Thomaston Times – Export Import Highway Flint River management and health care are topics legislators talk about at luncheon

Local legislators Senator Cecil Staton and House Representative Johnnie Caldwell, Jr. were the guest speakers at the Legislative Luncheon hosted by the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Three Rivers Regional Commission earlier this week. Both gentlemen opened the meeting by stating how honored they are to serve and to be the voice for this community in the legislature. They went on to discuss the issues of Georgia’s Export/Import Highway, the Flint River Water Management and the Affordable Healthcare Act during the luncheon.

Georgia’s Export/Import Highway would connect Macon to LaGrange and would serve as a freight corridor to help alleviate some of the truck traffic off of I-75. Currently the counties involved, which include Upson, Bibb, Monroe, Pike, Meriwether and Troup, are working to have the Georgia Department of Transportation launch a formal corridor study that would eventually lead to the construction of the highway. Both Staton and Caldwell stated they are in support of a study as well as the construction of the corridor, noting that the biggest issue will be getting funding to the project. Staton noted this project has 14 others ahead of it on the list of projects needed for Georgia, which means without being pushed forward as a priority in the legislature, it is not expected to begin until 2030-2040.

“We are going to have to work together as one voice to make this a priority,” said Staton. “There is no silver bullet, it is going to be a challenge… This community has got to stand together and we will be there as your cheerleaders.”

via Thomaston Times – Export Import Highway Flint River management and health care are topics legislators talk about at luncheon.