Union County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Union County Board of Elections confirms ballot notices; commission meeting rescheduled

The Union County Board of Elections confirmed that required public notices for upcoming ballot issues were published, including an advisory vote on a five-person commission, SPLOST, and EPLOST. The board also approved minutes and scheduled mandatory training. In other business, the Board of Registrars declined to adopt optional voter-roll software, and the Development Authority cancelled its August meeting. The County Commission's regular meeting was rescheduled to a new time and location.

Board of Elections

The Board of Elections met on August 10 and approved the previous meeting's minutes unanimously. The board scheduled mandatory training courses for all members, to be held from August 27 through September 24. It was noted that Mary Verner has completed certification, and Todd Schuneman is expected to complete his by September. The board also confirmed that required notices for upcoming ballot issues—an advisory vote on a five-person commission, SPLOST, and EPLOST—were published in the North Georgia News, on the county website, and on the Elections office door, as required by law.

Board of Registrars

The Board of Registrars met on August 10 and unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the July 13 minutes. The board voted unanimously not to adopt the optional ELLY computer program for cleaning the voter roll, deciding it would only be used if the State implements it. A staff report on voter registration numbers and upcoming training was heard, but no other substantive decisions were made.

Development Authority

The Union County Development Authority Board cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for August 10 at 4:00 p.m. due to a lack of agenda items. No substantive decisions were made or discussed.

Commission Meeting Rescheduled

The Union County Commission's regular meeting, originally scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse, has been moved to 9:30 a.m. on August 20, 2026, at the Union County Sports Center, 519 Industrial Boulevard, Blairsville, GA. No other business items were listed on the agenda.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks.

Union County boards act on elections, training; commission meeting rescheduled

Union County's Board of Elections and Board of Registrars both met Aug. 10, taking routine actions on training and voter-roll software. The Development Authority cancelled its meeting for lack of agenda items, and the County Commission has rescheduled its next regular meeting to Aug. 20.

Board of Elections

The Board of Elections unanimously approved the minutes from its previous meeting. It scheduled mandatory training courses for all board members to run from Aug. 27 through Sep. 24. The board noted that Mary Verner has completed certification and that Todd Schuneman will complete his by September. It also confirmed that required notices for upcoming ballot issues — an advisory vote on a five-person commission, SPLOST, and EPLOST — were published in the North Georgia News, on the county website, and on the Elections office door, as required by law.

Board of Registrars

The Board of Registrars voted unanimously not to adopt the optional ELLY computer program for cleaning the voter roll, deciding it would only be used if the State implements it. The board also approved its meeting agenda and the July 13, 2026 minutes, both unanimously. A staff report on voter registration numbers and upcoming training was heard, but no other substantive decisions were made.

Development Authority meeting cancelled

The Union County Development Authority Board cancelled its regularly scheduled meeting for Aug. 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. due to a lack of agenda items. No decisions were made or discussed.

Commission called meeting on tower standards (agenda only)

On Aug. 6, the Union County Commission held a called meeting to consider adopting revisions to Chapter 78, Article II of the county code, which sets standards for telecommunications towers and antennas. The proposed ordinance updates rules on tower placement, height, setbacks, and viewshed protection. Agenda items include a preferred tower configuration of a nonguyed monopole under 200 feet with no lighting required, setbacks of at least 1,000 feet from schools, daycares, playgrounds, parks, or residential buildings unless on a preferred site, and a requirement that new towers be at least 5 miles from existing towers unless exceptions apply. Variances would be required for disfavored sites, including those close to residences or impacting viewsheds. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so no vote result is available.

Coming up

The Union County Commission has rescheduled its regular meeting to 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2026, at the Union County Sports Center, 519 Industrial Boulevard, Blairsville, GA. The meeting was originally set for 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse. No other business items are listed on the agenda.

Union County Board of Registrars Approves Minutes; Commission SPLOST Election Call on Agenda

The Union County Board of Registrars unanimously approved its meeting agenda and prior minutes on July 13, the only local government body with official minutes published in the past two weeks. The Union County Commission and Development Authority both met during the same period, but their minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes on items including a SPLOST continuation election call and several service agreements remain unconfirmed.

Board of Registrars

The Board of Registrars met July 13 and unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the April 13, 2026 meeting. No other motions were voted on, according to the official minutes. The board introduced a new registrar staff member and provided updates on absentee ballots and upcoming voter-registration deadlines.

Union County Development Authority

The Development Authority Board met July 13, but minutes have not been published. According to the posted agenda, the board was scheduled to review economic and tourism updates, receive updates on the Blairsville Airport Regional Industrial Park dirt fill and board insurance coverage, and consider a proposed development project. The meeting also included nominations and an election for the board chair.

Agenda items listed:

• Economic Indicators presentation by Ivan Walker
• Tourism and Hospitality Impact discussion by Steve Rowe
• Blairsville Airport Regional Industrial Park dirt fill update
• Board Insurance Coverage update
• Proposed Project presentation by Robert Barnett

Whether any of these items were acted on cannot be confirmed without published minutes.

Union County Commission

The Commission met July 16, but minutes have not been published. The posted agenda included a resolution calling for an election to continue the Union County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), along with several service agreements and short-term rental licenses.

Agenda items listed:

• Resolution R-2026-35 calling for an election to continue the Union County SPLOST
• Agreement with GeoHydro Engineers for Spiva Cove Bridge geotechnical engineering not to exceed $8,700.00
• Agreement with HigHRoad Consulting, LLC for HR services at $2,700 per month for up to six months plus $1,800 for handbook revisions
• Three-year contract with Hudl, Inc. for football video analysis software for $3,675.00
• Approval of short-term rental business licenses for five properties

The SPLOST continuation election call, if approved, would determine whether the county's penny sales tax for capital projects continues beyond its current authorization. The service agreements cover bridge engineering, human resources support, and football video analysis software. Whether any of these items were approved cannot be confirmed without published minutes.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents seeking confirmation of actions taken by the Development Authority or Commission should watch for published minutes from those bodies.