Critics of Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry’s land use ordinance were not happy when the Chattooga County Land Use Commission held a public meeting last night and barred public participation in the meeting.

Chairman of the commission, Eddy Willingham said at the start of the meeting, “The purpose of this meeting is to follow up on some old business that we have….I want to thank everyone for their attendance and continued interest in the process. Tonight’s meeting is a business meeting of the commission and not a public meeting, open to public participation.  Public participation will not be permitted in this meeting. Thank you”.

The commission voted in favor of sending two versions of the ordinance to the county commissioner.  One is a forty-three page document the contents of which were discussed at several public meetings.  The other, a “red-lined” version of the original ordinance that the commissioner hastily past last year.  Commissioner Elsberry had previously  promised that the land use ordinance would be amended before the beginning of this year, but the commission he appointed has spent several months before sending the recommended changes to the commissioner.

Commissioner Elsberry told WZQZ news previously that he has intentionally remained out of the process and was letting the commission wrangle with the changes to the ordinance.