The county has been negotiating with Sentinex LLC to build the 40-kilowatt solar farm, which would be the largest in Georgia, at the former landfill.
In the absence of Commission Chairman Alvin Long, who is on vacation, Vice Chairman Judy Bailey asked for a motion to accept the grant, but no motion was made.
A motion by Becky Hood to turn down the grant, which was seconded by Richard Gordon, failed when it got only two votes. Bailey and Commissioner George Townsend did not vote for Hood’s motion, which needed three votes to pass.
Hood said she could not see accepting a $300,000 grant, which promised to return only $11,000 a year to the county, in the current economy.
Gordon said he was wary of building anything on a closed landfill because of the potential for pollution, such as happened in New York in the 1970s when homes were built over the former Love Canal toxic landfill.
The deadline for accepting the GEFA grant was Tuesday, said County Administrator Randy Dowling.
“I’ll have to notify GEFA that we took no action tonight,” Dowling said. “I will find out tomorrow (Wednesday) if the deadline can be extended until our July 6 meeting.”
Jeff Stubbs, who was at the meeting representing Sentinex, said the commission’s failure to act only delays his company’s plans.
Stubbs said Sentinex had planned to partner with North Georgia EMC to build the solar farm to produce electricity. Gordon County would get about $11,000 a year from the sale of power, but Stubbs said that amount would increase as electric rates go up over the next 10 years.
Stay out of the closed landfill during daylight hours. Sun is too much for you.
Who did the city take over water and sewer over from?
Poorly managed by decision maker Corn(something).
Need samples: 1) Occupies an entire school building. 2)Rebuilt drive up three times because decision maker can't read blueprint and did not like completed work. 3)One person receiving water bills on Friday. 4) Moved payment from downtown to nearly out of Gordon County. 5) Recently raised prices of both (to cover misguided derivatives play that blew up.) 6) no concern for what they will do when the economic recovery falters.
Bringing in millions - laughable.
The recent city budget article said that utilities brings in millions of dollars to the city. How often do you hear that in this economy?
Sounds like somebody got it right.
Why did they wait till the last minute to vote? "The deadline for accepting the GEFA grant was Tuesday, said County Administrator Randy Dowling." LATE for the notification so the grant may have been VOID even before the vote. I doubt the government office was open when they took the vote, so the deadline had already passed.
I guess $11,000 isn't much money when you are spending TONS on a re-election campaign plastering those signs everywhere WITHOUT the words re-election on them, so no-one will know you helped create this mess the taxpayers in this county are currently involved in.
WAKE-UP people! OUR property taxes went up these commissioners didn't, they spend like they have Gordon County Gold Cards on their "Trips and training sessions", and they do as they please, and approve covanents and restrictions to suit THEIR OWN or THEIR Family & FRIENDS prosperity.
It's time for Gordon County to be about the citizens not a select group only.
The bottom line is this, a grant was available that would have brought $300k to Gordon County, NOW that money will go elsewhere. No matter if you agree with the money being available, (and I don't) at least I could get to see some of my wasted federal and state dollars instead of someone in Alaska.
I see why she is such a Tom Graves fan, make the grandstand votes that don't really accomplish anything.