The Bulloch Action Coalition (BAC) announced Wednesday, July 23, 2025 the suspension of its petition efforts for two referendums aimed at overturning the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners’ decisions on June 27, 2024, regarding a well-mitigation program and an intergovernmental agreement with Bryan County for water and sewer services.
The proposed referendums sought to give Bulloch County voters the final say on the sale of water from four local wells to Bryan County, the provision of sewer services from Bryan County to Bulloch County, and an increase in funding for mitigating potential impacts on local wells due to Floridan aquifer withdrawals.
The BAC’s decision to halt the signature-gathering process comes after assurances from state-level elected officials regarding Governor Brian Kemp’s plans to utilize surface water resources and the Georgia General Assembly’s commitment of nearly $502 million towards this goal. These state initiatives are intended to supply the Hyundai Megasite with water from the Savannah River within three years and from Ebenezer Creek in Effingham County within five years.
The coalition stated its belief that the substantial state funding would expedite the transition to surface water, making the considerable expense of pursuing the referendums unnecessary. The estimated cost for filing and campaigning for the referendums, along with potential legal challenges in Superior and possibly the Georgia Supreme Court, was projected to be around $300,000.
According to the BAC, some backers who had pledged to fund the legal battle felt that the negotiated improvements for surface water access, initially by the Ogeechee Riverkeepers moving the timeline from 25 to 15 years and subsequently with the state’s commitment of surface water within five years along with the significant funding, represented a significant victory. This progress is expected to substantially reduce the risk of large-scale water withdrawals from the Floridan aquifer.
The Bulloch Action Coalition expressed its gratitude to the many Bulloch County citizens who supported the referendum efforts by signing petitions, providing financial assistance, volunteering their time, and displaying yard signs. The organization specifically thanked those who committed to gathering signatures, emphasizing the significant public support the movement garnered.
“While we did not stop the wells, the efforts of so many were not in vain, as we made far more progress in protecting our Floridan aquifer than was expected,” the BAC stated in its release.
The legal team that had been advising the petition effort has been retained to address any future decisions related to the four large Hyundai wells.
Lawton Sack, co-founder of BAC, expressed his ongoing disappointment with the previous Board of Commissioners’ decision but acknowledged the state’s positive intervention. “We are so thankful that the State of Georgia heard the voices of Bulloch County citizens and acted appropriately when the Board of Commissioners would not. We are staunchly committed to continuing our efforts to echo the voices of citizens and to be a watchdog of our local government,” Sack said.
The Bulloch Action Coalition indicates that while the referendum efforts are suspended, their commitment to safeguarding the county’s natural resources and ensuring local government accountability remains strong.
Click here to read the full BAC release.
