Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > January > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOaky Woods update: Perdue in a darned if he does, darned if he doesn’t position
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Macon Telegraph on Friday had this article on Oaky Woods, the tract of land near Sonny Perdue’s farm that became such an issue in the governor’s re-election campaign. Here’s the relevant snippet:
The new owners of Oaky Woods say they are still willing to sell, if the state is willing to pay their asking price.
Charles Ayer is one of four men who bought the property for about $1,600 an acre. In an interview with The Associated Press at his sporting goods store in nearby Perry, Ayer said he would put the asking price now at $14,000 an acre. That translates into a whopping $280 million for the full 20,000 acres.
Ayer said he and his partners have already poured millions of dollars into the land for road and sewer plans.
“People say they want to save Oaky Woods. Well, that’s not a problem,” Ayer said. “But they should be raising money.”
Perdue’s amended budget for the current fiscal year calls for $50 million in grants for land conservation, which has given residents here some hope that the state may still have a hand to play.
But Perdue’s own connection to the property - and the property owners - could complicate things.
In many ways, the governor is in a no-win situation. Criticized for not pursuing Oaky Woods, Perdue is likely to be under attack again if he moves to buy the land. It stands to affect his own property value and line the pockets of local businessmen, with whom he has ties.
Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said the governor was trying to do what’s best for Georgia regardless of what the critics say.
“He was attacked when we were unable to purchase it, he will be attacked if we eventually can,” McLagan said.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By TROLL
January 27, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
The truth about Oaky Woods is finally coming out. The Governor and Larry made sure the state didn’t let the Nature Conservancy buy it on behalf of our “broke” state govenment and hold it until the state could scrape up the money to pay for it.
They wanted their friends to have it so the price could escalate thereby enhancing the value of the 101 acres Sonny secretly held in MARYSON at the time.
The $32 million needed then is now available in Sonny’s budget of $50 million. Well more than enough to cover it in only one year.
Now the state would have to pony-up $280 million to acquire it. Citizens of Ga. will not tolerate such.
By jeffrye
January 27, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
well, Well, well……The only thing better than our Gloriously Honorable Governor getting richer is that ALL his friends get richer……Sonny did that!!!!
By RJ
January 27, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
If the prudent thing had been done at the opportune time Oaky Woods would have cost $1,600.00 an acre, but now will cost Georgia $14,000.00 and acre simply because of unbridled greed. Wow!
Perdue’s new found interest in acquiring the treasure is solely because of the increasing uproar.
Even if he finds the wherewithal to acquire Oaky Woods, which I hope he will, full scale investigations (civil and criminal) into his land purchases and customized tax break should proceed.
Lingering questions about these matters persist because of the facts therewith. The partisanship defense is wearing thing.
By Ovolon
January 28, 2007 4:33 AM | Link to this
When Democratics takG ethe White House in 07’ they are bgoing to appoint New US Attorneys and Sonny will have his day in Federal District Court along with His Cronnies and they can sort it all out befor a US District Judge and we ALL will know what really happen !!!!!!!!!!!
By Much Ado
January 28, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
The headline really says all that needs to be said. As with most of the Dems’ charges…if the state bought (or buys) OAKY Woods, he will be criticized. He is being criticized now because the state DID NOT buy it.
Personally…I don’t want my money going to buy up state land just be cause the “tree huggers” don’t want it developed. Do the people have any idea how much of this country is owned by the government. The last figure I saw said it was more than there is in private hands. Enough is Enough!
By Joc
January 29, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this
Ovolon, Our justice system is blind. It does not pursue or fail to pursue bonified allegations of wrong doing based up partisanship. I refuse to accept the notion that the Federal District Attorney will not pursue this matter because he and Perdue are Republicans. I believe they are looking into it…we just don’t know about it. After all, their standing line is ” we don’t comment on pending investigations.”
On the other hand, we have not heard anything from Thurbert Baker, the State AG and a Democrat, simply because he is either asleep of affraid.