The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net

   On April 19th, with the stroke of his pen to sign House Bill 1298, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue started the clock ticking on the formation of the Preston-Weston-Webster County Charter and Unification Commission, a group of nine men and women, to be appointed locally, who will study all aspects of the three local governments in Webster County for the purpose of deciding whether or not a consolidated government should be formed.
   The legislation requires that the County Commission appoint four members, Preston two members and Weston one member, within 30 days of the bill becoming law. Those seven members will have 15 days to appoint two additional members. The first seven appointments are expected to be made by the respective governments before May 19.
   At the April meeting of the County Commission, members decided to ask that 39 residents consider allowing themselves to be appointed to the Charter and Unification Commission. Of that list, 33 were actually contacted, with the other six being declared ineligible because they were not registered to vote. The County Commission intends to make its four appointments from the list of those who respond that they are willing to serve.
   The work of the Charter and Unification Commission will begin shortly after its formation and must conclude by August 31, 2008. By that time, they are required to reach one of two decisions: recommend the formation of a consolidated government, or they may recommend the consolidation of certain services. If a consolidated government is recommended, the Commission would draft a proposed charter that would be submitted to the voters for approval or rejection.
   In order for a consolidated government to actually be created, the voters of Webster County and the City of Preston would have to approve, each by a majority vote. If the voters of both approve, and if the voters of Weston approve, a consolidation of all three governments would occur. If the County and Preston approve, but Weston rejects the merger, a consolidated government would be formed between Preston and the County. Weston would retain its own government. Georgia law provides that a city with less than 10 percent of the county’s total population cannot hold a veto over the merger process. If either the County or Preston rejects the measure, a consolidated government would not be formed, regardless of the vote in Weston.
   Webster County Commission Chairman Dave Wills said that the process would be an interesting experience inasmuch as people outside of the local governments would be taking a careful, critical look at all processes, with an eye towards improving governmental functions.
   “At the end of the process, whether or not consolidation is recommended, I think we will all have learned a great deal about how to make our government better, more efficient and more effective in meeting the challenges facing us,” said Wills.