Brantley County commissioners rescinded their support of a resolution for Ware County’s bypass until they receive further information.
Brantley County joins Pierce County in pulling away from the “tri-county” by-pass idea benefitting Ware County.
According to County Manager Joey Cason, Brantley County officials were present at the December 1 meeting “to get an update on what was going on.”
“It was not meant to be public discussion,” said Cason of the room full of residents with questions during a Friday, January 9 interview in his office. “None of the (state) lawmakers even anticipated any of that. They didn’t even know that was going on. That was one of the worst ran meetings I’ve ever been a part of in a government setting.”
Lawmakers present were District 3 State Senator Mike Hodges, District 174 Georgia House Representative John Corbett, Rep. Steven Meeks (R-178) and District 8 Sen. Russ Goodman.
The by-pass, which would begin in western Pierce County off Hwy. 84 and navigate through portions of eastern Ware County and western Brantley County intersecting with Hwy. 82, has come under fire from residents in Pierce County.
County Commissioners from Brantley, Pierce and Ware gathered inside the Ware County Commission meeting room the first day of December for what was to be discussion concerning the possibility of a by-pass.
It was during the meeting Brantley County Commissioner Randy Davison said, “I’m more against it than anything. I’ve yet to hear anyone say they are for it.”
Cason said Brantley County officials had already informed Ware County in a prior meeting the route of the proposed road could not be put where they were wanting just west of Schlatterville.
“There’s too many houses there,” explained Cason of the intended route. “It was going through properties or backyards and people were going to have to re-locate. About 10-12 of those families were in Brantley County.
“I can tell you that would be about $300,000 per family to buy them out out or about $3 million total and we (Brantley County) don’t have that kind of money. We’ve told Ware County to get back with us when they have a better understanding of a route that doesn’t dislodge residents.”
