Toccoa Considering Sod Farm

The city of Toccoa is considering putting in a sod farm on property it just bought to supply the Links at Lake Toccoa golf course and other city projects.

Last month, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously voted to purchase 48.4 acres of property bordering the Links at Lake Toccoa golf course and Black Mountain Road for $188,760.

City officials say the property was bought in order to protect the Cedar Creek Watershed, which supplies Lake Toccoa, the city’s drinking water supply.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse says that the city does not have plans to develop that property that the city just bought.

However, Morse said they have considered a sod farm as a potential use for part of the property.

“What we would like to do is use a couple acres of that 48 acres and grow sod for our golf course, for our downtown, for our beautification projects,” said Morse. “The rest of the pasture land, we could grow hay. The city buys hay for erosion control projects, that sort of thing.”

Toccoa City Commissioner Terry Carter said he thinks doing that is a great idea for using the property.

“I think that is an excellent opportunity to not only grow sod for our golf course and for other projects within the city, but also to have an acre set aside to sell sod to the public,” said Carter.

He said the public has to now leave town for that and it could add money to the budget to put back into the golf course.

Toccoa City Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson asked if anyone else in the city already sells sod that the city would be going in to competition against.

Morse says he did not think so, but adds he would check into that as part of looking further at the project.