Condemnation 'threat' got land for new park from Doctors Hospital

Editor:

In Tom Werner's Nov. 13 letter, "'Monopoly' government like Grovetown's might work in the county, too," he states that Columbia County "paid market value" for the 17-acre tract of land that is located behind Kroger.

There is more to that story. In a story by Preston Sparks in the Nov. 12, 2004 Chronicle, "Officials push to get land behind grocery," Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross is said to have told Doctors Hospital CEO Shayne George that the Columbia County Commission was prepared to condemn the property if need be.

Then Cross is quoted as having said, "We're not threatening anybody." Well, what was Cross doing? Sounds like a threat to me. This was not just a threat made against Doctors Hospital. It was a threat made against every Columbia County citizen's property rights.

Cross and his friends seem to have an agenda and will use whatever tactics necessary to achieve that agenda. His "progressive" plan seems to consist of congestion, traffic lights and parking lots and will soon include consolidation of the unincorporated areas of Concrete, uh, I mean Columbia County.

By the way, no disclaimer accompanied Werner's letter identifying him as a member of the Columbia County Construction Advisory Board.

Bill Quattlebaum

Evans