Deal responds to criticism over funds awarded to North Ga. well

LAKE LANIER ISLANDS - The governor responds to a published report claiming that state funds dedicated to a North Georgia well are unnecessary and were the result of a push from some of his biggest campaign donors.

A statement from Gov. Nathan Deal's office Friday said he stands by his decision to dedicate $4.5 million in state funds from the Governor's Water Supply Program to buy and rehabilitate a well that will primarily serve the Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

Deal said if the North Georgia well is what he hopes it is, it could greatly enhance the state's water capacity in the years to come and aid surrounding communities.

"He wants to do the needed investments so that Georgia’s families and economy have the water they need past 2050," said the statement released by the governor's office. "Gov. Deal has been briefed on every step of the process and he decided the list based on the applications’ merits and input from GEFA, EPD and OPB."

The statement also said the state is testing that well now to see if it can fulfill expectations, but if it can't, Deal said the state can and will drop the project.

Deal's decision to award the resort state funds has come under fire in published reports that claim the people or firms pushing that funding had donated upwards of $10,000 to Deal's campaign.