07 LC
25 4788
House
Resolution 271
By:
Representatives Benfield of the
85th,
Brooks of the
63rd,
Jamieson of the
28th,
Thomas of the
100th,
Buckner of the
130th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
the objection of the House of Representatives to any changes from the current
status as to the selection of supervisors of Soil and Water Conservation
Districts; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
some 370 Georgians, from all walks of life, voluntarily serve as supervisors of
the state's 40 Soil and Water Conservation Districts; and
WHEREAS,
this service by these citizens is of immense value to the state and its people,
preserving the soils of productive farmland and the quality of the water in the
state's lakes and streams by preventing sediment from washing into them;
and
WHEREAS,
195 of the supervisors are elected, and these elected supervisors in each
district recommend the 175 supervisors to be appointed by the State Soil and
Water Conservation Commission; and it is this method of selection that makes
each Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor a devoted advocate to the
citizens of his or her district, providing the unique people´s component of
the districts; and
WHEREAS,
at least one supervisor in each county in the state is elected by the people of
that county; and
WHEREAS,
a decision has been made by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission to
change the status of district supervisors in the state to an all appointed
supervisor system; and
WHEREAS,
the elected Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors from several
populous counties in the state have objected to a proposal to change the status
of these members; and
WHEREAS,
these protesting elected and appointed district supervisors were selected by the
voters and Soil and Water Conservation District Boards composed of their fellow
citizens, and they take pride in the confidence expressed by their fellow
citizens in their work; and
WHEREAS,
changing the status of these supervisors removes the right of people to choose
their district elected officials; and
WHEREAS,
the selection of Georgians as district supervisors has been embodied in the
law, now codified at Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, since enactment of the Act that created the Soil and Water
Conservation Districts in Georgia in 1937.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that it is the
sentiment of this House that it objects to any change in the manner of selecting
both by election and appointment these dedicated members of local Soil and Water
Conservation District Boards.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to each member of
the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission.