About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2019)
May 20, 2019, The Islander, Page 11 County Commission Continued from Page 1 to do the sewer work before the re paving so the new paving won’t have to be dug up. Approved on November 8, 2005, SPLOST 5 included funds for capital outlay projects, including improve ments to the sewer and water sys tems in the City of Brunswick and Glynn County. The JWSC operates under an “op erating agreement” with the city and the county governments. The seventh amendment to that operational agreement further al lows the JWSC to also receive direct disbursements of remaining, eligible SPLOST 5 proceeds from the City and/or County for approved water and sewer SPLOST 5 projects. County Attorney Aaron Mumford said the JWSC had asked for the funds for Sea Palms and they would be used in a manner consistent with the SPLOST 5 rules. He added that SPLOST 5 funds for water and sewer projects are trans ferred to the JWSC on a project by project basis. “This (money) is just for the Sea Palms project,” said Mumford. Asking how much money was left in the SPLOST 5 account for water and sewer projects, Commissioner Peter Murphy (Dist. 2) also wondered why the project was taking so long. “They need to get off their duff and do this project,” said Murphy, “People in this neighborhood ask me at ev ery town hall meeting about the road paving and I tell them we’re waiting on the sewer project. Why aren’t peo ple clamoring for this project?” Commissioner Bob Coleman (At Large #2) agreed with Murphy. “We’ve got the money, let’s spend it, Sea Palms needs it,” Coleman said. Murphy made the motion to ap prove the agreement with the JWSC and Coleman seconded. It passed 5-0. BOC members Bill Brunson and David O’Quinn were absent. After the regular meeting, the BOC spent just under 45 minutes in closed session then reconvened in open session and voted 5-0 to approve a $62,500 lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys representing the American Civil Lib erties Union (ACLU), Margery Mock and Eric Ogden. The suit maintained that the coun ty’s misdemeanor bail bond system was unconstitutional by making it difficult for people who could not af ford to pay bail to get out of jail. Former Glynn County Magistrate Court Judge Alex Atwood, Sheriff Neal Jump and county public defend er Reid Zeh were named in the suit. Last November U.S. District Court Judge Stan Baker sent the case to a settlement conference in Savannah. In other business: • During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Jeff Kilgore recommended that the BOC create a “citizens ethics board” for the county to review complaints regard ing the county. He cited Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) member Phillip Vivani’s com ments at a recent meeting in which Kilgore claimed that Viviani said he would let the public speak on an is sue, but their comments “would not matter.” Kilgore also noted that ZBA mem ber Betty Keller’s daughter Denise Keller works in the County’s Commu nity Development Department. Kilgore said, “She (Betty Keller) is passing judgement on her daugh ter’s and her daughter’s co-workers decisions.” Kilgore cited both state law and county ordinances that define con flicts of interest. He said he had contacted the Geor gia Attorney General about Viviani and they are currently too busy deal ing with corruption in other areas to deal with Kilgore’s complaint. “So it is up to us to do it,” said Kilgore, “I hope you will create a board of ethics. We have no one to en force our ethics issues.” Also during the public comment time, Brunswick resident Annie Po lite spoke to the BOC about the lack of essential services, poverty and oth er city issues. • The BOC also recognized May 19-25 as National EMS week and May 20-27 as Beach Safety week. Proclamations were given to the local EMS officials and to Recreation and Parks Manager Lisa Gurganus. • The BOC officially named the fishing pier at Blythe Island Region al Park (BIRP) in honor of Clarence Hiburn for his service to the county as a member of the BIRP Advisory Board from 1984 to 2016. He served as chairman from 1990 to his retire ment in 2016. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY Denied Benefits? Unable To Work? We Can Help! lO O, Do you quaLify for disability benefits? 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