The Chipley City Council had plenty of questions for Washington County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ted Everett when the Council met for their monthly workshop Thursday afternoon. 

Council members were visibly upset after having learned that Everett and Washington County commissioners had been meeting with Steve Shaw and Ron Myers, representatives of a Focus 2000 group, about a proposed transportation project consisting of a limited access toll road connecting Montgomery, Alabama and the proposed new airport being constructed in Bay County.  They wanted to know how long Everett had known about the project, and why no one from the City of Chipley had been informed about it. 

Everett said that he was not personally in favor of the proposed project, but that he had been legally bound by confidentiality laws and wasn't willing to go to jail.  After intense questioning, Everett admitted that he had not signed any confidentiality agreement but that the arrangement was normal procedure for any talks related to economic development.  He stressed that he had been encouraging the commissioners to go public since first learning of the proposal, and added that he had been "cut out of the loop" because he asked too many negative questions.  Everett also said that if the project moves forward, SR77 and SR79 won't be four-laned. 

Washington County Commissioner Eddy Holman was also in attendance, and said that he had known about the proposed public-private partnership for about two weeks.  Holman said that he had been told it was a $2 billion project, to be funded by floating a bond, and it was his understanding that the toll road would revert to the County at the end of 30 years.  He said he had seen two or three rough draft proposal maps, but nothing definite for the proposed route that would by-pass Chipley on the west side of Washington County.  He also confirmed that Everett had recommended public involvement, adding that he too felt everyone should know what was going on and be involved. 

Council member TJ McDonald stressed that the City of Chipley should not have been kept in the dark about a project that so obviously affected the future of the City.  He suggested that the mayor or a member of the Council be appointed to the Chamber's Executive Committee so that future information would not be withheld.  His recommendation met with unanimous agreement. 

Referring to the secretive, backroom meetings, etc., Council member Karen Rustin referred to the situation as "dirty politics."  She stated that she personally had tried to call all five county commissioners and that only two -- Holman and Donnie Strickland -- had bothered to return her calls. 

Since the proposal includes the County giving the right of eminent domain to a private company, Chipley Mayor Linda Cain asked that the press let people know that their property may be seized.  Speaking to Holman, Cain said if the County did what was right they would "vote this down." 

Holman stated that he would not agree to giving eminent domain, and added that he never said that he did not want to work with the City of Chipley.  "Everyone needs to work together," Holman said. 

A public hearing regarding this issue will be held at  9 a.m. on May 15 at the County Commission Meeting Room, 1331 South Boulevard, Chipley.