Dougherty Commissioner Harry James continues to monitor Sabal Trail gas pipeline

ALBANY — Noting the ongoing opposition to the Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline slated to come through a portion of southwest Dougherty County, District 5 County Commissioner Harry James criticized Sabal Trail for its apparent plans to use a Texas-based company to control waste during construction of the 465-mile, $3 billion-plus pipeline.

James brought up the issue during the commission’s business meeting Monday morning.

“Sabal Trail is moving forward, but there are still a lot of people — especially in District 5 — who are opposed to it,” James said, adding a Texas company had filed an easement that he assumed was for portable toilets.

“The thing about it is,” he said, “there are a lot of companies right here in Albany that provide that service, and as far as I know none of them have been contacted.

“There is a concern among people in the district that, because this is a rural area, an outside company might come in and dump waste in a wooded area rather than doing so legally.”

James’ comments came in response to Dougherty Superior Court Judge Denise Marshall’s ruling that confirmed Sabal Trails right to claim an easement through the process of eminent domain.

Marshall wrote in her ruling, “Sabal Trail is indefeasibly vested with legal title to the permanent easement sought in this action … (and) may record this final judgment … among the land records of Dougherty County. Just compensation for the easement in the amount of $5,000, which has been paid into the court’s registry, is awarded and shall be released by the clerk of court to the State Properties Commission.”

District 2 Commissioner John Hayes, the commission’s vice chairman who chaired Monday’s meeting in the absence of Chairman Chris Cohilas, praised James for his continued vigilance in the Sabal Trail matter.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board:

— Approved the purchase of six Ford Police Interceptors for the Dougherty County Police Department from Sunbelt Ford Town of Albany in the amount of $147,409.98;

— OK’d the purchase of a Ford Escape for the Dougherty District Attorney’s office for $20,495.97 from Ford Town;

— Agreed to a $27,997 contract with Ford Town for purchase of a Ford Pursuit SUV for the sheriff’s office;

— Approved the $274,966 purchase of two ambulances for EMS from Custom Truck and Body Works of Woodbury, Ga.;

— OK’d the purchase of a John Deere Tractor for $58,287.24 from Flint Ag & Turf in Leesburg for Public Works;

— Agreed to a $55,349 contract with Kellerman Construction of Valdosta for a judge’s bench in Magistrate Court.

Funding came from the county’s Capital Improvement Project and SPLOST VI budgets.

The board also agreed to reappoint Carolyn Hand to the Department of Family and Children Services Board and agreed to a resolution by which the Dougherty County Police Department will assist Turner Job Corps in performing law enforcement duties.