Citizen Upset Over Wilbros Sponsorship of Regional Meeting

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Some Toccoa citizens are upset with Toccoa City Commissioners for getting the controversial biolfuel plant Wilbros to sponsor a recent meeting of the Georiga Regional Development Commission in Dillard.

Both Toccoa and Stephens County citizens and government bodies have been trying to shut the plant on the corner of Rose Lane and Hwy 145 down for the past several years because of the noxious odors it produces.

A civil suit continues to wind its way through the courts.  At their meeting Monday, one Stephens County resident, Bryan Dooley criticized Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson for securing the Wilbros sponsorship.

“According to your statement to the paper, we know you are probably Wilbros’ accountant, you have supported Fieldale, which supports Wilbros, Joe (Wilbanks, Wilbros’ owner) has lied numerous times on the stand, and you are only thinking about the city in the position you hold,” said Dooley. ”

During the the RDC meeting, Dooley claims Wilbros was recognized as a sponsor and Jamieson recognized for securing the sponsorship.

But Jamieson said Monday she didn’t see a problem.

“I do not do accounting for Joe Wilbanks or for Wilbros,” said Jamieson. “The businesses are called on constantly to help different projects. I had gone down through the list and got down to the ‘W’s’ and there he was. I think as long as he is in business in this county, he should be called on like anybody else.”

However, Jamieson said she did have a problem with what she saw as hypocrisy.

“What bothers me about this entire issue as much as anything is the very person who brought the copy of the program back to (Bryan Dooley) sat over there and ate the dinner that was helped paid for by Joe Wilbanks and Wilbros,” said Jamieson. “Now I do not know if that falls under the category of biting the hand that feeds you, but it certainly falls under the category of hypocrisy.”

Despite that, Dooley said he and the concerned citizens of toccoa-stephens county are not quitting when it comes to their efforts to eliminate the Wilbros odor problem, but he said he now questions the City’s commitment to that cause.

Toccoa Mayor Gail Fry noted that while the city is no longer financially participating in the civil lawsuit filed by the group, Concerned Citizens Against Wilbros, the city remains a plaintiff in the suit.