Toccoa group lobbies in D.C

Local leaders say they are hopeful about receiving support for two major initiatives to help spur economic growth in the community.

Toccoa Mayor Bob Troup, Stephens County Commission chairman Dean Scarborough, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce chairman Lee Hicks, development authority chairman Cam Parker and development authority executive director Tim Martin recently returned from a series of meetings with Georgia’s Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.

While in the nation’s capitol, the local contingent sought support for the widening of Highway 17 to I-85 and the Toccoa-Stephens County Infrastructure Improvement Plan, which would provide sewer access to unserved areas and create growth opportunities to help us achieve economic viability.

The improvement plan has been previously reviewed and authorized, but not yet appropriated.

"Our trip to Washington, D.C. proved that two things are evident in the way our government works,” Scarborough said.

“The first is that we have representation, but if we don’t let our representatives know what our needs and objectives are, then our issues will not stand out,” he said.

“The second thing I came away with is that it is much more effective for our leaders in Washington to see a face instead of just a voice or a name when we make contact with them,” Scarborough said.

“I thought this was a very productive trip and well worth the time and effort. The meetings with our senators and Congressman Deal and Congressman Broun went well,” Hicks said.

“It was good for us to be focused on our core issues of the sewer project, the widening of Highway 17, and the water level in Lake Hartwell,” Hicks said.

“I was impressed with our representatives because they seemed to be up to speed on these issues and were ready and willing to discuss them. We received some encouraging comments,” he said.

“Our trip was both rewarding and discouraging,” Troup said.

“We learned that DOT is definitely going to complete the acquisition of rights of way for both the first section and the second section of Highway 17,” he said.

“On the first seven miles, 80 percent of the property needed has already been purchased. That’s the good news. The bad news is that our sewer expansion project will take longer than we had anticipated,” Troup said.

“This trip gave us the opportunity to tell our story and to provide compelling reasons as to why we are good partners,” Parker said.

“We have a 100-year track record of industrial and business success. We have workers who are among the most productive in the world and we have a united community that supports our economic development efforts - we have put our money where our mouths are,” Parker said.

“Our legislators need to understand that given the chance, our community and its citizens will produce good returns on their investment. This visit was designed to help them help us, and I believe we accomplished that goal,” he said.

Pictured: Cam Parker, Bob Troup, Dean Scarborough, Senator Johnny Isakson, Lee Hicks, Tim Martin.