. and so is comptetion... but H Depot brought the light and chaos of more traffic than before there at that light, brought very few jobs at all but brought in the majority of their employees from elsewhere, where was all the rah rahing about that when it was happening?

Ive talked to many of the folks who have worked for Walmart who are Blairsville locals who still work there and the company already welcomes them to transfer shall one be here. The company had no problem with it and already employed them anyways.

Wal Mart in Murphy put theirs off of the 4 lane finally.. I dont see much wrong with downtown Murphy that wasnt already their problems to begin with.

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

It's not your reasons, or anyone's reasons for wanting Wal-Mart that's bothering me. I'm not even saying you should, or should not get one.

What's bothering me is . . . What natives want is OKAY, but what newcomers want, is NOT OKAY. And natives can push for changes, but newcomers should not.

After all, newcomers have reasons for the things they want too.

No one in this life has a guarantee from God that they will not have to deal with changes they don't want. Change is a constant fact of life as history shows.

Many newcomers have come from places that have changed drastically, and they had to deal with it as long as they lived there. But it seems like natives truly feel that they should be exempt from any change that they themselves didn't initiate.

That is a funny attitude, because no one has that privilege in this world.

Wildflower

I wished everyone could be happy and get their wants and needs met but what I guess I am saying is this aint just a want for my family.. this would be a need too. I dont know how long you have lived in these parts or visited before that.. but the schools are building new schools just to house 2 grade levels.. we are growing and so are the needs of family stuff too, like a department store and a lot more than that. The fun place over in Hiawassee (trying not to mention names), would you think that that is more chaotic than a department store? Wouldnt you think that would draw some rough teens or begin something like that? I am honest when I thought and heard of it at first.. all I could think of was the horror stories about our own theater and bowling ally... but they have proved me wrong.. yes again, I agree with you on the way you put and the way I put it is.. some locals and non locals are small minded and simply dont want to see new things... :(

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

Like I said . . . I am not disagreeing with you wanting a Wal-Mart. I know we need something like that, even though I much prefer Target.

Wal-Mart itself is NOT my issue with this.

The commissioner felt that natives were justified in wanting to change the situation - and he gave all the "reasons".

But when newcomers wanted to change something, their "reasons" were not valid.

Most natives feel that newcomers are just supposed to accept things as they find them.

It is becoming plain that there is a double standard. Both natives and newcomers pay taxes, but only natives are supposed to ask for changes?

That is the impression some people are giving.

Wildflower

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

It's everyone who ever said . . .

"Why do they move here and then try to change everything? They knew what it was like before they moved in!"

THEY give me that impression.

Wildflower

As far as Wal Mart, on 515, there is no real crowding out there. Just the normal growth that was anticipated.

I try to shop as much as possible in Blairsville, but I have a problem finding what I need. We go to Wal Mart at least once a week for groceries, clothes and paper products. Also we need a myriad of other items not found in Blairsville that Wal Mart has. With 7 individuals in my home it is necessary to shop wisely, even though I have a more than ample income.

Gosh, I would love a Kroger of Publix here.

Blairsville, Georgia - home in the North GA Mountains

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