Waynesville's New Free Fire Truck‏

The free Fire Truck that Waynesville VFD received through a successful grant application will be delivered in coming weeks and should be in service shortly afterward. The truck has a value of over $250,000 and comes at no cost to the County. This is a magnificent asset to help continue the improvements underway for fire protection across the County with new installation of 5 new stations, realignment of existing stations and other efforts under way by each Volunteer Fire Department.

Hoboken VFD Main Station Taking Shape

County Commission September Road Meeting

The County Commission met on Thursday in the monthly road meeting to discuss the current construction project. The following projects are under way and will be funded through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds that come from the extra 1 cent that is paid in sales tax throughout Brantley County. When it comes time to renew the SPLOST in 2011, please remember all the wonderful projects that are taking place because of the SPLOST. Without SPLOST, the County would NOT be able to make these much needed improvements.

At this point, over 200 parcels of right of way have been negotiated and acquired by this Commission to launch these road paving projects in 2010. This took the Commissioners and staff many hours of tracking people down in and out of State to get their approval and signatures on right of way deeds.

Waynesville Road
Littlefield Construction has moved in and completed about 80% of the ditch construction between the beaver dam and highway 110. They've completed approximately 30% of the ditch construction between the beaver dam and highway 82. The power company needs Littlefield to complete a small section of the ROW shoulder work so that they can move the power lines. The plan is to complete all dirt work and grass the road for the winter. In the spring, Littlefield will move back in and prep and pave the road. By the time the dirt work is complete, there will not be sufficient warm weather to provide for the paving of such a long section of road using triple surface treatment as required by the State.

Buster Walker Road
The County has received the DOT contract on Buster Walker Road. Golden Isles Engineering has released the request for bids for the grubbing and clearing for Buster Walker as the GaDOT is not participating in the funding of that portion of the project. GaDOT is providing $300,000 toward the building and paving of Buster Walker. The bids are due in by October 12th. At that time, one will be awarded based on the price and recommendation from the engineering firm's review. The County is waiting on the “notice to proceed” from the GaDOT for the dirt work and paving portion of this road. This should be arriving any day now. At that time, that portion of the road construction will be released for bids. The goal is to work that through the winter and have it ready for paving in the spring as well.

Dude Circle
Littlefield Construction has completed the dirt work on this road and is waiting for the soil to pack under the traffic that is on it. In coming weeks, they will install the clay necessary for a solid base on the road and then install the soil cement and double surface treatment. That is basically two layers of tar and two layers of rock. This road should be completed in the next 30-45 days.

Boots Harrison Road
The County has completed the majority of the clearing and grubbing and is working with the utilities to get their equipment into the new space. Once this is completed, the County will start on the dirt work and ditching. Once that is completed, the bids will go out for base and paving.

Taylor Road Area
Every time there is a substantial rain, the area South East of the Waynesville Elementary school becomes flooded and impassible. During this last event, the County took the opportunity to work with the school board to try and put some permanent fixes in place. An old outfall ditch was cleaned out through the area and new pipes were installed in an attempt to get the water away from the road. Thanks to the Board of Education and the neighboring property owners for working with the County to make these improvements. The ditch beside the road is only good for so long and then that water has to “go” somewhere. These efforts also took a significant amount of County resources so the patience of many others during this time was also much appreciated.

Satilla Church Road
Allen Construction has completed the ditching and dirt work on the Satilla Church Road and is installing the clay base. Once this comes back from the lab, so that the proper percentage of concrete to install is known, they can move forward with the soil cement and double surface treatment. There was some pretty major piping and culvert work that had to be completed on this road, but those are done. The plan is to complete this road over the next 45 to 60 days.

Mt. Calvary Road
The County’s engineering firm has completed an alternate design on the road this week. Right of Way deeds have been acquired from over ½ of the property owners. The County has received signed deeds or verbal approval from all but two land owners on the entire western stretch of this project which runs from the bridge to the High Bluff Rock Road. The ROW deeds for the GaDOT portion of the road which runs from the bridge east to the pavement in front of the Mt. Calvary Church, have been in hand for some time. The GaDOT is providing over $25,000 for this portion of the road and that contract is in hand. The County is waiting for the notice to proceed so that bids can be let for this project. This should be in this week. This much needed project is moving forward.

