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Concerns over Westwin carry over to February County Commission meeting
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Andrea Gutierrez, Editor

Westwin Elements continued to be a trending topic of discussion at February’s Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday evening.

Much like the Development Authority meeting hosted earlier in the day, Bryan County's Board of Commissioners meeting in Richmond Hill was filled to the brim with concerned citizens wishing to voice their displeasure with Westwin Elements and their stymied bid to build a nickel refinery at the abandoned Caesarstone complex. 

The Development Authority voted Tuesday to end further negotiations with Westwin Elements. In addition, the abandoned Caesarstone complex is currently under investigation over allegations of toxic waste and contamination made by Westwin CEO KaLeigh Long earlier this month. However, even without government support, Westwin is still able to buy the abandoned site, which is private property.

County Attorney Aaron Kappler gave a presentation to the Board explaining the functions of the various government agencies involved in the process of dealing with Westwin Elements, giving a comprehensive timeline of events between Bryan County officials and the Oklahoma-based company over the past few years. 

After Kappler’s presentation, public comment was then open, where many Richmond Hill citizens continued to speak out against Westwin's project.

Resident Corey Foreman stressed the need for “proactive planning” and greater checks and balances on bodies such as the Development Authority moving forward.

“When we get past this…Westwin mess, [we need to] make sure things like this don't happen in the future,” Foreman said. 

Janet Johnson, a mother and grandmother who lives in the vicinity of the old Caesarstone complex, shared concerns echoed by many of those in attendance regarding the health and environmental risks posed to Richmond Hill by the potential nickel refinery.    

“I don’t want to die of cancer,” said Johnson. “I don’t want my children exposed to cancer.”

Another resident, Amber Pindell, drew parallels between the biolab fire incident in Conyers, Georgia and the proposed Westwin nickel refinery. 

“I would just encourage you to really think about the families that could be affected by this potential nickel refinery,” Pindell said to the commissioners.

 In other business:

  • Resident Amy Mitchell spoke during public comments in support of a Historic Preservation ordinance for the county. Mitchell cited a change.org petition signed by “hundreds of residents” in support of a Historic Preservation ordinance. 

  • Commissioners awarded a contract to Graham Electric LLC for $1,210,550 in service of replacing lights along baseball fields on Timber Trail Rd. 

  • Commissioners authorized funds to facilitate the gas line relocation on US Hwy 280 in conjunction with the US-280/Wilma Edwards Roundabout construction project.