Gainers Frustrated By Lack Of Help With Project

Brothers George and Grant Gainer are frustrated and have been for some time now.
The Gainers have partnered with NextEra Energy, one of the world’s largest electric utility holding companies, to place a solar farm on a portion of the Gainers’ land in the Brooker community near Denton. To make the plan work, NextEra needs a tax abatement of $290,000,000 and, in return, the property taxes on the solar farm would generate $32,000,000 in tax revenue for both the county and the Jeff Davis County Board of Education.
George Gainer attended last Thursday’s County Commission meeting and explained that he and his brother are backing the project with no obligation to the county. In addition to attending numerous County Commission meetings, George Gainer has attended Joint Development Authority (JDA) meetings to explain the project and to ask for the JDA’s backing on the project.
“I don’t know why the JDA will not get behind it,” Gainer said. “I don’t understand why we can’t get approval.”
George Gainer also asked why the County Commission needs the JDA’s approval and can’t act on its own to grant the tax abatement.
“We’re frustrated that we can’t get anywhere,” George Gainer told the commissioners.
In a humorous side note to Gainer’s addressing the commissioners, when he first asked if he could talk to the group, Commission Chairman Hank Hobbs told him, “Well, no you can’t.” He couldn’t speak because he had not filled out a required form asking the commission if he could make a public comment and explaining what he wanted to comment about. So, Gainer got the required form, filled it out and, then, the commissioners allowed him to speak.
In other action at Thursday’s meeting, the commissioners ….
…. reappointed commissioners as ex-officio members of various boards: Ricky Crosby to the Health Department Board, the Library Board and the JDA; Vann Wooten to the Hospital Board and Southeast Regional Development Authority; James Benjamin to the Recreation Department Board and Seven Rivers Board; Wooten and James Emory Tate to the Insurance Committee; Tate to the Heart of Georgia RDC Board as the county representative and Wooten as a community board member.
…. approved the 2024 meeting dates as presented by County Administrator Heather Scott and change the Feb. 13 meeting date to Feb. 20.
…. approved a Mental Health Resolution as presented by Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
…. amended the county’s retirement plan as presented by Scott.
…. briefly discussed the roads to be improved through the State’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant funds.
…. agreed to advertise for bids on 4-H building plans.
…. heard from Tate who discussed signage for roads in his district.
…. met in closed session to discuss personnel.
…. agreed to advertise for a county attorney for two weeks.