Friday, December 12, 2003
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Friday, December 12, 2003 |
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County wonders where water money is going By JOHN THOMPSON County officials want more information before they decide to pony up $24,000 in dues to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. Earlier this year, the county sent half of their $48,000 dues to the regional water planning agency, but Tuesday the County Commission appeared far more reluctant ins sending the money to Atlanta. “I’m not going to vote to pay $24,000 when everything else is being cut,” said Commissioner Vernon “Mutt” Hunter. According to its Web site, The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act of Senate Bill 130 was signed into law by Governor Barnes April 5, 2001. The Act created a planning entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific plans to be implemented by local governments in the district. These plans will protect water quality and public water supplies in and downstream of the region, protect recreational values of the waters in and downstream of the region, and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region. But like many on the board, Commissioner Larry DeMoss wondered what the benefits were to the county. “Do we get a bang for the dollar?” he said. Commissioner Robert Wood, who served on the district’s board for two years, said the organization was a worthwhile effort in trying to protect the region’s water. But Hunter pointed out the political climate has changed. “We had to do it back then, but Gov. Barnes is not around anymore,” he said. Wood, along with county administrator Theron Gay, pledged to get more information and bring it back to the board Jan. 6.
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