Oconee's Future leader lets us know of no water vote last night
Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc.
P. O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677
The Oconee Board of Commissioners did not vote on the water project tonight. The Chairman ran the meeting as a meeting to get more citizen input. It is probable that a vote could come at the next agenda setting meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27th. Hold this on your calendars and I will let you know once I confirm that it is on the agenda. Thanks to all who came out tonight.
The meeting room was full with some standing outside. Ten citizens made presentations. A representative from the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority discussed the proposed South River (Snapping Shoals) project as a less expensive option. An Oconee citizen with an interest in the proposed Jacks Creek project discussed the project as a less expensive alternative and another Oconee citizen with extensive experience in the use of groundwater as a source presented a paper on the feasibility of meeting our needs with groundwater. It was obvious from the questions asked by the Board members that these projects had not been given much consideration.
Other speakers pointed out the extreme cost of the Walton project and the impact that all that debt will have on the county. Lee Becker presented his analysis of the inflated population numbers and endured extensive questioning from Jim Luke. Several speakers asked the Board not to make a decision until an independent appraisal of the options has been accomplished. One speaker detailed the impact on schools, roads etc if development is promoted to the extent the county would have 67,000 people in 8 years as projected in the justification for water needs. That is more than double the current population.
Stay tuned. I promise that once this water issue is worked I won't continue to overload your email.
Charles Baugh
P. O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677
The Oconee Board of Commissioners did not vote on the water project tonight. The Chairman ran the meeting as a meeting to get more citizen input. It is probable that a vote could come at the next agenda setting meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27th. Hold this on your calendars and I will let you know once I confirm that it is on the agenda. Thanks to all who came out tonight.
The meeting room was full with some standing outside. Ten citizens made presentations. A representative from the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority discussed the proposed South River (Snapping Shoals) project as a less expensive option. An Oconee citizen with an interest in the proposed Jacks Creek project discussed the project as a less expensive alternative and another Oconee citizen with extensive experience in the use of groundwater as a source presented a paper on the feasibility of meeting our needs with groundwater. It was obvious from the questions asked by the Board members that these projects had not been given much consideration.
Other speakers pointed out the extreme cost of the Walton project and the impact that all that debt will have on the county. Lee Becker presented his analysis of the inflated population numbers and endured extensive questioning from Jim Luke. Several speakers asked the Board not to make a decision until an independent appraisal of the options has been accomplished. One speaker detailed the impact on schools, roads etc if development is promoted to the extent the county would have 67,000 people in 8 years as projected in the justification for water needs. That is more than double the current population.
Stay tuned. I promise that once this water issue is worked I won't continue to overload your email.
Charles Baugh
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