Take Me To Post Comment Form It wasn't the first time, nor will it be the last, that Tom Ratcliffe said a mouthful. The former Hinesville mayor - in his private capacity as an attorney - spoke to the Liberty County Commission this month in favor of a rezoning to allow location of a sand mine in the Fleming vicinity.

Although a sand mine is basically a big hole in the ground which some citizens may not like, safeguards and provisions for continual monitoring are in place. Environmental concerns seemed to be dealt with, particularly in the presentation of Dr. Harold Reheis, a longtime director of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division. Reheis is now a consultant for Joe Tanner Associates. Tanner is a former DNR commissioner and holder of other top state jobs.

The sand mine project appeared to be sound, and the Liberty Consolidation Planning Commission agreed with its professional staff in recommending the rezoning with conditions to safeguard the public interest. And the county commissioners went along unanimously.

One of the points Ratcliffe made, a minor one, actually, was that Savannah Sand had chosen the Liberty site, "On their own, without any inducement or benefit from any development authority," adding, "They are fully subject to taxation." (As a just-retired member of the Liberty County Development Authority who remains a key LCDA advisor. Mr. Ratcliffe knows about such things.)

This idea caught my attention. I don't speak for Mr. Ratcliffe or his clients, and all I know is what was presented in the commissioners meeting or in the public documents. Here's the way it seems to me:

Savannah Sand Co. became aware of a desirable site in Liberty County. They negotiated for the property and complied with the necessary legal and regulatory provisions. Soon they will have an active business providing a needed product. I think it's an example of what we used to call capitalism or free enterprise.

What is noteworthy is what Savannah Sand did not do. They did not approach any local government bodies saying, "What will you give us if we locate in Liberty County?"

They didn't ask some publicly funded unit to purchase the land they selected and then lease it back to them in a sweetheart deal. (Thus removing it from the tax digest.) They expect to pay their fair share of property taxes.

Savannah Sand Co. hasn't told anyone (as far as I know) that their project will look like a resort or a college campus.

No bond issues, no confidentiality agreements, no closed meetings of public bodies.

An archeological survey of the mine area revealed no historic sites needing the questionable protection of state or federal officials.

Bravo, Mr. Ratcliffe. Bring us more such prospects.