Georgia wants to move state border

[xzmattzx]

Doubtful that this will happen. Does anyone know the last time any state's borders were redrawn?

Georgians want access to Tenn. water
They want to redraw state boundary


In 1993, Joel J. Kyle and his wife, Juanita, moved just over the Georgia border to Tennessee — and Joel Kyle vowed never to cross it again.

Now, some Georgia lawmakers want the border to cross him, in a manner of speaking.

A resolution in Georgia's legislature proposes to move the Tennessee-Georgia boundary about a mile to the north of where it now lies, which could put Kyle right back into the state he left 15 years ago.

The proposal elicited instant ridicule from residents of the area on Thursday, as well as tongue-in-cheek saber rattling from Tennessee lawmakers.

One state senator offered to settle the issue with a football game. Another suggested floating an armada of University of Tennessee fans down the Tennessee River to defend the state's territory.

But behind the amusement is a serious issue that has bedeviled the Southeast: access to water. If the border is redrawn, the new state line would fall across Nickajack Reservoir. That would allow parched Georgians to tap into the waters of the dammed Tennessee River.

Issue draws criticism

Kyle, 69, said he has no desire to be annexed by Georgia, which he gladly departed because of its taxes, and hopes the idea is "just a pipe dream."

"If it ever came to that, I would probably move," he said. "I've got seven acres here, and we're set up pretty well, but I wouldn't ever want to be in the state of Georgia again, to be honest with you."

Georgia has been battling Florida and Alabama in federal court for about 18 years over water rights. Last summer, Lake Lanier, which supplies Atlanta's water, shriveled to historic lows.

The resolution, which has passed early hurdles but has not received final passage, claims that the boundary was erroneously surveyed in 1818 and that Georgia has never accepted it. The resolution calls for the creation of a "Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission" that would perform joint surveys and change the line to the "definite and true" boundary line: exactly following the 35th parallel.

"We're not talking about sucking it dry," said Rep. Harry Geisinger, a Republican who sponsored the resolution in the Georgia House. "We're talking about augmenting some water needs, and as you know, the Tennessee has got plenty of water in it."

Gil Rogers, a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the proposal was the wrong approach to water woes. Lawmakers, he said, should concentrate on conservation and sustainable development.

"It's a matter of how we grow and planning ahead so we're not reduced to making these propositions about accessing rivers that are hundreds of miles away," he said.

State Sen. Andy Berke, a Chattanooga Democrat, took the Senate floor and jokingly proposed a winner-take-all wrestling match or football game.

Afterward, he was more circumspect, saying that there is a serious issue at hand about natural resources, planning and development, and calling the Georgia proposal an "irresponsible land-grab."

"I think it is more productive to be up front about the future of water use," he said, "rather than disguising the intentions with discussions of grabbing our state's land."

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...0201/802080435

[RON-E]

i read this yesterday... LMAO

this has got to be the funniest proposal i have seen so far this year. it wont happen.

[seicer]

Looks like water rights is forcing Georgia to whine and complain about access to the north and to the south. Here's a tip: CONSERVE! Don't water your lawns day and night. Don't take extra long showers with a wasteful shower head. Purchase dual-flush or low-flush toilets. And etc.

People would rather complain than actually conserve.

[LSyd]

awww poor jawrjins'll soon run out of water for their moonshine stills.

-

[Sean in New Orleans]

It's called irresponsible urban planning. I love Georgia and Atlanta, but, they created this problem through unregulated growth. I've already commented on how Atlanta's unplanned growth has destroyed and polluted almost all of N. Georgia. It's a tragedy. I've lost one of my private playgrounds in the N. Georgia mountains. Lake Lanier is a disaster. Georgia allowed and created this problem and they need to solve it on their own...not by trying to creep into Tennessee. It's one thing to have growth in your city, but, it is a total different story when you allow it to pollute, deplete, and destroy the very land you live on...horrible.

[gwiATLeman]

Originally Posted by Sean in New Orleans

It's called irresponsible urban planning. I love Georgia and Atlanta, but, they created this problem through unregulated growth. I've already commented on how Atlanta's unplanned growth has destroyed and polluted almost all of N. Georgia. It's a tragedy. I've lost one of my private playgrounds in the N. Georgia mountains. Lake Lanier is a disaster. Georgia allowed and created this problem and they need to solve it on their own...not by trying to creep into Tennessee. It's one thing to have growth in your city, but, it is a total different story when you allow it to pollute, deplete, and destroy the very land you live on...horrible.

Would you care to elaborate on how Atlanta's growth has polluted all of N GA, or is this the start of another forum myth?

[TU 'cane]

Originally Posted by seicer

Looks like water rights is forcing Georgia to whine and complain about access to the north and to the south. Here's a tip: CONSERVE! Don't water your lawns day and night. Don't take extra long showers with a wasteful shower head. Purchase dual-flush or low-flush toilets. And etc.

