by Kathy Foster
The County Annex in Chipley was full Thursday morning for the monthly meeting of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.
Residents from the Rolling Pines Subdivision area in southeastern Washington County turned out in force to ask the county commissioners to help get their roads re-opened and address the horrendous flooding problems the area is experiencing.
Commission Chair Tray Hawkins told the crowd that the county officials are working every avenue possible to get help for the area and have even spent several days in Tallahassee working tirelessly to get support at that level.
Commissioner Steve Joyner reminded the crowd that Washington County is not the only area facing major problems. “The surrounding counties are having the same problems,” noted Joyner.
Most of the county residents speaking out at the meeting said roadways in the area have been under water since November, many are impassable, and that the problem just keeps getting worse.
One of the most serious complaints centered on the fact that emergency vehicles are having major problems getting into the area, and that the Sheriff’s Office is having to increase patrols in the area.
Residents also expressed concerns about health problems being aggravated by septic tanks and drainage fields being underwater.
One resident pointed out that every pine tree takes in about 55 gallons of water a day and with the massive amount of trees lost to Hurricane Michael the groundwater tables are now extremely high throughout the area. They estimated that it will take another 40 to 50 years before the pine forests again consume the amount of groundwater they did prior to the hurricane.
Asked who the people should reach out to for help, other than the county commissioners, Hawkins said the BOCC would be posting a list of possible contacts on the County’s Website and suggested residents reach out to all of their elected officials at every level of government.
None of those speaking at Thursday’s meeting blamed the commisisoners for the problems they are experiencing, but simply wanted to express their frustration and seek help.
Retired Professional Engineer Orren Shumaker told commissioners there are health issues occuring when flooding happens. He pointed out that seepage from septic tanks and drain fields make downstream water contaminated, which presents a health hazard to homes downstream that have private wells. He recommended that Washington County hire Professional Engineer to survey the entire drainage system and design a remedy for the flooding problem.
Dealing the agenda items during Thursday’s meeting, commissioners took the following actions:
- Approved the Chairman signing a letter of support for the Miss Washington County Pageant for participation in the Peanut Festival.
- Approved the Chairman signing a contract with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
- Approved accepting an offer of $1,800 from James and Kathy Gesslien to purchase County Owned Parcel #02-0268-0010 and prepare a deed transferring ownership.
- Approved making application for State Grant for GIS verification and updates.
- Approved the chairman signing the 2019-2020 contract for 911 Dispatch equipment located at the Sheriff’s Office.
- Approved the chairman submitting a letter regarding the disparity of gas prices between counties.
- Approved December 2018 vouchers totaling $1,576,709.39.
- Approved an application from Bobby Padgett for a Future Land Use Map amendment from Agriculture/Silviculture to General Commercial for 2,500 square feet of land on the south side of I-10, one-quarter mile west of Foxworth Road.
- Approved an application from Gabriel Berry for a Future Land Use Map amendment from Agriculture/Silviculture to General Commerical for 3.4 acres of land at 2152 State Road 77.
- Approved an application from Kelly Brock for a Future Land Use Map amendment from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential, for 1.0 acre of land at 900 Nearing Hills Road.
- Approved a truck/equipment purchase in the amount of $40,000 requested by Fire Coordinator Rick Kerr. The truck/equipment is to be stationed at the Sunny Hills Fire Department.
- Approved a budget amendment transferring $130,000 from the General Fund to Transportation for equipment lease.