Newspaper Page Text
THE ISLANDER, MAY 10, 2010, PAGE 7
Optimist Club announces contest winners
City seeks TANs
Continued from Page 1
proposals) for a Tax Anticipation Note
to supplement cash flow until real
property taxes are collected."
According to Hendley, the majority
of the city's revenue comes from two
sources, Real Property Taxes, about
28% and the Local Option Sales Tax
(LOST), about 42%.
"We have budgeted $4.3 million in
real property taxes for Fiscal Year (FY)
2011," said Hendley, "Prorated over
twelve months, that's approximately
$358,300 a month. Property tax collec
tions do not start until after September
15 and the majority is collected in
November since taxes are delinquent
after November 15."
"Most of our other revenues come in
after September of each year," Hendley
continued, "so cash flow is a problem
from June through September each
year. We don't expect a lot of revenue
to be coming in during June, July and
August, except for the LOST."
"I am requesting that we send out
an RFP for $2 million, which is 46% of
the total budgeted real property taxes,"
said Hendley, "Prorated this equals
about five and a half months of collec
tions."
Hendley said hopefully the tax digest
will stay at its predicted level, which is
about 12% less than last year.
Hendley told the commission that, if
they approve her request, she will bring
the results of the RFP back to the com
mission for review and final approval
at a later date. The commission will
have the final approval on TANs.
Commissioner Cornell Harvey asked
about interest on the TANs.
Hendley said she did not know what
this year's rates would be, but that last
year the city got the TANs at 5%. Hen
dley did stress that the city would have
to pay interest on the notes.
According to one official, in the past
cities and counties were actually able to
make a little money on TANs because
when they were invested, they earned
a higher interest rate than what was
being paid on the loan.
In today's economy that may not be
possible.
The city commission approved Hen-
dley's request unanimously.
• In other business:
Traffic light at Martin Luther King
Blvd and L St. - If you've driven through
the intersection of MLK Blvd. and L St.
in Brunswick more than once, you've
probably sat and waited for the light to
change for what seemed a long time.
What makes sitting there for a long
time even more bothersome is the fact
that often there is no traffic moving at
all.
This has not gone unnoticed by city
residents who brought it to the atten
tion of the Brunswick City Commis
sion.
Mayor Bryan Thompson brought
the issue up at last week's commission
meeting saying he has been getting
complaints and that something needs
to be done about the light.
"I have been hearing from people
about the signal at MLK and L Streets,"
said Thompson, "they are complaining
about sitting at this light for extended
periods of time."
The St. Simons Optimist Club
recently sponsored the Communication
Contest for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
students. This contest is held annually
by Optimist International.
First place winners were DuShaun
McKnight, Glynn Academy, signed
Thompsom said he had spoken to
the Public Works Dept, and was told
there were a couple of things that could
be done to correct the problem traffic
signal.
One is to eliminate the cycle that
allows the left turn only from L St. onto
MLK.
Apparently the loops in the pave
ment aren't working correctly and the
left turn arrows cycle through even
when not needed.
This means the light goes through
the full cycle every time, whether a car
is there or not.
A new panel control box is also need
ed. Thompson said that public works is
working with the state Dept, of Trans
portation on getting a new control box
for the traffic signal.
City Engineer Dan McFee agreed
the light needs to be fixed.
"The last time we had a traffic study
done," explained McFee, "they said the
first thing you need to do is fix that
light. They said drivers are taking
other streets to avoid this intersec
tion."
Thompson asked that while public
works was waiting on the new control
box, the left turn only from L onto MLK
be removed. “I
speech and Allison Shearouse, Glynn
Academy, oral speech.
Second in oral presentation was
Tekela Thomas, Glynn Academy and
placing third in oral presentation was
Jessy Shaffer, Glynn Academy.
Students were required to present
a four-to-five minute speech in sign
language or orally on this year’s topic
“Cyber Communication: Progress or
Problem.”
The students were judged on pre
sentation, organization of material and
overall effectiveness of their speeches.
First place winners at the local level
will advance to compete in the state
competition to be held in May in War
ner Robins.
State level winners receive $1,500
college scholarships.
The St. Simons Optimist Club has
sponsored four Glynn County students
who have won at the state level and
received scholarships.
Approximately 90 people were in
attendance at this year’s contest, held
at Glynn Academy auditorium. Attend
ees included Optimist Club members,
students, parents and school person
nel. Lunch was provided by the St.
Simons Optimist Club.
Following the speeches, the audi
ence was entertained with a program
presented by Glynn County students
who are taking sign language classes.
Marcie Harper, Glynn County
schools’ lead teacher for the hearing
impaired helped coordinate the contest
with Optimist Contest Chair, Carol
Harris. □
16th Annual Chamber Experience
Thursday, May 13 • 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort
Experience event includes:
• Silent and Live Auctions • Raffles • Heavy Hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar
Auction items include donated items from Chamber members such as get away vacation
packages, rounds of golf, gift certificates to local restaurants, business building packages,
special items for kids, fishing and hunting trips, and great items for your home.
You will even have the chance to bid for the cover of Elegant Island Living magazine.
There will definitely be something for everyone.
There will be a raffle for two “Woody’s Stimulus Packages” valued at $599 each. Raffle
tickets are $10 each with only 300 printed and are available now or may be
purchased at the event. You do not have to be present to win. ^
Tickets available at the Chamber office or at any Ameris Bank, Atlantic National or
United Community Bank location for $20.00 or at the door on the evening of the event.
Event sponsors include:
AT&T • BB&T • Be Seen Outdoor • Emerald Princess II Casino • Fendig Outdoor
Georgia Power • Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin • Grandview at St. Simons
Hodnett Cooper Real Estate • McGinty Gordon & Associates • Oglethorpe Bank • Pinova
Qantum Communications • The Fan Radio Station • The Islander Newspaper
Southeast Georgia Health System • The Brunswick News • United Community Bank.
www.brunswick-georgia.com