People would rather complain than actually conserve.

The downfall of society?? lol

[snookums]

Originally Posted by LSyd

awww poor jawrjins'll soon run out of water for their moonshine stills.

-

I cant believe Georgia has the audacity to even think this. Do they think they can just up and take part of Tennessee's land as their own? We here in NC have been in the WORST drought out of any Southeastern state for a while now and you dont see us trying to push our borders. Just look at the Weather Channel sometime.



If GA wants to do this then they should at least offer lots of money for the land/water and talk with TN over it.

[Style™]

Originally Posted by gwiATLeman

Would you care to elaborate on how Atlanta's growth has polluted all of N GA, or is this the start of another forum myth?

it is commonly accepted among all planning departments in universities that unchecked suburban growth, commonly referred to as sprawl, destroys the environment and is very far from being sustainable. this is far from myth, and this is the case in all of the southeast.

[gwiATLeman]

Originally Posted by Style™

it is commonly accepted among all planning departments in universities that unchecked suburban growth, commonly referred to as sprawl, destroys the environment and is very far from being sustainable. this is far from myth, and this is the case in all of the southeast.

My question has NOTHING to do with whether sprawl harms the environment.

I'm asking for evidence to the statement that all of North Georgia is somehow polluted.


And in case some of you haven't figured this out, sometimes really stupid people hold public office. This is something that probably one idiot thought up that will never even be taken seriously in the GA legislature.

[Bobdreamz]

jawga
jawga
we want Tennessee
we want Alabamee
and North Carolinee
no whata
no whata
so we must invade thee
our sprawl
our sprawl from Atlanta is in the way of thee
but we are jawja
jawja
we have the biggest airport you see
no density
no density you see
but we have skyscrapers
skyscrapers
you see

[SlidellWeather]

I have a feeling the people currently living in towns like Copper Hill and East Ridge, TN would not appreciate suddenly living in GA. There is no state income tax in TN, but GA sure as hell has one. I think Lookout Mountain would end up in GA as well if this went through. Also...would GA want to take some NC to make the border line up properly.

I also forsee this going through the court system...which will take years to finish.

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by SlidellWeather

I have a feeling the people currently living in towns like Copper Hill and East Ridge, TN would not appreciate suddenly living in GA. There is no state income tax in TN, but GA sure as hell has one. I think Lookout Mountain would end up in GA as well if this went through. Also...would GA want to take some NC to make the border line up properly.

I also forsee this going through the court system...which will take years to finish.

It won't go through the court "system." It will have to go directly to the US Supreme Court, which is the only court that hears cases between states. I highly doubt that SCOTUS will even consider this.

[Dallasbrink]

this will never pass.

[jmancuso]

god damn those imperialist jawjan bastards. TN should rise up and launch a preemptive strike and shack and awe atlanta.

[SlidellWeather]

Thanks...tennreb. Didn't know it went straight to the Supreme Court. I agree with you that they probably wouldn't even consider it.

[CLTNC]

Keep out of North Carolina Georgia. There is a big pond to the east of you call the Atlanta Ocean. All you have to do is get the salt out of the water.

[Rail Claimore]

I don't see why Georgia doesn't just try and screw Alabama over the Chattahooche. Alabama's rights to it are doubtful considering the border between the two states is the western bank of the river, not the thalweg.

Alabama v. Georgia, US SCt (1859)

[gwiATLeman]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

jawga
jawga
we want Tennessee
we want Alabamee
and North Carolinee
no whata
no whata
so we must invade thee
our sprawl
our sprawl from Atlanta is in the way of thee
but we are jawja
jawja
we have the biggest airport you see
no density
no density you see
but we have skyscrapers
skyscrapers
you see

Yet the holy grail of density
does not necessarily equal urbanity
insulated highrises as far as can see
is the example throughout Miami

[AKBTampa]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

I don't see why Georgia doesn't just try and screw Alabama over the Chattahooche. Alabama's rights to it are doubtful considering the border between the two states is the western bank of the river, not the thalweg.

Alabama v. Georgia, US SCt (1859)

They just tried to do that, and in doing so would have screwed over Florida as well. However Georgia/Atlanta just lost a major battle to rights over water from lake lanier...

from Atlanta Journal Constitution http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...205.html?imw=Y

decision, nullifying the 2003 agreement, which never became effective. The ruling says metro Atlanta and Georgia need Congressional authorization to take more water from the lake.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: The three states are negotiating a new division of water from Lake Lanier. Georgia, Alabama and Florida officials say they expect to meet a Feb. 15 deadline for an agreement. Georgia could decide to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Or Congress could step in.