About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2024)
December 9, 2024, The Islander, Page 3 City supports City of Milton Amicus brief By Pamela Permar-Shierling During last weeks’s (Wednesday, Dec. 4) City of Brunswick Commis sion meeting, the commission ap proved a resolution authorizing par ticipation in an Amicus Brief in the Chang vs. city of Milton Appeal. In 2016 a student (Joshua Chang) left the roadway in a single car ac cident and hit a masonry planter lo cated on the City of Milton’s owned right of way. Chang’s parents sued the city of Milton alleging negligence and the trial court found Milton partially at fault and a jury awarded the family $30 million plus in damages. The Georgia Court of Appeals af firmed the findings of the trial court and ruled “the planter...was a haz ard for vehicles leaving the travel lanes and that its presence renders the use of these thoroughfares more hazardous.” The planter had been in place since 1992 and had never been the subject of a complaint or prior accident. The City of Milton has appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court where it will most likely be heard during the first quarter of 2025. City Attorney Brian Corry said the city of Milton was seeking sup port from other municipalities in the appeal to the Supreme Court. City Manager Regina McDuffie commented that Brunswick has lim ited immunity. “Something like this would be catastrophic to our commu nity and we should take heed partic ularly due to the planters and trees in our city,” she said. Part of the City’s resolution states: “the City believes the Court of Ap peals decision is inconsistent with existing legal precedent and should be overturned; and “the City believes the financial implications of the Court of Appeals decision could be devastating for Georgia municipalities.” The commission vote on the reso lution was unanimous. In other business: • the commission approved fund ing totaling $36,144 to purchase AED’s (automated external defibril lators) and Narcan kits for all city buildings. The purchase is funded 50% from the contingency fund and 50% from the Opioid Settlement. McDuffie told the commission that the total Opioid Settlement was $36,000. The balance of the settle ment will be used for drug education programs through the city’s recre ation department. • the commission approved an In tergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Georgia Department of Transportation which will allow, Corry said, the city to have more local control over the design and installation of the lighting package planned for the roundabout at New castle and Bay Streets. • the commission approved an IGA with Glynn County for the city’s portion of the Fourth St. sidewalk construction. Glynn County is building a sidewalk along Fourth St. from Mariner’s Way to Highway 17. The city needs to repair its portion of the sidewalk from Mariner’s Way west to Altama Ave. The county bid the project and awarded construction to Swindell Construction Co. The city’s portion is $152,522. The IGA is to amend the construction contract and allow the city to reimburse the county for payment. This item led to a couple of other sidewalk / trail discussions as well as Mayor Cosby Johnson stating he wanted the city’s own procurement process to be used. Johnson also asked Public Works Director Garrow Alberson if there was a prioritized list of sidewalks needing repair. Alberson said there was a list and sidewalks were replaced / repaired based on requests or complaints and would send the list to commissioners. Alberson said about $750,000 was left in SPLOST 2022 for sidewalks. Com. Felicia Harris asked Alber son about the western portion of the sidewalk that would run from Alta ma Ave. to Highway 341. “We are looking at this portion of the sidewalk,” Alberson said. “The design would be funded through BATS. We may have a design to look at by spring.” Com. Gwen Atkinson-Williams asked about the trail planned for Highway 17 from the city’s Overlook Park to the Torras Causeway bike trail. Last year the city opted to look for other trail locations instead of in the marsh because of the cost. The 2023 costs were estimated at over $2 million. Alberson said, “We have backed off the marsh alignment and the designers have given us some ideas which would bring the trail closer to the