Reservoirs above and below lakes Allatoona and Lanier are part of the solution to water woes in metro Atlanta and north Georgia, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal said Thursday, Jan. 21.

Deal, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, spoke to about 50 members of the 15-county Northwest Georgia Regional Commission during their monthly meeting in Rome.  Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters attended the meeting.

Deal told the elected officials and community leaders that he wants to establish a dialogue between the governor’s office and local governments.

He asked if their separate communities would be able to agree on shared road-construction packages, if legislation to fund transportation projects through regional sales taxes passes the Georgia General Assembly.

Deal also voiced concerns that state cost-cutting shifts the financial burdens to the local level.

Scaling back on funding for the state crime lab means defendants awaiting trial are held longer in county jails, he said, and cuts to mental health also end up mental health cuts also affect local sheriffs and courts.

Calhoun Times / AM 1180