On August 13, 2024, the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to change the Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance from half an acre of soil disturbance to a full acre, before mitigation is required.
This wasn’t done to benefit our farmers, because agricultural activity is already exempt. The extra sediment actually damages irrigation equipment.
We were told to “compromise” on our clean water protections and accept twice the sediment runoff, while in exchange they agreed they should do their jobs.
At the July 9th Public Hearing we were informed by [the] board that the problem was a lack of enforcement. Mr. Young and Mr. Shearl themselves admitted and detailed the ways the rules are deliberately being dodged.
Don’t you think that before weakening our protections, we should address the lack of enforcement first? Any of the Department of Planning and Code Enforcement staffing issues or lack of funding? It was not fair to Mr. Allen, who in the middle of these ordinance changes abruptly quit. And it’s not fair to Mr. Gibson who has taken on his role, to do several people’s jobs. They are working twice as hard with less funding to protect our most precious natural resource. This lack of enforcement costs the county in the long run. Please do both, and have strong ordinances and strong enforcement.
It was asked if any of us were property owners. Yes, six generations of my family have lived down beside Coweeta Creek. We want our precious mountain water running clear and clean. Our “Property Rights” don’t mean spit without clean water. My great-grandmother was recorded saying water was a blessing from the Almighty. That it was up to the individual to have sense enough to protect it.
Our community is united by our water. We all go to the water to be either Baptized, Healed, or Saved. To have our spirit refreshed and renewed by our creeks or our waterfalls. We don’t want muddy water. Neither do the fish, and if our fish aren’t happy, a chunk of our economy isn’t happy either. Dismiss that at your peril.
Several of us did not get to speak at the August meeting. We were informed that we would be allowed to speak at the next meeting. But later that evening, after most had left, Commissioners Young, Shearl, Higdon, and Shields voted it through anyway. Against months of overwhelming public opinion and opposition. Without consulting any qualified experts, and against the wishes of the experts present.
Next meeting will be September 10th, 6 p.m. at the Courthouse. Change to the Macon County Watershed Protection Ordinance. They want RV parks to be allowed a SNIA, Special Non-Residential Intensity Allocation.
Sarah Johnson, Otto