In an attempt to determine exactly what sort of debt load the Lamar County Regional Solid Waste Authority is carrying, The Herald Gazette reached out to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) for clarification last week.
Shane Hix, GEFA public affairs director responded with the following e-mailed statement: “The current balance is approximately $22.6 million plus accrued construction interest of approximately $2.3 million. Both amounts are subject to change at project completion.”
On Tuesday Sept 19th at 6:30, the Executive Director of the SWA will have an opportunity to address citizen concerns at the commissioners meeting. Hopefully he will explain why and how Lamar County is responsible for repaying $106,000 per month on a loan SWA took to create a waste to energy system. Nine years later the system does not work and the loan payments must begin April 2024.