By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
LCDA irons out water service details
Placeholder Image
Liberty County Development Authority members had a called meeting Thursday afternoon to review and approve details regarding the delivery of water service to the old Dorchester Consolidated School property.
Authority members approved a motion authorizing the execution of a development agreement to extend water and reuse service, making materials available to Dorchester officials and making the nonprofit’s leadership responsible for labor and installation. The difference between the impact fee and the labor cost will be paid or the labor cost will When board members initially approved providing service, it was determined that they would have to charge the school’s presiding organization an impact fee for service. However, supplying materials and letting Dorchester leaders provide the labor could lessen the financial burden, according to attorney Kelly Davis, particularly if private parties stepped up to donate labor.
 The reuse line was not part of the original agreement, but it has historically been authority policy to have water and reuse lines installed simultaneously. Under this agreement, Dorchester would be responsible for installation subject to authority specifications. Also included in the details of the delivery method is a provision stipulating that Dorchester tie into a county-provided sewage line should it be installed in the future.
Also at the meeting, members approved a variance for a covenant for Tradeport East tenant IDI. IDI wants to add an ancillary retail/wholesale operation that, according to LCDA CEO Ron Tolley, could have the potential for generating hundreds of jobs.  
 Davis said the variance is necessary because he doesn’t think the language of the covenant specifically allows for the addition of retail space, though IDI has similar covenant provisions in other cities where it operates.
Davis said adding the variance could clarify the option, and the authority reserves the right to approve or deny such variances for other park tenants, particularly given that the variance as drawn up for IDI will be site- and project-specific. The proposed retail space reportedly will take up just 3 percent of the company’s total space and its operations must be subordinate to IDI’s distribution operations.
Sign up for our e-newsletters
GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
port photo
Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority's Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020 - photo by Provided

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.

From July 2017 to March, TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.

"Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share."

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months – another record for the GPA.

"As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade," GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020."

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati.

An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal – improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

March was also a strong month for roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.

"The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit," Lynch said. "As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia's competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks."

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor's Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.

Latest Obituaries