Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Bill and Barbara Vargo’s recent authoring of a rebuttal letter (The Eatonton Messenger, Oct. 16, A4) regarding the Putnam County Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) Planning and Zoning moratorium and the Putnam County Republican Party’s (PCRP) call for a more effective and tailored approach that allows development where infrastructure availability permits, while delaying others where infrastructure is challenged.
The Vargos’ assertion of a unilateral decision by one person is incorrect. As with any organization or company, decisions are made at the top, and this also applies to the PCRP organization. The PCRP County Committee, the organization’s duly elected governing body, unanimously adopted the drafted letter’s stance, asserting its benefit to Putnam County citizens. (For context, this vote took place shortly after the Vargos resigned from the county committee.)
The Vargos’ letter may have left some readers with a negative view of PCRP, so it’s only fair to highlight some of the constructive work the PCRP does for our community. Some examples include:
• Community Outreach: Honoring civil rights hero Mr. Charles Person. Our mission is to keep all Putnam County citizens informed, and we work every day to fulfill this mission.
• Active Oversight: Instrumental in securing a much-needed road allocation in SPLOST No. 10 and pushing for work sessions on infrastructure shortfalls, especially in the Harmony Road/Hwy. 44 corridor.
• Taxpayer Advocacy: Championing school tax exemption relief for seniors with the Board of Education.
• Building Future Leadership: Dedicated support for groups like the Teen Republicans.
• Voter Engagement: Through hosting valuable legislative and candidate speakers’ forums and enabling direct communication between voters and elected leaders.
• Ensuring election integrity: Training and deploying poll watchers and BER oversight officers to the Board of Elections and Registration.
The authors also offered weak arguments against our “Make Better” recommendation to the BOC. The hypothetical threat of a lawsuit is irrelevant because the county’s lawsuit insurance coverage is strong. Additionally, a board that won’t act under that threat will be constantly paralyzed and constantly threatened.
Furthermore, the authors’ assertion that new ordinances could be rushed in two weeks fundamentally underestimates the task.
PCRP’s letter to the BOC urged and continues to encourage the BOC and P&Z to undertake a Comprehensive Plan update and a major regulatory overhaul — a crucial, long-term process requiring meticulous drafting, public input, and rigorous legal vetting. Suggesting “nothing has been done” after one month ignores the essential research and legal work that have been done behind the scenes. This moratorium is an investment in orderly, sustainable, and legally sound development.
Since we submitted to the BOC, a majority of the commissioners have replied and appreciated our recommendation. We must allow the BOC and P&Z the time they need to work through the process. PCRP will continue to monitor the progress.
Dale C. Bills, Chairman, Putnam County Republican Party