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Willingham family presses county on water, paving and road-name change; resident warns about data-center risks
Summary
Multiple public commenters raised community needs: the Willingham family asked the county to study water access, road paving and a road-name discrepancy; another resident spoke about property-assessment mechanics; a local commenter urged caution about data‑center growth and energy-grid stress.
During the public‑comment period July 7, several residents asked the Board of Commissioners for help with longstanding local issues and raised broader policy concerns.
Helen Willingham (S17) and Christina Willingham (S19) said family land purchased in 1945 has no direct county water access and requested county assistance exploring connections and potential paving for Beehive Drive (previously shown on some maps as Willingham Drive). Staff reported the closest 12‑inch water main is on Mistletoe Road, with the nearest hydrant about 350 feet from Beehive Drive, and suggested staff would take the request under advisement and work with family representatives to research right‑of‑way and feasibility.
Timothy Aldrich (S9) asked about property taxation and whether homeowners could voluntarily increase assessed values to pay higher taxes; staff explained assessment and tax valuation rules are administered by the independent board of assessors under Department of Revenue guidelines and that owners cannot simply opt in to higher valuations for taxation purposes.
Susan Warren (S14) asked whether the county planned to amend its data‑center ordinance to require performance or surety bonds for future data‑center projects. She cited national reporting and a federal alert to PJM operators during a recent heat wave as context for concern about grid strains and the climate resilience of data centers. Commissioners and staff responded that no new county data centers had been filed for permitting, that the county is monitoring related issues and that Georgia Power is the local provider prepared to manage generation needs.
Staff offered to research the Willingham family’s requests and to coordinate follow‑up meetings for the water and road‑naming questions; commissioners encouraged the residents to identify a single point of contact for staff coordination.
