Residents of Jackson, Barrow, Oconee and Clarke counties should be outraged at their public officials for voting last week to grant special privileges to some residents based on where they live.
The Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority voted to limit use of the Bear Creek Reservoir by the public to three days a week, but grant seven-days-a-week access to owners of property adjacent to the lake. Several went so far as to suggest that people who bought “lakefront” (actually, no private property touches the lake) lots must be given priority treatment.
Exactly what makes the general public less entitled than the owners of Bear Creek Estates and other developments? What rights do citizens forfeit for lack of proximity to the reservoir? Why do our officials believe that a select few residents deserve more than twice as much use of a public facility than the other 99.9 percent of the population?
The authority has created a public relations disaster with its restrictive approach to use of the lake almost from day one. It is only with great reluctance that the authority agreed to keep its commitment to open the lake to fishing, but every time it discusses the subject of public use, the authority provides a fresh reminder that the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority would rather the public have no access.
Truthfully, this lake should be open on a first come, first served basis seven days a week with little or no fee to fishermen, canoeists and kayakers — and to anyone else whose watercraft has no gas or diesel engine and is seaworthy and who will abide by reasonable regulations related to preserving water quality, maintaining public safety and protecting the fishery. That would have been less costly for both the authority and the users of the lake, provided greater access and kept the authority from looking like control freaks.
But having decided to tightly control public access, the authority is morally and legally bound to treat all of its citizens equally. It can no more grant favored status to residents of one development than it can deny equal access to individuals of a particular racial, ethnic or political group. Its granting of greater privilege to up to 200 residents because they happen to live within view of the lake is wrong and smacks of elitism.
If the residents of adjacent property think they have some vested rights in the lake that are greater than those of residents of Jefferson, Commerce or Nicholson, they’re also wrong. Many apparently were told they’d have access to the lake and bought land on the edge of authority property for that reason, but that’s a misunderstanding between the buyers and the developers, and it in no way warrants giving those people special privileges.
The authority is dead wrong to create two classes of citizens — the privileged and the not-so-privileged — in regard to use of this lake. The citizens of Jackson, Barrow, Oconee and Clarke counties should express their outrage to their elected officials and demand that all residents have equal rights and equal access to the Bear Creek Reservoir.
More government by the people, for the people!
Oh, wait...not so much, eh?
Just another example of the arrogant, elitist, power-mad governmental "authority".
Don't you LOVE all of these "authorities"?
I don't recall having much of a say in granting "authority" to all of these "authorities"...do you?
Sounds more like authoritarians to me. But if we called it what it truly is, "The Upper Oconee Basin Water Authoritarians", someone might get upset. And we just couldn't have that, now could we?
The phrase "for the PEOPLE" keeps ringing in my head, but it is obviously just a fading memory in the state of Georgia.
It's a shame. And a disgrace. But none of the authoritarians have a trace of shame. In their petty arrogance they will look down their noses at you with contempt and disdain.
For the people. For the people. For the...who?
They have been using the lake since it had enough water in it to float a boat and no one has done anything.
Who are these people making these rules?? What gives them the right to dictate the use of public land??.
Why not build a beach, park maybe a playground and a shelter. ??
The fish will not care but I'll bet allot of people would enjoy it.
be paying ALL the bills related to this property.
Basically if the county as a whole if paying the bills , ALL
the taxpayers should have the same priviledges. Thats not that hard to understand.