Heard County approves resolution to allow Oglethorpe Power tax‑exempt bonds for ash‑pond cleanup

County Attorney Jerry Ann Conner told the board that Oglethorpe Power is issuing bonds to refinance its current debt and to fund cleanup of ash ponds, and that state law requires local governments to approve issuance for the bonds to be tax-exempt. She told commissioners the action would impose no cost on Heard County and presented a resolution for board approval.

On motion by Commissioner Gwen Caldwell, seconded by Commissioner Larry Hooks, the board unanimously approved the resolution and authorized Chairman Lee Boone to sign. The minutes record the action as unanimous; no vote tallies by name were recorded beyond the motion and second.

The meeting record does not include the bond amount, maturity, or explicit conditions attached to the county’s approval. County staff did not provide fiscal impact details during the discussion; the resolution was described as procedural approval required for tax-exempt issuance.