Dogwood Trail
The County has begun improvements to this public road. The Commission voted to fill in the huge holes in the road and allow as much “green space” to remain as possible through this neighborhood and to complete the road as it is platted in the courthouse. On the original plats which created the public road, the 50’ easement runs from Herrin Lake Road all the way through to Church Street. This will allow school buses, ambulances, trash trucks and other municipal service vehicles to access the residents within Dogwood Trail without having to turn around in one of the property owners drive ways. On numerous occasions, ambulances, mobile homes movers and other vehicles have become stranded in this public road. This will also allow law enforcement to better travel the area as there have been complaints of suspicious activity in the area.

Road Striping Project
The County has received the DOT contract and notice to proceed with painting all road markings on Riverside Rock Road, Caney Bay Road, Old 259 and Raybon Road West. This has been bid off by the County’s engineering firm and the low bid awarded to one of the two major companies in the State who can most economically perform this work while meeting GaDOT standards. This work will likely begin in late October or early November. The County will attempt to “scalp” the sides of some roads where the dirt and grass have accumulated so that the shoulder of the road is higher than the actual road itself. This will make the marking project much more successful.

Oak Grove Road Resurfacing
This project is complete.

County Courthouse Security and Parking Lot
The group discussed proposed plans for the parking lot on the South side of the Courthouse that would allow for 60 new parking spaces without impacting the streets on either side of the Courthouse, as the City of Nahunta chose not to work with the County on that project. This also leaves ample green space and has some filtration designed for storm water runoff as a best management practice (BMP). The Constitutional Officers in the Courthouse are concerned about safety. As we have some kind of court (Magistrate, Probate, Superior, Civil, Criminal, Juvenile, etc) now once or twice per week, tempers can flair and that isn’t good. With this, the County staff and engineering firm are putting together some alternatives for the Commissioners to consider improving security at the Courthouse.

September Regular Commission Meeting

Prior to the Regular Commission meeting, a Public Hearing was held to allow comments on the closing of Lee Cemetery Road. There were no public comments during that session.

In the Regular Meeting, the County Commission approved a motion to abandon Lee Cemetery Road. The residents that own the property on either side of the road have vowed to allow anyone access to the cemetery who asks for it, to visit someone buried there.

The Commission approved an on premise beer and wine license and an off premise beer and wine license for John C. Williams. The Commission made it clear that there was no longer a residence on the property. Mr. Williams will be opening up a restaurant, package store and potentially antique store at this location.

The Commission discussed the final draft of the Future Land Use Plan submitted by the Future Land Use Technical Advisory Committee (FLUTAC) in its final form, along with the storm water ordinance and technical specification sheets. These documents will help serve as guides for future development in Brantley County and will be the basis for the next land use step, which would include phase I zoning.

A presentation was given by the Coastal Regional Development Center on the “Vanpool” program. With this federally funded program, citizens of Brantley County who can car pool with at least 4 other members to a destination inside one of the 9 counties in the Coastal RDC, can make application for a van to use to commute back and forth to work. For more information contact them at 912-262-2833 and ask about the Vanpool program by VPSI.

The Commission approved:
• the 2009 audit that was received from the auditors this month,
• the reappointment of Leola Buckley to the Satilla Community Health Board,
• the County manager entering into an agreement for a new copier at the BOC office and
• the County manager preparing bids and plans to improve courthouse security.

The Commission approved resolutions creating the fire tax districts for Hoboken, Nahunta and Hortense Volunteer Fire Departments and expanded Waynesville’s Fire Tax district so that it extends all the way to the Satilla River, taking in the current Atkinson Volunteer Fire Department. With the formation of these fire tax districts, the fire tax received from residents and businesses within that district will go directly to the individual Fire Department instead of going into a “general fire tax fund” and being divided among those departments equally. The Commission approved a 60 day notification of the cancellation of the Atkinson Fire Department Contract and rescinded the previous motion to purchase a new fire truck for $75,000.

The Commission reviewed alternatives for Health Insurance for employees. With the skyrocketing cost of health coverage, this was a major concern for the Commission. The initial response from the current agency included a 25% increase in the premiums. After going out for bids to multiple agencies, the Commission approved Option #4 of United Healthcare’s plan which included a 15% increase, which can be funded within the budget line item that the board has established for employee insurance in the 2011 proposed budget. Over 15 different alternatives were reviewed for insurance, including some self insurance options. Some carriers would not even bid on the County’s health insurance. The option the Commission chose balanced the need for health insurance with the need to hold down spending as much as possible.

