With confirmation from Congressman Andrew Clyde’s office that a warehouse on Atlanta Highway will be converted into an ICE detention processing facility, the Hall County Commission (HCC) is expressing support for the concerns raised by the Oakwood City Council.
“We want to let the Hall County community know that we, the Hall County Board of Commissioners, are fully committed to supporting our municipalities and our citizens in ensuring that local concerns are heard and addressed by our federal partners,” Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Gibbs said Thursday, Feb. 12, following a statement issued by the Oakwood City Council. “We understand and support public safety both federally and locally, but not without regard to the impacts to our infrastructure and community as a whole.”
The Hall County Board of Commissioners, along with staff, is working with local, state and federal representatives to coordinate meetings to address the potential impacts to local infrastructure, planning and economic development related to the conversion of the warehouse into a federal detention property.
“The federal government supersedes our local controls,” Gibbs said. “But we want to ensure that this facility is developed in collaboration and with consideration for the local community.”
Adding his individual perspective (not that of the Board), District 3 Commissioner Gregg Poole stated, “Due to the lack of communication from our federal and state officials, I’m not for this facility. It will increase taxes for our Hall County citizens, and I do not support it.”
In addition to the work local officials are doing to ensure the Hall County community is represented in this matter, the Board is encouraging citizens who wish to share feedback to contact ICE and their federal representatives directly.
ICE: 202-224-3643
U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (GA-9th)
· Washington, D.C. Office: 445 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
· Phone: (202) 225-9893
· District Office: 210 Washington Street NW, Suite 202, Gainesville, GA 30501
· Phone: 470-768-6520 (district office)
U.S. Representative Rich McCormick (GA-7th)
· Washington, D.C. Office: 1719 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
· Phone: (202) 225-4272
· District Office: 6230 Shiloh Road, Suite 230
· Phone: 770-232-3005 (district office)
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock
· Washington, D.C. Office: B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
· Phone: (202) 224-3643
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff
· Washington, D.C. Office: Hart Senate Office Building, Suite 317, Washington, DC 20510
· Phone: (202) 224-3521