Apalachee River Residents Have 2 Chance To Speak Out This Week

Residents in Morgan and Oconee counties who live along the Apalachee River and are opposed to the proposed intake facility on the river in Morgan County for the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir have two opportunities this week to voice their concerns.

The Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Management Board has set aside two times for public comment on its agenda for its meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the historic Courthouse in downtown Monroe–one at the beginning and another near the end.

The meeting is a joint one with the Walton County Water and Sewer Authority, which actually holds the permit for the intake facility on the Apalachee River and is seeking approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for modification of that permit to accommodate the Morgan County site.

The Morgan County Board of Commissioners has scheduled public comment on the intake facility at the front of its 5 p.m. meeting at the Administration Building, 150 East Washington Street in Madison.

The Greater Apalachee River Community, which has organized in opposition to the intake facility and asked the Corps of Engineers to hold a Public Hearing on the permit modifications, is urging its members to attend both meetings.

Elisha Brannon, Corps of Engineers project manager for the Walton County permit modification request, said on Friday that the Corps has not yet made any decision on the request for a Public Hearing.

For more on the story and a video of a meeting held at the Bear Creek Reservoir intake facility, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: John Daniell (left) with citizens at Bear Creek Reservoir.