Richmond Hill names special counsel to investigate possible contamination at former Caesarstone site

The Richmond Hill City Council unanimously appointed Bryan County Attorney Aaron Kappler on Feb. 3 to serve as special counsel, jointly with the city attorney, to investigate a potential public nuisance and related matters at the former Caesarstone site.

Councilmember Van Hunter moved to appoint Kappler and Councilmember Cindy Hatala seconded. The council voted in the affirmative on the motion after first amending the agenda to add the appointment item under OCGA 50-14-1(d)(3), citing new information about the property.

Kappler addressed the council before the vote, advising officials to preserve due process and neutrality so that affected parties receive a fair hearing. He outlined the legal framework for declaring a property a public nuisance under Georgia law and said recent site reports (as of Feb. 2, 2026) showed concerning results, including silica contamination, hazardous waste drums on site, and elevated arsenic levels. Kappler recommended protecting and preserving the site until a full assessment confirms it poses no risk to the public and said the entity responsible for any contamination would be legally required to remediate it.

Mayor Kristi Cox said the city would issue a joint statement the following day to explain the investigation and next steps to residents.

The appointment followed an earlier procedural motion to add the item to the agenda under state open-meeting and emergency-addition provisions (OCGA 50-14-1(d)(3)). The motion to amend the agenda was made by Councilmember Van Hunter and seconded by Councilmember Steve Scholar; that amendment also passed unanimously.

Next steps described in council discussion include a coordinated investigation with Bryan County and the local Development Authority; the motion and Kappler’s remarks did not specify a timeline for completion of the investigation or a public-release schedule for testing results.