HELEN — A subcommittee of the Helen City Commission and representatives of Cool River Tubing and Helen Waterpark and Tubing agree they want to see less litter in the Chattahoochee River.
How that goal will be accomplished was the subject of a recent special called meeting in Helen.
Commissioner Steve Fowler, chairman of the subcommittee, conducted Wednesday’s meeting and all city commissioners were present to discuss the important issue that affects Helen and everyone downstream.
Fowler said his opinion has been that allowing people to bring less items with them while tubing will result in less litter and stray items in the Chattahoochee River.
But tubing company operators say expanding what is allowed and encouraging non-disposables such as Nalgene bottles and other similar items will prompt more tubing participants to ensure they have their possessions when they leave, thus reducing litter.
Tubing companies asserted, and city officials conceded, that not all the trash in the river is the result of the tubing operations.
Still, tubing companies want to do their part to ensure litter is reduced as much as possible.
Tubing operators said signs that contain symbols rather than lengthy rules would be more effective in reaching their patrons.
Whatever ordinance is in place governing tubing on the Chattahoochee River in Helen must be communicated to end users, operators stressed.
“This education part is going to be the gap that we’re going to have to bridge between us and them to explain to people what is disposable, because some people will think ‘well, I’m going to get rid of this water bottle’,” said Derek Long of Helen Water Park and Tubing.
Long, Tiffany Long and Lesia Long represented Helen Water Park and Tubing during the meeting, while Terry Sims, Teri Sims and Jessica Sims represented Cool River Tubing Company.
Fowler again said his theory has been that allowing less items on the river results in less discarded or lost items.
“But I’m ok with talking about this, and my thoughts might not be right,” Fowler said.
Tubing operators shared with the committee and other Helen officials some of the items they can offer for sale to those who come to tube the Hooch.
At the conclusion of Wednesday’s meeting, city officials agreed to pass along the items provided by both tubing companies to City Attorney Carl Free so he can integrate them into a revised tubing ordinance. That proposed ordinance will be subjected to two public readings so tubing company operators, members of the public, merchants and others can provide input.
