Letter to Editor

A letter to the editor in the Blackshear Times calls for Brantley County, Georgia, to purchase a 423-acre tract of land currently owned by Brantley County Development Partners. The author, a concerned citizen, suggests that acquiring the property would prevent its use as a dump site, for which a permit was previously approved for a 123-acre portion on the south side of Highway 82. The letter argues that purchasing the land, which has an asking price of $14 million (with the county previously offering $10 million), would allow the exploration of alternative uses such as mining, a second industrial park, or a holding inventory area for businesses linked to the Port. Crucially, it would also provide an opportunity for Brantley County citizens to have a direct say via a November 2 ballot initiative on whether data centers should be allowed to locate in the county. The author criticizes the idea of three county commissioners unilaterally deciding on an issue of this magnitude and highlights that data centers do not create many permanent jobs after construction. While acknowledging that Commissioner Randy Davison stated he doesn't believe a dump will materialize and that an incinerator is a possibility, the author emphasizes that county ownership would facilitate a thorough exploration of all options, including data centers, under public scrutiny. Citizens are urged to attend County Commissioner's meetings in Nahunta to participate in future decisions.