RESOLUTION BY THE SOUTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

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RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLANDS

WHEREAS, Congress has appropriated $1.3 Million for a study to determine the need and feasibility of constructing an interstate highway (hereinafter referred to as I-3) from Savannah, Ga. to Knoxville, Tenn.; and

WHEREAS, I-3, if constructed would possibly traverse through or near Macon County, North Carolina, where the Town of Highlands is located; and

WHEREAS, neither the State of North Carolina nor any County in Western North Carolina was consulted before hand on legislation introduced in the US Congress by the Georgia Congressional delegation regarding the placement of an interstate highway through the Southern Appalachian mountains; and

WHEREAS, the beauty of our region is the main asset that draws tourism, which feeds the economy of the Town of Highlands. Therefore, the construction of a federal interstate highway through the existing rugged terrain of Western North Carolina would have a devastating environmental, economic, cultural and aesthetic impact on these mountains, including the Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and

WHEREAS, this interstate highway has little support from Highlands residents and their elected representatives at the local, state, and federal levels, who prefer such monies be allocated for the repair of existing highway infrastructure, including unsafe bridges; and

WHEREAS, in support and solidarity with our neighboring counties and towns in NE Georgia and western North Carolina (including the Macon County Board of Commissioners), who have expressed their clear opposition to this interstate highway;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Highlands is respectfully opposed to a federally-funded interstate corridor called I-3 (or any other name for such a corridor).

Adopted on March 1, 2006

Signed by: Don Mullen, Mayor
Notarized by: Richard Betz, Town Clerk

MACON COUNTY, N.C.

Lumpkin Commissioners Oppose I-3,
Support Local Highway Infrastructure

Read the resolution (pdf)

Clay Co., N.C. Commissioners
State Reasons, Opposition to I-3

RESOLUTION BY THE CLAY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

WHEREAS, The Clay County Board of Commissioners recognizes that in order for county government to function effectively, the governing board and citizenry must be informed of and part of the planning processes in which Clay County is involved, and

WHEREAS, The federal government has appropriated funds for a feasibility study and intends to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed interstate highway, referred to as Interstate 3, extending from Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee, which would possibly enter onto and through portions of Clay County, and

WHEREAS, To date Clay County has been excluded from any substantive involvement in the planning process surrounding the feasibility study for I-3, and

WHEREAS, Because of the possibility of negative ramifications surrounding the construction of Interstate 3 in the form of lost ad valorem revenue, environmental impacts, and lost tourism revenue;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Clay County Commission objects to and opposes the construction of the proposed Interstate 3 because neither Clay County government nor its citizens have been included as participants in the feasibility study and planning process.

Adopted this 1st day of December, 2005.

Stephen C. Sellers, Chairman
Clay County Commission

Mountain People Represented!

Habersham, Rabun, White, Towns County Commissioners
Statements All Formally Oppose I-3

Habersham County Commissioners

Habersham County Commissioners sent the following letter opposing Interstate 3 to U.S. Representative Charles Norwood, to U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, and Johnny Isakson, and to Georgia State Representatives Nancy Shaefer and Ben Bridges.

August 5, 2005

The Honorable Charles Norwood
Member, U. S. House of Representatives
2452 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax: 202-226-0776

Dear Congressman Norwood:

We are writing to you to express our uneasiness with the proposed I-3 study. This opinion is shared by the overwhelming majority of our community and as best as we can tell, all of the communities in Northeast Georgia. We’re sure you’ve been inundated with calls, e-mails, letters and resolutions expressing opposition to an interstate highway in this area. Thus, we’ll be succinct. We feel the highway would adversely impact environmentally sensitive areas, natural resources, and quite simply our quality of life. We see no benefits from the road that would overcome the harm it would cause.

We respectfully request that you give serious consideration to the concerns we’ve outlined here, those expressed by other groups and governmental entities and the significant breadth and depth of the opposition to the interstate and not pursue the study if the route would be located in extreme northeastern Georgia.

