Columbia County must step up, monitor Corps

Editor:

I was very glad to see Robert Paveys article on the Savannah River in the Sunday, Jan. 19 News-Times. While he acknowledged some representation of Columbia County at the Jan. 15 public meeting sponsored by the Corps of Engineers, when the Corps acknowledged the areas represented (Augusta, North Augusta, Hartwell and representatives from the offices of two congressmen), Columbia County was conspicuously absent and was not mentioned by Pavey in his Jan. 16 article.

Columbia County is only one of many entities that utilize the Clarks Hill reservior and Savannah River for various projects. However, a number of Columbia County residents may not be aware of the economic impact which falls uniquely on our county - one of the latest being the commitment of tax money for new ramps at Wildwood Park. (These, however, have yet to appear.)

It seems obvious that there is a genuine need for our county officials to monitor and stay abreast of the Corps plan for the future, with one fairly easy mechanism being their representation at public meetings. One doubts that cloakroom caucuses alone have the ability to effectively bring the countys interests before the Corps.

Inez Wylds