Governor supports 'Lake Clarke' project
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Construction of a dam and lake on Big Buckhead Creek in Jenkins County, utilizing water from the springs at Magnolia Springs State Park, would have the support of Gov. Sonny Perdue. The Jenkins County Commissioners received word of the governor's reaction to the idea from project committee member Robert Jenkins during their Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting.

Jenkins said that the proposed project has been named "Lake Clarke" by committee members in honor of Tom Clarke, his grandfather and original presenter of the plan. He also noted that a meeting had been set up with Georgia Power officials to discuss the idea and that the EPD and Department of Natural Resources had been contacted.

Commissioner Floyd Chance remarked that landowners in the proposed project area were questioning why they had not been contacted about the matter. Jenkins agreed to invite the landowners to a committee meeting noting, however, that there was nothing specific to tell them at this point.

It was pointed out by chairman James Henry that the matter was merely an "idea" and that the committee was only attempting to gather information and determine if such a project would be feasible.

"If the governor and state do not support this, it is a dead issue. The county can't afford it," remarked Henry.

Chairman Henry reported that the Georgia Department of Transportation Aviation Division was opposing the proposed U.S. Air Force training initiative that would create a new training area and lower the floor of operations to only 500 feet above ground level. The commissioners agreed to ask the county attorney to draft a resolution of opposition that would be sent to the Air Force.

Donnie Brannen of the Jenkins County Forestry Unit reported on activities of his department for the previous year and requested that the commissioners pass a resolution of support for prescribed burning. Brannen noted that there was an effort in the state to abolish the practice which he considered to be very beneficial to his department. The commissioners agreed to consider a sample resolution and take action at their next meeting.

Other actions taken by the commissioners included the following:

• Approved a request from the Jenkins County Hospital Authority asking that the county agree to pay architect fees relating to the new emergency room project with the hospital to reimburse the county upon receipt of grant funds;

• Approved the use of old county car by Jenkins County Sheriff's Department;

• Approved qualifying fees for county offices to be elected in General Primary Election, noting that the state set the fees;

• Authorized field director Grady Lane to obtain bids and purchase a remanufactured transmission for a county vehicle;

• Reappointed James Henry as chairman for the coming year and appointed Pam Dwight as vice-chairman;

• Authorized the chairman to contact the Rural Development Center concerning the revision of the county's Mobile Home Ordinance; and

• Approved the use of the Jenkins County Senior Citizens Center by a cancer support group for six months, free of charge.