The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850,
71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@windstream.net

By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the April 11, 2007 issue)
   The Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County has held the lease for Riverbend Park for almost five years, but it was recently discovered that the local government only technically controlled the approximate 20 acres comprised of the main park area and the road leading into the park. Now, that oversight is being corrected so that the lease will include the additional 175 acres.
   When the local Commission first took over the park in August of 2002 the lease was for 25 years, but only included the main park area. It was

during hunting season and it was decided that it would be best to let the Department of Natural Resources hold on to the lease for the larger area until after hunting season. A meeting was to be held at a later date after the 2002 hunting season to add the 175 acres to the lease, but that meeting never happened.
   The Commission recently received a request from someone wanting to use the larger area. That’s when they realized they couldn’t give permission because it wasn’t actually included in the lease, even though all parties (the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Natural Resources, and the local Commission) had assumed that it had already been taken care of. Now plans have been put into motion to correct that oversight.
   It’s really not that big of a deal, as the local Commission hadn’t been using that portion of the park, but there are some ideas of beginning to do so. While no firm decisions have been made and no votes have been cast, officials are mulling over the possibility of opening the area up to hunters.
   “That is something the commissioners are considering,” said David George, interim manager. “But we will have to look at it very closely. There are a lot of questions to be answered, from what type of hunting to safety issues.”
   The “main park” area of Riverbend Park includes a boat ramp, lights, primitive camping areas, a covered pavilion, and picnic tables. It is also included on the list as part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ “Southern Rivers Birding Trail” recommended to bird watchers.
   Riverbend Park is located off of Chattahoochee County Road No. 2776, accessed from Georgia Highway 53, off of U.S. Highway 27, south of Cusseta.
Other Commission News
   Other items of business during the recent Commission meeting included:
   * Approval of the use of Riverbend Park for the annual ABATE Rally on the River, pending correction to the group’s certificate of liability insurance.
   * The appointment of Jeanette Cameron to the Board of Tax Assessors.
   * Tabling of the sale of less than an acre of county right-of-way to Al Tatom to allow the county attorney to review the survey.
   * Approval of a fiscal year 2008 budget calendar.
   * Approval of a resolution to allow employee vacation time to be taken in hourly increments.
   * Approval of a resolution to adopt an employee handbook.
   * Tabling any action on the City of Cusseta property known as the “barrow pit” until a deed can be located.