Toccoa Looks at Erosion Ordinance Amendments

The city of Toccoa is considering an update to its ordinance to match changes to state law on erosion control.

Monday, city commissioners approved a first reading of an ordinance amendment to the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said that the state Environmental Protection Division has amended the state law in this area and asked the city to approve the changes to make it part of its local ordinance.

Morse said the changes do not appear to be anything that impacts the way the city of Toccoa does business in this area.

One of the changes involves definitions, and another deals with permitting, while the third one deals with coastal issues.

According to Morse, the city must approve the changes in order to continue to be a local issuing authority for the state on erosion and sedimentation control.

Toccoa City Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson said that if the city does not keep that local issuing authority, enforcement of the laws would go to the Georgia EPD, taking longer to get approval.

“You have to send your plans to Atlanta to EPD and they will tell you it is 45 days, unless someone calls and puts pressure on them, before they look at those plans,” said Jamieson.

Morse said city commissioners will have to hold a public hearing and second reading on these proposed changes at their next meeting on November 14.