The Summerville News reported this week that Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry plans to spend $300,000 in renovating the Chattooga County Courthouse.  The local paper also said that the commissioner has spent $30,000 in county funds to fund the Chattooga River Group.

The Chattooga River Group is a an organization whose stated purpose is to protect and promote the Chattooga River that flows through the county.  The group organizes cleanups of the river and was also instrumental in the first annual “Chattooga Riverfest” that was held in Lyerly.  Elsberry is on the board of directors of the group, according to the group’s website.  Elsberry says that the funds donated to the group are coming from the American Rescue Plan – also called the COVID-19 stimulus package.

Elsberry also says that he plans to spend around $300,000 in renovations for the county courthouse.  The building that was built in 1909, has needed repairs and while the commissioner’s plans won’t be a total renovation, the commissioner told the newspaper it would be “a minor face lift”.