A grand jury is looking into the Ball Ground Recycling partnership with the county and the funding of the project through the Resource Recovery Development Authority.
The grand jury investigation is the latest twist in the partnership, which is costing Cherokee taxpayers about $100,000 a month on the deal that went sour last year when Ball Ground Recycling’s business tanked. Last year, Cherokee County paid about $1.2 million in bond payments for the partnership. Another payment of about $600,000 is due in July.
Critics say the county should never have made the deal with Ball Ground Recycling owner Jimmy Bobo seven years ago and should not have sold $18.1 million in bonds through the authority in 2007 to fund it. County commissioners say when the economy was booming – along with Ball Ground Recycling’s business – there was no reason not to ink the deal, it was good for both parties.
Three weeks ago Ball Ground recycling filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization just days before the county planned to evict the company from the 36 acres it leases from the county.
Cherokee County manager Jerry Cooper is scheduled to testify before the grand jury Wednesday. Commissioner Harry Johnston, and commission chairman Buzz Ahrens, both said Friday they welcome the grand jury inquiry.
“I think it’s to be expected; it’s part of their duty to oversee government operations,” said Johnston. “We really need someone independent and unbiased to look at the situation, and I hope come to the same conclusion that we have, which is, while the deal was clearly unwise in hindsight, it was completely legal and within reason.”
Ahrens said the investigation could clear the political air that has been thick with accusations about the deal.
“We look forward to providing them [the grand jury] all the information they want,” said Ahrens, who was not on the commission in 2005. “They’re an important body with objective information, and the end of the day we’ll have more people well-informed and they may still come to their own conclusions, and I don’t know what that will be.”
Bobo, who could not be reached for comment, plans to auction off some of the equipment from the plant in Jasper on Tuesday. Ahrens said none of the equipment is owned by the county. A hearing is scheduled for June 29 in federal bankruptcy court to hear a motion by the county asking the court to lift an automatic stay that prevents the county from evicting the recycling company.
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