About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 2018)
Page 2, December 3, 2018, The Islander LET US HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET—YOUR FAMILY! Brighter and more secure futures come with protecting those parts of our lives we hold most dear. To learn more about our future-minded solutions for all your insurance needs, please contact us at 912.638.8600 or www.mgassLcom PERSONAL & COMMERCIAL INSURANCE ♦ LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE * EMPLOYEE BENEFITS * RISK MANAGEMENT 3 AG IE 2 N Quality, custom framing with a personal touch 1403 Newcastle Street • Brunswick • 912.262.0050 Glynn Middle sidewalk finally underway • CSX clings to old tracks By Pamela Permar Shierling McGinty-Gordon Associates Connecting clients to confidence At their Dec. 21, 2016 (yes 2016) meeting the Brunswick City Commis sion approved the engineering fees to move forward with a sidewalk route from the Windsor Park, Habersham Park, and Dixville neighborhoods to Glynn Middle School (GMS). The approximately half mile walk ing route will begin at Inez Williams Park on the north side of Prince St., run east on Johnson St. to Ocean St., then slightly north on Ocean to Bon Aire Ave., then southeast on Bon Air where it will cross a tidal ditch and end at the north end of the GMS park ing lot. Part of the hold up on the project has been permitting from the Dept, of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division but that has recently come through. According to Garrow Alberson, City Engineer and Public Works Director, EMC Engineering is finishing up the sidewalk design and it should go out to bid after the first of the year. “We are looking at a late spring construction start,” Alberson said, “and the sidewalk should be in place for the start of the 2019-2020 school year.” The reason for the MLK sidewalk is that there is no safe, accessible route for students to walk to Glynn Middle School from the surrounding neighborhoods. The location of Lanier Boulevard and the proximity of the adjacent marsh do not allow for a sidewalk along, Lanier Boulevard separate from the heavily-traveled traffic lanes. A sidewalk was constructed along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard at one time, but it is in disrepair and not safe for pedestrians. The new sidewalk will be concrete with an aluminum bridge over the tidal creek and construction cost is es timated at $55,000. It will be paid for from SPLOST 2016 funds. Another trail project that has been stalled for several years is the new 10 ft. wide trail planned for the east side of MLK also in the south end of Brunswick. In 2015 the city received a $100,000 grant for this trail which would run from the current trail on Highway 17 at the Sidney Lanier Bridge, west down Lourth Ave., then north on MLK to Prince St., then east to Inez Wil liams Park in a loop back to Highway 17. Alberson said the city has been ne gotiating with CSX Corp. for several years to abandon the easement upon which the old railroad tracks sit. The easement, Alberson said, be longs to the city. CSX wants $175,000 to give up the easement and track removal would be the city’s responsibility. The grant, which was a two year grant, was extended through 2018 and now the city is looking to ask for another extension. So far the city has refused to pur chase back the easement from CSX. “The ideal place for the trail is the east side of the drainage ditch that runs down MLK,” Alberson said. “But it looks like we will just go ahead and put the trail on the west side of the drainage ditch,” Alberson said, “even though that moves it closer to MLK.” The CSX tracks are not used and haven’t been used in years. Lirst of all the tracks don’t go any where. They are hard to see, grown up with weeds, but are visible right be hind Glynn Middle School. There are obvious breaks in the tracks since they don’t cross any drive ways that run perpendicular to MLK and Alberson said they terminate at Prince Street. They probably connected across Lourth Ave. at one time to industry on the river, but the Lourth Ave. track crossing was removed recently. “The property in that area cannot be rezoned for anything that would need a railroad,” Alberson said. “A school, ball fields, and residences are along MLK.” The grant, which requires a $25,000 match from the city, hopefully can be used this coming year. Holiday Lights Holiday magic abounds on Jekyll Island this holiday season. Enjoy the thousands of twinkling lights wrapped around great oaks and historic cottages dressed in traditional holiday decor in the Historic District. The Great Tree will light up the main lawn every eve ning in front of Indian Mound Cottage. On the east side of the island, delight in whimsical holiday scenes depicted in colorful light displays in Beach Village and along Great Dunes Beach Park. Your portal i-i to other worlds Fly Delhfirom Brunswick- Goldejf Isles Airport to Atlanta, , ^ then on to more than 323 destinations J> worldwide. Short drive, short lines, and free ^ - parking with rental cars and cafe available. Sign up for our newsletter for advance notice of Delta specials at WWW , Brunswick Golden Isles Airport-bqk Jpjjt’s easy going! om www.Delta.com
