WAYNESVILLE — Georgia’s 1st Congressional District candidate Matt Day was the guest speaker last Monday at a Town Hall meeting at Waynesville Baptist Church over concerns of a possible Data Center.
Day, one of six Republican candidates seeking to succeed Buddy Carter’s Congress ional District 1 post, presented 10 options for disc ussion centered around landfill/ Data Center scenario.
Rumors have circulated Brantley County Limited Partners, LLC. may be in the business of selling the property with a potential interested buyer interested in erecting a Data Center.
Day presented pros and cons of each possibility, but ended his options stating Brantley County’s repurchasing of the property (as much as $14 million) was its best option.
The pros for a landfill were limited jobs and tax revenue. The cons were permanent groundwater risk, leachate, odors, truck traffic and irreversible land use.
The Data Center pros were some tax base and construction jobs. The cons were high water usage, risk to wells, constant power demand and few permanent jobs.
The third option was becoming a Georgia Ports Authority - Inland Logistics Hub. The pros were low water use, stable jobs and the strengthening of the Port of Brunswick. Cons were requiring planning and coordination.
Option four consisted of Private Logistics/Distribution/ Cold Storage. The pros were strong employment, low water demand and scalable development. The cons were requiring zoning discipline and traffic planning.
Option five was Adv anced Manufacturing/ Bottling/ Food Processing. The pros consisted of higher job density, regulated water use and long term investment. The con was a longer development timeline.
The sixth option was Modern Biomass/Wood to Energy. Pros consisted of using timber waste, low water use and skilled jobs. The con was requiring strict emissions oversight.
A seventh option was Conservation & Mitigation Banking. The pros were protecting wetlands and water and minimal impact. The con was limited job creation.
Option eight was to become a Golden District Center (National Emergency & Resilience Hub). Pros were protecting water, storing food and supplies, and national security value. The con was the requirement of federal approval and coordination.
The ninth option was Mixed-Use Industrial Park (low-impact, phased). Pros were diversified tenants and capped water use. A con was requiring careful enforcement.
According to Day, the best option is for the county to purchase the land. The pros include permanently removing a landfill threat, restoring local control, protection of water and property. The cons require a funding strategy and public consensus.