The County manager reviewed the proposed plan for the recreation park center building where bathrooms, concessions and scoring will be housed. In a recent meeting, the County approved the use of a Glynn County firm’s plans that were drawn up for another park. These were modified slightly and will now be sent out for bids. The construction of this building will be funded with the remaining SPLOST funds that are set aside for recreation. The County also voted to name the new recreation park, “Satilla Fields” in honor of the beloved Satilla River. The Commission also approved the surplus sale of the temporary concession stand building that was purchased last year. Finally, the Commission discussed possibly funding the lights for the recreation park through the OREMC’s revolving loan fund. If the OREMC approved the County’s application, and the matter can be worked out through legal, this would cut in half the interest that the County would pay for the lights (4% to 2%). The County attorney will review this with the OREMC attorney and report back.

After a brief executive session, the Commission approved the recommendation of the County attorney to accept the settlement negotiated with US Mulch for $53,000 on 2007 and 2008 back taxes.

BTC Video by Robby Thomas

Work Has Restarted on the Brantley County Airport Project

Annual 9-11 Memorial Service

The annual 9-11 Memorial Service will be held at Frye Funeral Home on Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 am. This is a time when we come together to remember the sacrifice of the fallen and their families. The program is always touching and heartfelt. Remember, "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."

Let's come together and remember the events of 9-11, honor those that gave all in the service of their community and country and to stand together indignant to those who would attack our great nation.

God Bless.

Ronald E. Ham
Chairman - Brantley County Commission

More Roads Paved - Grader Operator Training

In a called meeting specifically to approve Georgia Department of Transportation (GaDOT), the Brantley County Commission approved contracts for Buster Walker and Mt. Calvary Roads. The GaDOT is providing funds of $25,000+ for the paving of Mt. Calvary between the bridge and the existing pavement, in front of the Mt. Calvary Church. The Commission will use Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars from the Road SPLOST to complete the paving project between the bridge and High Bluff.

The contracts were signed on 9-3 and returned to the State. The official "notice to proceed from the State" should be in hand within 2 weeks. This will allow the County's engineering firm to go out for bids for the two projects, which are approximately 2.5 miles each. This will take about 30 days. Once a bid is awarded, it will take another 30 days for documents and contracts to get in order. The clearing and grubbing for Buster Walker will go ahead and hit the bid process, as the State is not participating in that portion of the project. Once this is complete, the utility companies will be allowed to move their equipment while the bid process for road construction is under way.

So within 60-90 days max, work should begin on Mt. Calvary and Buster Walker Roads. The County is currently using SPLOST funds or DOT funds to pave all or portions of Waynesville Road, Buster Walker Road, Boots Harrison Road, Satilla Church Road, Dude Circle Road and Mt. Calvary Road. Other DOT projects include the restriping of Riverside, Caney Bay, old 259 and Raybon Road West. Recently a DOT Resurfacing project was completed on Oak Grove Road.

Road Grader training and certification will be held in coming weeks by Road Superintendent and Special Projects Coordinator, Morris Franklin. In this process, those who operate a road grader, or could stand in for an operator who is out, will be trained on the operation of that equipment. They will be given the ability to demonstrate that they understand that operation, perform using the equipment on a road during the training and then sign off that they have been shown and have demonstrated their knowledge on the correct operation of the equipment and what is expected of them. This will get all of our grader operators on the same page and further improve our dirt roads. This will hopefully become and annual event.

The Commission is working hard to pave as many roads as possible using SPLOST & GaDOT dollars, while maintaining the dirt roads, improving them and providing outfall ditches which get the water away from the road. All of this will lead to better roads for Brantley.

Hoboken VFD/EMS Get New Home

The Hoboken Volunteer Fire Department and West EMS station are getting a new home in Hoboken, about 3 blocks South of Highway 82, behind Hoboken Building Supply. Varn's Timber graciously donated the property where the new main Hoboken Station will be located. An extra bay was installed to serve as the new home for the West End EMS station that is currently housed in the Calvary Volunteer Fire Department. EMS director Tim Crews felt that the EMS teams needed to be more centrally located to the general population around Brantley, so they will be moved more to the center, so that the outstations are eventually located in Atkinson and Hoboken.

With the Hoboken Station to be "dried in" this week, the men will start building the inside of the station for the Fire Department offices and EMS living/sleeping quarters.

These buildings were purchased for about $42,000 each, turnkey with funds to pay for them coming from the fire tax portion of the tax bill, which is dedicated for fire coverage. By getting all of the Hoboken VFD equipment inside and better organized, including all paperwork etc, this will help lower Hoboken's ISO rating, which will reduce insurance premiums for homeowners. One resident in Raybon has reported that since that substation went in, his insurance premium was lowered by $505 per year. That is substantial.

This is just another example of how the Commission is working to lower homeowner's costs.