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PAGE 10A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. TUNE 25. 2008
Candidates For Chairman Spar Over Reservoir Debt
By Kerri Testement
Jackson County’s water woes
— and the ability to pay debt tied
to water service — are hot top
ics for one race on the July 15
Republican primary ballot.
The three candidates vying for
chairman of the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners — Tony
Beatty Hunter Bicknell and Ron
Johnson — debated the coun
ty’s debt tied to the Bear Creek
Reservoir during a political forum
in Hoschton June 18.
The debate largely centered on a
$ 1.6 million annual debt for the res
ervoir billed to the Jackson County
Water and Sewerage Authority.
Four counties — Jackson, Barrow,
Clarke and Oconee - get water
service from Bear Creek.
Last year, the authority asked
the Jackson County Board of
Commissioners to pay the debt
on its behalf, when it couldn’t
afford the $1.6 million payment.
Bicknell, who is chairman of the
authority, was questioned about
the debt payment during the polit
ical forum.
The slowdown of the hous
ing market and state-mandated
drought restrictions resulted in
the authority selling less water
and earning less profit, Bicknell
explained.
Johnson questioned if the BOC
should be operating the authority,
since commissioners pay the debt
on Bear Creek.
“They’re spending our money
and raising our taxes on that
water authority. Somebody needs
to control them,’’ Johnson said.
Beatty — a former member of
the BOC and JCWSA — said only
commissioners can assume debt
for the county. He later said the
authority is duplicating services
provided to customers and has
too many employees.
“They have a business that is not
making a profit,’’ Beatty said.
Johnson also said the authority,
as an enterprise fund, should be
making money for the county.
Bicknell said when Beatty was
on the BOC, it prevented the
authority from collecting an esti
mated $1 million in tap fees from
the TACG plant in Pendergrass.
When Beatty was on the author
ity, it didn’t have a debt pay
ment, as it purchased water from
Athens-Clarke County and sold it
at a higher price to its customers,
Bicknell said.
Johnson also questioned a
$294,400 study to search for new
reservoir sites that the commis
sioners may fund for the author
ity. Johnson said he wasn’t against
the reservoir study, but how the
authority handled the issue.
Bicknell said the Bear Creek
Reservoir will help fund a new
reservoir in Jackson County.
“The Bear Creek investment will
be a cash cow for the citizens of
this county in about six or seven
years, if not before then,’’ Bicknell
said.
A citizen later asked about
the conflicting messages about
the authority not having enough
money to pay its Bear Creek debt,
but the reservoir being a potential
“cash cow.’’
“If that’s going to be a cash
cow, why do we need another?’’
Johnson questioned. Beatty said
he agreed with Johnson on the
statement.
“Water is like gold,’’ Beatty said.
“It’ll determine everything in the
county.’’
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During a political forum the
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Tony Beatty, Hunter Bicknell and Ron Johnson, candidates for chairman of the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners, discussed the Bear Creek Reservoir debt at a forum in Hoschton.
following evening in Jefferson,
the three candidates addressed
the issue of rising property
taxes, especially a controversial
re-assessment process that has
increased taxes for many county
residents.
Beatty said those re-assessments
are based on a process done two
years ago, and don’t reflect lower
real estate market values today.
Bicknell said only three percent
of Jackson County taxpayers
appealed their re-assessments.
He suggested that the county do
a better job communicating the
appeals process to taxpayers.
Johnson said farmers are being
assessed for the future values of
their land, when subdivisions are
built nearby.
All three candidates pledged
their support for the farming
industry in Jackson County.
Beatty suggested new tax
exemptions for farmers and
Bicknell offered to establish a
nine-member farm advisory com
mittee to advise commissioners
on farm-related issues.
Qualifications
During the forums in Hoschton
and Jefferson, the candidates
also talked about their qualifica
tions.
Beatty said he is the only life
long Jackson County resident on
the ballot for chairman of the
BOC.
“Does that make me the most
qualified for the chairman posi
tion? Absolutely not, but it gives
me the background and knowl
edge of the entire county that is
very important for the chairman
to possess,’’ he said.
Bicknell said he is the person
who can help to continue building
better relationships among the
county, its nine cities and other
government organizations.
“As chairman of the Jackson
County Water and Sewerage
Authority, I have demonstrated an
ability to work fairly and respect
fully with all parties,’’ Bicknell
said. “We do not always agree,
but we are always able to work
through our differences. This, my
friends, is the path to progress
and solutions.’’
Johnson said he is the only can
didate on the ballot for BOC chair
man who has a proven record of
cutting taxes, while he served on
the city council of Sugar Hill.
“I am a true Republican. I believe
in cutting taxes. I believe in fiscal
responsibility. I believe in a small
er government. And I believe in
doing the right thing,’’ Johnson
said.
The Hoschton Women’s Civic
Club hosted the political forum
Wednesday, June 18.
The Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce and the
Jackson Farm Bureau sponsored
the forum Thursday, June 19, in
Jefferson.
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