Cordially,

Lynne M. Dockery, Chairperson
Jim B. Butterworth, Jr., Vice-Chair
Rick M. Austin, Ph.D., Board Member
Dr. Brenda Garland, Board Member
Douglas R. Vermilya, Board Member

Rabun County Commissioners

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, a feasibility study is in the process of being conducted to determine the feasibility of constructing an interstate which will be known as Interstate 3 (hereinafter referred to as I-3); and

WHEREAS, I-3, if constructed, would possibly traverse through or near Rabun County, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the construction of a federal interstate highway either through or in close proximity to Rabun County, Georgia, would have a devastating environmental, economic, cultural and aesthetic affect on Rabun County; and

WHEREAS, a large number of Rabun County citizens and leaders have voiced their objection to an interstate highway coming through or near Rabun County, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Rabun County Board of Commissioners act as the representatives and voice of the people of Rabun County;

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Rabun County Board of Commissioners that it is opposed to a federally-funded interstate highway corridor being routed through or near Rabun County, Georgia.

Resolved this Tuesday, 23rd day of August, 2005

Rabun County Board of Commissioners
Eston Melton, Commissioner

Attest: Debbie Westberg, Clerk

White County Commissioners

The following letter, which "does not endorse, and, in fact, does oppose" Interstate 3 being routed "through White County or the Northeast Georgia Mountain area" was sent by White County Commissioners to:

U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson
U.S. Representatives Nathan Deal and Charles Norwood
Honorable Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue
Honorable Harold E. Linnenkohl, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia State Senators Nancy Shaefer and Chip Pearson (Secretary, Transportation Committee)
Georgia State Representatives Ben Bridges, Charles Jenkins and Stacey Reece
Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Honorable J. Richard Capka, Federal Highway Administration

At the White County Board of Commissioners' meeting held August 2, 2005, there was a great deal of opposition to the proposed Interstate 3 and its projected route through the Northeast Georgia area.

As Commissioners, we recognize that adequate transportation is one of the greatest needs in our rural but fast-growing area. However, the Northeast Georgia Mountains are unique and a haven for vacationers and retirees, as well as home to many irreplaceable historical sites. We must be both planners for the future and protectors of our environment — and heritage.

Proposed major changes, such as the I-3 project, deserve much study and contemplation before any action should be taken that could have devastating effects on our beautiful rural area. With those thoughts in mind and based on the current information and the needs currently expressed, the White County Board of Commissioners does not endorse and, in fact, does oppose any Interstate 3 project that would have a route through White County or the Northeast Georgia Mountain area.

On behalf of White County, we ask that you keep us informed and that we be involved in the process, plans, studies, etc. on this very controversial project. I am sure you can understand our concerns.

Thank you for your time and consideration to this matter.

Chris Nonnemaker, Chair
Dennis Bergin
Craig Bryant

White County Board of Commissioners

Towns County Commissioner

RESOLUTION

Office of the Commissioner, Towns County, Georgia

Controversy over the proposal to construct an Interstate highway known as Interstate -3, hereafter referred to as “I-3”, through the heartland of the southern Appalachians has grown significantly during the last 7 months, as a result of numerous public informational meetings; and

As Commissioner, I know the immense value of good road infrastructure thorough out our fast growing county. Towns County needs a safe & well maintained road network that adequately serves the citizens of Towns County. However, an Interstate in Towns County is unnecessary and would negatively impact our environment for present and future generations.

Therefore, as sole Towns County Commissioner, I hereby make the following RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS, the Federally funded feasibility study for I-3 (Savannah Ga. to Knoxville Tenn.) has commenced, or is about to commence; and

WHEREAS, the present route of I-3 is currently unknown, but does not exclude Towns County, Ga.; and

WHEREAS, the construction of any interstate highway through the southern Appalachians or specifically Towns County, Ga. would have a devastating environmental, economic, cultural and aesthetic impact, and severely harm the quality of life, historical landmarks, cemeteries, churches and farms and the livelihood of Towns County citizens;

NOW THEREFORE, I HEREBY RESOLVE, as Commissioner of Towns County, that I am opposed to the construction of I-3 specifically in Towns County and in the Southern Appalachian corridor. I further urge all like minded citizens to show their opposition to I-3 by signing the petition that has been drafted by the STOP I-3 coalition, and is now in circulation in Towns County.

RESOLVED this 9th day of January, 2006

Signed: _____________(signed )____________________

Bill P. Kendall
Sole Commissioner, Towns County, Georgia