About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2019)
JIA fee increases Continued from Page 1 coverage concerns,” Hooks said. There was detailed discussion of the fire fees during the finance com mittee meeting on June 6. The min utes of that meeting state: “Mr. (Bob) Krueger (JIA Vice Chair) asked if, with the addition of three full-time staff members, the Authority had con sidered contracting with Glynn Coun ty for services?” “Mr. Hooks responded that there are ongoing discussions and partner ship with Glynn County. However, Glynn County services are facing budget and coverage issues currently. There are concerns that services pro vided off island would have increased response times. A millage discount will be provided to Jekyll due to the JIA service coverage. “Mr. Noel Jensen (Chief Operations Officer) stated that the JIA has stand ing Memorandums of Understanding with Glynn County and the City of Brunswick. However, without a Jekyll Island Fire Department there would be a danger of creating coverage gaps for fire and EMS services. “He (Jensen) stated that Jekyll is considered a stellar EMS and fire department.” “Additionally, Mr. Hooks stated the Georgia State Patrol was interested in partnering with JIA for the new Public Safety Building. The proposed increases in parking and fire fees will allow JIA to create capital to leverage which can be used to get very favor able loans for a new ladder truck or other fire equipment.” Hooks mentioned the Public Safety Complex during the regular June 18 meeting saying, “We are starting to look at a new public safety complex during the next two to three years and we will involve the Georgia State Patrol.” Hooks said the proposed daily park ing fee would create increased receipts of $700,000 and the annual parking fee increase would bring in an addi tional $142,000. Parking fees are allocated as fol lows: 37% landscaping; 33% roads and grounds; 14% special projects; 10% conservation; 5% safety; 1% special events. The 13.6% increase in water and sewer fees are budgeted to leave about $556,000 to set aside for water/ waste- water reserve funds. One of the criti cal areas mentioned in the Island’s capacity study was the need for water and sewer upgrades. The marketing expense budget is $2.7 million including $933,000 in salaries and $998,000 for advertising and promotion. Hooks pointed out, ‘We are a dif ferent organization that we were 11 years ago. We had a budget of $15 mil lion and were struggling to keep our heads above water,” he said. “In 2015 our conservation bud get was $190,000 and for 2020 it is $483,000,” he said. “Our water and sewer capacity is good,” Hooks continued. “Our distri bution system is not. We need to ad dress the water and sewer lines and the 2% to 4% increases over the past few years were not enough.” “$55 million in capital needs on Je kyll Island have been identified (no list available),” he said. “There has been no daily parking pass increase during the past seven years and no annual pass increase for the last 10 years,” he said. We will be getting a new gate sys tem with new technology as well as a dedicated lane,” he said. “Our (visitor) numbers are going up,” Hooks said. “We must look at how to better manage Jekyll Island. The experience must be retained.” JIA board member Bill Gross, fi nance committee chair, said, “We must have these increases to keep the magic of Jekyll. We must keep up our infrastructure.” The Authority’s revenues, net of cost of goods sold, is $30.3 million. Operating expenses total $28.3 mil lion including $14.5 million in person nel expenses. The next largest expense is $3.8 million for contracts. The $2 million operating income is budget to be split as follows: • Tourism Development Fund $706,605 • Water / Sewer Fund $558,000 • Fire Department equipment fund $222,000 • Public area & Utilities Improve ment Fund $275,500 • Capital / cash reserves $246,000 Beverly Hopkins, a Jekyll Island resident, commented on the water and sewer rate increase. “13.6% is a lot at one time,” she said. “Is there some impending water and sewer emergency?” She also asked how many JIA board members paid the parking fee to access their homes and reminded the board that residents’ leasehold fees will double soon. “There was not a lot of opportunity for public input into this budget,” Ms. Hopkins said. “I wasn’t aware of the finance meeting until two days after it was over.” Mindy Egan, a Jekyll Island resi dent, commented on the lack of at tention to detail in some areas of the Island. Ms. Egan said that on the whole the Island is beautiful but sometimes details get overlooked. “These details might be small but they mean a lot to visitors.” She pointed out there are no hooks on the bathroom walls or doors where people go to change. She suggested ceiling fans in the old bathrooms which have no ventilation. The Island needs more bike racks. The new Ocean Beach Park has two big pavilions but only one grill for cooking out. Finally she said with more visi tors the Authority needed to schedule more frequent clean up rotations. Another Jekyll resident, Frank Mirasola, spoke up about the lighting ordinance which has, for the time be ing, been put on hold. “Jekyll Island has become a cash cow,” Mirasola said. “Guarding the en vironment has become inconvenient. The lighting ordinance revision com promises turtle protection that the DNR professionals opposed.” “Plus,” Mirasola continued, “cur rent lighting ordinance violations go June 24, 2019, The Islander, Page 11 unpunished.” JIA member Mark Williams who is also Georgia Dept, of Natural Resourc es Commissioner, said, “The DNR did not oppose the ordinance revision. We only commented on it.” Hooks said the dialog on the light ing ordinance would continue. “We met with the DNR earlier in June. We will wait for the appropriate revi sions,” he said. “We will have it (the ordinance) available for public re view, but it won’t ready for this turtle season.” Another Jekyll resident, Jim Reed, asked for a list of water and sewer projects. “I haven’t seen a list of water and sewer projects or how the money will be allocated,” he said. “And how much disruption to the Island will be caused by the project work?” Jekyll resident Kiera Byrd was in favor of the daily and annual parking rate increases. “We offer a much bet ter experience than anyone around Turn to Page 12 JIA fee increases ■iETiili ree. And save every day you’re away! Fly Delta from Brunswick Golden Isles Airport to Atlanta; then on to :< %4 more than 325 destinations worldwide. Short drive, short lines, plus rental cars and cafe. Brunswick Golden Isles Airport-bqk It’s easy going! Sign up for our newsletter for advance notice of Delta specials at WWW.flygcairportS.comWWW.Delta.com
