Liberty County Commissioners received a legislative update Tuesday from state Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, who told them of renewed interest in legalizing casino gambling in Georgia.

"My moral fiber is against it," Williams said, but pointed out that estimates of revenue from casino gambling amounted to $280 million or more annually for the state.

The representative said that new sources of revenue were needed, particularly for education and infrastructure.

"The budget has been cut to the bone, there is no fat," he said.

Williams said Georgia needs an alternative to property tax to raise revenue. He pointed out that a new casino just across the Georgia state line from Rabun County is within driving distance of the Atlanta metro area.

Williams also aired to commissioners what he admitted was a pet peeve: the way the pledge of allegiance is recited.

"We are one nation under God," he said, "There is no comma after the word nation."

Williams said when the pledge is recited at the opening of each day’s session of the state House of Representatives he and one other representative can always be heard because they say, "one nation under God," without a pause.

In other business, engineer Matt Barrow briefed the commissioners on the status of the county’s water system.

Barrow said some remaining grant funds could be used to serve more customers. Commissioner Eddie Walden asked what planning had been done to eventually connect the county water system to municipal systems in Midway, Riceboro and Hinesville.

Chairman Donald Lovette said a dialog with the cities’ mayors would be helpful in making these decisions.

Barrow also discussed the possibility of a Community Development Block Grant to expand the water system. The maximum CDBG amount is now $750,000, up from $500,000.

County Administrator Joey Brown said time was short to prepare the grant application before the April 17 deadline. The commissioners agreed to apply for the grant. Commissioner Marion Stevens said, "Whatever it takes, let’s roll up our sleeves and get it done."

Engineer Trent Long told the commissioners that some money remained from the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the Department of Transportation. They discussed what projects could be funded and decided that several sidewalks could be built.