All over but the shouting
Tybee's council cedes funds for beach renourishment, but not without
first chewing a few bones of contention
Tybee's city council agreed to spring $150,000 for beach renourishment on
Tybee Island, Georgia by a vote of five to one, Councilman Jack Youmans
dissenting. The request for funds came from Tybee's Beach Task Force, with a
little heat behind the request in the form of a letter from State
Representative Burke Day.
Day's letter basically indicates that time's are changing. The
federal government is not going to spend as much money on beach
renourishment as it has in the past, he says.
"President Bush was quoted as saying, 'States are going to be on their
own,'" says Day's letter.
"Not only was he [Bush] referring to the fiscal
crisis all but four states currently face; he also aimed his remarks at
programs like renourishments where the federal government has essentially
subsidized what should always have been a state decision based on the value
of beach renourishments to states having beaches."
Day's letter goes on to say that the State of Georgia will not fund
renourishment unless Tybee pays its share:
"If the City of Tybee doesn't immediately begin saving at least
$150,000 a year to fund at least $1,000,000 (one million) every seven years
as its local share, from its own coffers and completely independent of
SPLOST or other county funds, the state will flatly reject Tybee's request."
Day also indicated that Tybee should try to get a million dollars in
SPLOST funds specifically for beach renourishment and keep it as a separate
line item, not to be comingled with the city's individual annual commitment
of $150,000.
"Our free ride is over and God help us should a calamity hit Tybee
this year," writes Day.
Councilman Jimmy Burke was not happy with the chain of communication.
He thought Day should have spoken or written directly to city council,
instead of going through Beach Task Force. Burke had strong words for both
Day and Councilman Jason Buelterman who presented the request to the rest of
council.
Buelterman said it is in the city's best interests to participate
financially in beach renourishment. It shows good faith to the state and
federal government who bear the lion's share of renourishment costs, he
said.
In a separate interview, former Beach Task Force Member Freda
Rutherford said it is in the Beach Task Force's charter to make
recommendations to city council about the beach. The vote to fund
renourishment came on the heels of Rutherford's dismissal from Beach Task
Force. Council voted unanimously to remove Rutherford from the citizen's
task force in a closed meeting.
Rutherford has been a frequent and vocal critic of Tybee's council
who does not hesitate to voice her dissent in local media. Most recently she
featured in a Savannah Morning News article about town gadflies who show up
at every council meeting and openly disagree with elected officials'
decisions. In that article, Rutherford said she is thinking of running for
Tybee's city council herself.
Rutherford's role on Beach Task Force was, until recently,
coordinating and tracking the group's many projects. Rutherford, who lives
and owns rental property on Tybee's north beach, says the task force won't
be lost without her input. That's because she plans to attend Beach Task
Force meetings anyway. After all, the meetings are open to the public, she
points out.
Once a jetty; now a set of knives
If you've ever cut yourself up on the eroded beach groins off Tybee's
beaches, you've got an advocate in Councilmen Jason Buelterman and Walter
Crawford. The councilmen expressed concern about the public's safety and
recommended immediate action.
The jetty fragments are part of a Works Projects Administration (WPA)
initiative which also installed the back river sea wall in 1912.
In a memo to Tybee's city manager, Savannah Civil Works Project
Manager T. Alan Garrett recommended the City of Tybee maintenance department
"identify the dangerous structures and then remove and/or cut them off below
grade." Garrett said the groin shards "pose a threat to bathers" and that
the city "should affect removal as quickly as possible."
Crawford was strongly in favor of removing the exposed pylons
immediately and without first asking permission of the Corps of Engineers.
The pylons represent a safety hazard, and it is city council's job to
protect Tybee residents and visitors, he said.
His motion to cut down the pylons immediately failed by a vote of
four to two.
Trade in your meter for a well
Trying to get off the grid? Tybee's city council has made it one step
easier. They've voted to let residents dig shallow wells and tap ground
water as an alternative to stressing out the city's limited reserves of
treated water.
At the July meeting of city council, elected officials further
decided by unanimous vote to buy back water meters at the rate of $350 from
folks who install wells, as an incentive and to defray the cost of digging.
They also voted to waive the $5 well permit fee over the objections of City
Marshall Chuck Bargeron who said it covers the cost of an inspection to make
sure the well doesn't pose a danger to the neighborhood.
Crawford directed Bargeron to continue dispensing permits and making
inspections. "Just don't charge for it," he said.
In other water news: Led by Buelterman, council voted unanimously to give
Tybee seniors a break on their water bills. Families age 62 and older with
incomes of $30,000 or less will soon see a 50% reduction of the base rate.
The change will save some seniors $15/month on their water bills.
New wire in old jugs
Tybee Lighthouse Director and historic preservation expert Cullen
Chambers recommended that Tybee's city council authorize the rewiring of the
island's historic guard house, also known as the community center. The
electrical wiring in the guard house is out of code and there's already been
a fire in the building's attic, Chambers reported.
Asked why he had only gotten one bid for the work, Chambers explained
that few electricians have the necessary skills to rewire old buildings like
the guard house. "They're going into a historic structure," he said.
Councilman Richard Barrow said the city needs to exercise more vigilance in
getting multiple qualified bids.
Council voted to accept the bid presented by Chambers for rewiring
the guard house, Councilman Jack Youmans dissenting. Youmans said he
wouldn't vote for it because city hall's wiring is just as old. Council
proceeded to vote to rewire city hall which will also be getting fresh
carpet.
