Hall Commissioners look at development moratorium

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners Thursday night agreed to look at bringing a temporary halt to new development because of the drought.

Commissioner Bobby Banks proposed studying a moratorium to support efforts to conserve Lake Lanier's dwindling water supply.

"I think we need to study over the next month about maybe putting a moratorium on new developments, maybe something to show our concern for the shortage of water, maybe for 90 days or something like that," Banks said.

Commission Chairman Tom Oliver separately proposed piping water from Cedar Creek Reservoir in North Hall County to Gainesville or building a separate water treatment plant at that reservoir.

Oliver said the reservoir, in the Oconee River basin, was full and could provide up to two million gallons of water a day to the drought stricken Gainesville area.

SPOUT SPRINGS ROAD AGREEMENT

Heavily traveled Spout Springs Road in south Hall County becomes a temporary state route under a D.O.T. rewidening agreement by the Commission.

According to Commissioner Banks the county designs the project and committs $1-million;federal and state dollars buy the right of way and pay for construction.

Banks said the DOT agreement could move project completion up from 2020 to 2010.