Leaders Discuss Politics Over Pastries

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce hosted its “Politics and Pastries” post-legislative session wrap-up Friday morning at the Mitchell Allen Meeting Room in downtown Toccoa. Both 50th District State Senator John Wilkinson and 28th District State Representative Dan Gasaway attended the event.  Gasaway said the lawmakers are still at the beginning of what will be a detailed process.  “That is what we are in the process of doing is evaluating what the Corps says and measuring it and seeing if we can find a solution that works for everybody,” said Gasaway. “It is not easy. There are a lot of complicated issues. It is very rarely black and white, but we know a lake being 15 feet down is not in our economic best interest and that is black and white.”  The discussion then moved to Wilbros.  Local leaders thanked the two state legislators for opposing language that would have changed the definition of composting.  Wilkinson said he has met with state officials on multiple occasions, including Georgia Environmental Protection Division Judson Turner.  “I said (to Turner) that the perception in Stephens County is whatever the court orders, they (Wilbros) always get an extension, they always make an exception, and they can do whatever they want to without any consequences,” said Wilkinson. “I told (Turner) I think if you just shut them down until they get those improvements made, that would give them an incentive to get it done a little quicker. That is what I have communicated."  The two men also touched a number of other issues, including state revenues and ethics reform.

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