CAIRO — Tired Creek Lake was the driving force for Richard Jordan putting his name in the race for the Grady County Commission District 1 seat. 

Jordan, a Grady County native, began attending commission and Lake Authority meetings after hearing what he called a great amount of talk and misinformation about the extensive project. 

Seeking the seat in the November special election, Jordan said he has two plans toward the project, which has accumulated $36.9 million in expenses since 2004, becoming a “monster” overnight to the Grady County taxpayers. 

“We’ve got to get a financial plan for this lake and get it off the taxpayer’s back,” Jordan said. 

The first plan, Jordan noted, is to sell the project to a single developer through a qualified request for quotation (process, along with selling the water body to the state of Georgia. Both sales could net approximately $18 million, Jordan, a former 13-year chief financial officer, said. 

Following the potential sales, the netted funds would go toward the county’s debt regarding Tired Creek Lake of approximately $21 million. From there, Jordan explained, his plan would be to use approximately $1.6 million in debt retirement funds collected in the 2014 special purpose local options sales tax. The remaining approximate $1.5 million will be garnered through potential job creation at Tired Creek and looking into acquiring state funding through grants. 

“That plan brings the project to a close without any increase toward property tax or millage rate,” Jordan said. 

The commissioner hopeful also noted if the water body is sold to the state, the sale would save in mitigation costs. Grady County, Jordan said, has to monitor mitigation points for up to seven years, costing approximately $400,000 each year. 

The second plan would be to sell the entire Tired Creek Lake project to the state and converted to a wildlife management area. The drawback, Jordan noted, is Grady County would lose any potential revenue, such as property tax, if sold to the state in its entirety, along with “stifling any possible growth” at Tired Creek Lake. 

Along with his possible plans of action toward Tired Creek, Jordan also noted the importance of a candidate to “start the work day one,” once elected. 

Jordan qualified Monday for the November election, which will fill the seat vacated by Elwyn Childs.

A father of two, Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University and a master’s from Georgia College and State University. 

Jordan’s previous financial background, along with being a CFO, also includes starting his own real estate business in 2006. The growth in assets of his business allowed Jordan to retire early, he noted. 

“I want to put my financial ability to work for Grady County,” Jordan said.  

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.