highway. This would require some traffic lane shifts.” “It is still a fairly expensive proj ect and we are looking for ways to reduce the costs. We plan to have something suitable to bring to the commission to discuss after the holi days to see if you want to continue the project at a lower cost,” Alberson said. • the commission approved a lease for a new 107 ft. ladder fire truck. The lease is through Leasing 2, Inc. at an interest rate of 5.39%. The to tal interest payment over a 13 year period was calculated at $668,250 which brings the total cost of the new equipment to $2.4 million. However, Asst. County Manager Jeremiah Bergquist told the commit tee at the Nov. 25 finance commit tee meeting that after three years, the city will be able to refinance the truck through GMA (Georgia Mu nicipal Association) at a zero inter est rate. Bergquist also said that SPLOST 22 will cover the payments for the first three years. After that the pay ments will be rolled into the general fund. GP Brunswick Cellulose to hold Holiday Celebration at Selden Park In the spirit of supporting our next-door neighbors, Brunswick Cel lulose is pleased to sponsor a com munity wide, family friendly holiday celebration at historic Selden Park on Saturday, Dec. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. The park is located just a few blocks east of the mill and can be accessed via Ross Road or Highway 341. Brunswick Cellulose is partner ing with the Selden Park Advisory Board and the Glynn County Recre ation and Parks Department on this event. Food, refreshments, music, track less train rides and an appearance by Santa will be offered, all free of charge. Park on the west side of the gymnasium, as most activities will take place in that area. Being a good neighbor is a key ele ment of Brunswick Cellulose’s strat egy in building relationships in the community. Additionally, the park has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century as a gathering place for recreation, education, culture and entertainment. Since 1980 The Frederica House Old Time Value on Spirits and Food Seafood • Steaks Nightly Specials Bar & Grill Open 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday 3611 Frederica Road St. Simons Island 912-638-6789 IP'S Wine Come check out our NEW wine section!!! The best prices, best selection, and best service in town. Stop on by & see for yourself. 3304 Glynn Ave, Brunswick I 912-264-3695 O © THIS JUST lN: ,i T fr i?5r ro In store tastings every Friday 2 - 5 WINE 750 ml’s SPIRITS 1.75’s SONOMA CUTRER Chard $18.49 J LOHR RIVERSTONE Chard $13.49 SIMI SONOMA Chard $13.99 WENTE MORNING FOG Chard $11.99 ARIEL (non-Alcohol) Chard $ 9.99 MATCHBOOK Chard $13.99 KENDALL JACKSON Chard $13.99 FERRARI CARANO Chard $15.99 BUTTER Chard $15.99 ZENATO Pinot Grigio $ 9.99 FERRARI CARANO Fume Blanc $11.99 BRANCOTT Flight Song Sauv Blanc $11.99 $12.99 $12.99 $10.99 KIM CRAWFORD Sauv Blanc JOEL GOTT Sauv Blanc NOBILO Sauv Blanc FRANCOIS MONTAND Blanc de Blanc LAMARCA Prosecco LA VIEILLE FERME Rose PRUNUS Red BULL BY THE HORNS Cab Sauv BONANZA Cab Sauv o *— o -C ■£ o - Price J $13.99 $14.99 $ 7.99 $14.99 $18.99 $16.99 $14.99 a> CL o WHEATLEY Vodka FRIS Vodka RAIN ORGANIC Vodka SVEDKA Vodka NUE Vodka TEN HIGH Bourbon OLD GRANDAD Whiskey JIM BEAM Bourbon EVAN WILLIAMS Bourbon BOODLES Gin BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin SOUTHERN COMFORT JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK Scotch DEWARS Scotch FAMOUS GROUSE Scotch CHIVAS REGAL Scotch MALIBU COCONUT (all flavors) RON RICO Rum MARGARITAVILLE Gold & Silver JOSE CUERVO Gold & Silver * Price f $ 24.99 $12.97 $18.99 $17.99 $ 17.47 ** $ 14.99 : Si $ 26.99 ^ $29.99 $ 25.97 $39.99 $ 39.97 $ 19.97 fe $67.97 $ 37.97 ^ $29.99 ite $77.99 $29.99 $17.99 $21.47 $ 34.99 BARNARD GRIFFIN Cab Sauv PASO-D’ORO Cab Sauv ^ $19.99 HAHN Cab Sauv fifes $14.99 THE PRISONER Cab Sau\T TH|$49.99 Z. ALEXANDER BROWN (all varietals) $10.49 HIGH ON THE HOG Red Blend $18.49 JOEL GOTT Pinot Noir $14.99 A8iD Pinot Noir $13.99 RICKSHAW Pinot Noir $ 9.99 HAHN Pinot Noir $11.99 ANGELINE Pinot Noir $10.99 TRIVENTO Malbec $ 9.99 UNO 1 Malbec $13.99 Prices subject to change without notice. • Pricing 12/09/24; Pricing expires 12/16/24 New Drink of the Month! Do It Yourself Cocktail Mon - Thurs: 8am - 8pm Fri: 8am - 9pm Sat: 9am - 9pm Sun: 12:30pm - 6:30
