Candidates spar over reservoir debt
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
Jackson County’s water woes — and the ability to pay debt tied to water service — are hot topics for one race on the July 15 Republican primary ballot.
The three candidates vying for chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners — Ron Johnson, Hunter Bicknell and Tony Beatty — debated the county’s debt tied to the Bear Creek Reservoir during a political forum in Hoschton on June 18.
The debate largely centered on a $1.6 million annual debt for the reservoir 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 political forum.
The slowdown of the housing 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 with 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 estimated $1 million in tap fees from the TACG plant in Pendergrass.
When Beatty was on the authority, it didn’t have a debt payment, as it collected 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 commissioners will fund for the authority. 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.”
PROPERTY TAX REASSESSMENT
During a political forum the 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 committee to advise commissioners on farm-related issues.
QUALIFICATIONS
During the forums in Hoschton and Jefferson, the candidates also talked about their qualifications.
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 position? Absolutely not. But it gives me the background and knowledge 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 respectfully 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 candidate on the ballot for BOC chairman 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 smaller government. And I believe in doing the right thing,” Johnson said.
The Hoschton Women’s Civic Club hosted the political forum on Wednesday, June 18.
The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson Farm Bureau sponsored the forum on Thursday, June 19, in Jefferson.
