Water Authority, County Meet with Newton County

Members of the Jasper County Water Authority along with the Jasper County Commissioners attended a work session in Covington on November 24.

The groups met with members of the Newton County Commission to hear a presentation from Newton County attorney Tommy Craig about the Bear Creek Reservoir.

According to a report in The Covington News, the proposal calls for Jasper County to be responsible for paying 25 percent of the cost to build the reservoir. So far, Newton County has spent $8.3 million for costs such as land acquisition and legal fees, the report said.
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Jasper County’s portion of that would be about $2 million, or $35,000 a quarter, according to the report in The Covington News. Jasper County would also pay 25 percent of all future costs.

In return, Newton County would sell Jasper County 25 percent of the reservoir’s capacity and would deed 25 percent of all land acquired to date over to Jasper County, with the exception of Gaither Plantation, Mr. Craig said in the presentation.

He also explained the need for the reservoir. He said it would yield 28 million gallons per day.
The agreement between the two counties will last 50 years. Jasper County was to vote on the matter at Monday’s meeting, with Newton County planning to vote on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

At Monday’s regular commission meeting that action was postponed because of the death of Newton County Commissioner Billy Strickland. The item will be taken up at the December 15 meeting.

Several Jasper County taxpayers expressed concern about the proposal, and asked several questions. Commission Chairman Russell Bennett said he could not answer the questions as they related to acquisition of real estate or attorney/client privilege.

There was some question among those present if those objections were valid, as the details had already been aired in the Newton County meeting.
Sam Hay, a resident of Newton County who says he also manages an estate in Jasper County, spoke to the Jasper County Commissioners in strong opposition to the project.

Mr. Hay presented the commissioners with a four page report and two attachments explaining why they should not take part in the venture. He urged the Jasper County Commissioners to hire their own independent engineers and consultants, rather than taking someone else’s word for it.

He also suggested if the county chooses to enter the agreement that it get a performance bond.

The regular Jasper County Water and Sewerage Authority meeting scheduled for the first Tuesday in each month was postponed this month.

The Jasper County Commissioners are to consider the reservoir question at their meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.