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Rootville residents report surveying work, urge county to clarify whether solar‑battery project will proceed
Summary
Residents at the March 4 Carroll County Board meeting said workers from a company called Bowman have been surveying a property owned by JA Rally LLC and that a utility was marking lines; speakers urged the county to confirm whether a previously withdrawn rezoning is restarting and warned of environmental and service impacts.
At the Board of Commissioners meeting March 4, Rootville residents used the public‑comment period to report new activity on land owned by JA Rally LLC and to press county officials for clarity about a possible solar and battery‑storage development.
Diane Merrill, a Rootville resident, told the board she had observed crews from a company identified as Bowman doing site work on the property and that utility crews had been marking phone lines and performing 811 locates. Merrill said the owner had previously submitted and then withdrawn a rezoning request for the agricultural parcel at the end of Glenlock Road.
“When approached by a local resident, Bowman workers indicated they were surveying the property and conducting soil and water conservation tests,” Merrill told commissioners. She asked directly whether the previously withdrawn proposal “is about to kick off again, as indicated by the recent activity,” and said neighbors were deeply concerned about the potential for an industrial project in their rural area.
Victor Parrish, who said his home on Milligan Creek is downstream from the Rally property, told the board he has paid for regular well testing and said past development nearby had already affected local wells. Parrish said he spent about $22,000 on a treatment system after earlier construction made his well water muddy; he added that Georgia Power has tested the well periodically. “This plant being built is a hazardous waste to the people that's on them farms,” Parrish said, telling commissioners the creek and springs near the property supply private wells.
Both speakers cited concerns about water and air quality, damage to the landscape and pressure on local services such as rural fire departments. Merrill urged the board to “look beyond the potential tax benefits and consider the significant, lasting impact” a large industrial project could have on a quiet rural neighborhood.
No county action was taken during the public‑comment period. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the comments; Ben Skipper, community development director, had previously presented a separate zoning matter on the agenda. No representative of Bowman or JA Rally spoke at the meeting and the record does not show a formal application before the board at this session.
Merrill and Parrish both said they would provide additional information to county staff. Merrill reported that an 811 locate and line‑marking had been observed and that she was asking the commission to confirm whether the prior proposal would be revived.
