Jenkins warns of potential state park sale

State Rep. Charles Jenkins

State Representative Charles Jenkins (D-Blairsville) today warned that the Board of the Department of Natural Resources recently voted to do an appraisal of Brasstown Valley State Park, which he believes is the first step toward possibly selling the property.

According to the minutes of a recent meeting of the board on September 26, 2006, board member noted, "Should we get somebody to appraise these things with the land for the expansions and with the golf course here, find out what they are worth; rather than us being in the resort business. Which I am not sure is the .. I think it is a good thing for the state to come up, particularly here and in these other communities, and kind of plant the seeds."

He continued, "But we ought to look at whether this is where we ought to be anyway, and sell them. If we could get the right .. the ultimate privatization and sell them; and be out of the business where we are not having to come up with another $20 million to do an expansion here (referring to Brasstown Valley State Park) and $5 million down at Blackshear, and things like that."

"The state might have taken the first step toward selling Brasstown Valley State Park, which I believe is not in the best interest of the constituents of the 8th House District and also not in the best interest of the taxpaying citizens of Georgia," said Jenkins. "I have been informed that the facility is profitable for the state."

Rep. Jenkins, a lawmaker since 2003, serves on the Economic Development and Tourism, Game Fish and Parks and Retirement committees. He is running for re-election on the November 7th ballot for the 8th state house district.