About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2009)
500 JSLflND€R_ • Dave Barry -10 • Editorial Back Talk -16 • Health - 7 • Movie Review Angels and Demons -11 /'^ • Pew News -14 Surfin’ the News Published by Permar Publications • P.O. Box 20539 • St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 • 912-265-9654 • ssislander@bellsouth.net May 25, 2009 Established 1972 Vol 37 Issue 21 County tries to reach terms with Altamaha park association By Pamela Permar Shierling On Wednesday, May 20 five Glynn County Commission ers met with members of the Altamaha Park of Glynn, Inc., (APGI) to try to get facts aired, dispel rumors that have hit the media recently, and to iron out differences between the Com mission, the Park Association and the leaseholders. Commissioner Amy Cal laway (District 1) who called the meeting said, "I wanted to bring the Commission and the APGI Board together to discuss the problem." According to the current 10- year lease agreement between the County and APGI, which has been in place since August 21, 2003, the lease holders pay $50 a month for their lots in the County-owned park. The leases raise approximately $27,400 a year. It is these leases that Comm. Callaway wants to do away with. Comm. Callaway had pro posed to the County Commis sion that vacation cabins be removed from the Park by Sep tember 30, 2009. This item was removed from the May 7 County Commission meeting agenda to allow for additional "research and dialogue," on the issue. The Tuesday meeting was part of that research and dialogue. Comm. Callaway continued, "I want the park open to the public permanently." Ms. Cal laway does not want a continu ation of the two year leases but would like to see an RV park in the area where there are vacation cabins built on county owned property. "My position is that all ten ants have to vacate (by Sep tember 30, 2009)," Callaway said. "Other commissioners said we need to allow more time and I am willing to allow more time." Vernon Lewis, representing APGI, said, "In the past APGI has not provided all the detail Turn to Page 6 APGI Casino ’Fun Zone' now open!!! ."W v _■ ..jW* jjj w 7 '- 1) 7 m *j. , Mil TV' ■l, . 1 I'iS It was all smiles last Wednesday afternoon (above) as Glynn County Commissioner Tony Thaw (Dist. 3) (left) and former District 2 Commissioner Uli Keller were two of the first kids in the water at the new Neptune Park swimming pool. A dedication ceremony was held, despite the threat of rain, to open the 'Fun Zone 1 complex. Thaw and Keller, along with Commissioners Cap Fendig and Don Hogan, were major supporters of the park renovation project. Several years and a lot of hard work in the making, the Fun Zone, Phase 1 of the overall park master plan, officially opened to the public on Satur day, May 23. The Fun Zone is a multifaceted complex that includes a pool with splash feature, putt-putt golf course and landside playground. The new facility also includes a bath house and concession stand. The Fun Zone is located in Neptune Park on St. Simons Island between the Casino and the lighthouse. The facility will be open from Memorial Day weekend until labor Day. For more information visit www.glynncounty. org/funzone. Below: Even if you don't have a bathing suit you can torment your friends with one of the water park's two water cannons. Islander Staff Photos Chiefs get extra breaks in Torras barrier By Matthew J. Permar Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering recently expressed concerns publicly that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed design for the F.J. Torras Causeway barrier wall includes only one access point for emergency vehicles and personnel to get from one side of the road to the other in event of an accident. Last week Doering aired his concerns to the DOT and was rewarded with two additional emergency access points in the Causeway wall. Doering maintained that limiting the access points on the Causeway to one would severely hamper rescue efforts during accidents when response time is critical. Doering pointed out that none of the five Causeway Turn to Page 2 Torras barrier Island residents concerned and confused about zoning changes By Pamela Permar Shierling Last Tuesday, May 19, the Island Planning Commission (IPC) approved a request to add a new zoning ordinance to the Glynn Comity Code which will create zoning district 700 adding Village Residential District (VR) to the code of ordinances if passed by the Glynn County Commission. Permitted uses include one family dwelling; government owned or operated use, facility or land; group home; acces sory uses in compliance with the provisions of Section 609; home occupations established under the provisions of Section 608. Specific conditional and spe cial uses are also named. Maximum building height is two stories not to exceed Turn to Page 5 Zoning changes
