The Long County Development Authority voted during its April meeting to help local developer Joe Raymer obtain financing for a deceleration lane on McDonald Street/Highway 57, which he needs to open a convenience store.
“As of today, Joe Raymer still needs the decal lane, per DOT requirements ... he’s already invested a lot of money ... and we need to figure out what we can and can’t do to help him,” said LCDA Chairwoman Christy Wingate.
According to Raymer, who is a partner with RMR and Associates, the total cost for the deceleration lane is around $350,000, but for the store, One Stop Express, to be able to open, the first stage of the decal lane has to be completed, which will cost $123,000.
RMR and Associates bought the land off Highway 57 near Smiley Elementary School with a long-term goal of establishing a town center village. The first step was the building the convenience store.
“I would like to see us get Jay (Swindell, the county attorney) in on this ASAP to research it and tell us what can be done to help him,” said Development Authority member Wallace Shaw.
After a brief discussion, the authority voted to have the county attorney research the issue to see what could be done. They also decided to research a One Georgia Grant to see if money from it could be used for the decelleration lane.
In other business the authority reported:
• That the planned Web site was still on schedule and that Wingate would go to Savannah to discuss its progress with the contactor who is doing the work.
• Wingate reported that a conflict of interest policy for the board members was still being researched and hopefully, by the May meeting, a draft would be ready for the board to review.
• Wingate reported that McGowan Roofing was making progress in the construction of the building at the industrial site.
• Reported that members Lillian Simmons, Michelle Poppell, Gary Swindell and Anthony Smith would be attending the introductory training course for being a member of the Development Authority on June, and that on June 12, they would be taking the advanced course along with Wingate and Shaw. The training will be in Savannah.
• All members welcomed new member Anthony Smith.
“As of today, Joe Raymer still needs the decal lane, per DOT requirements ... he’s already invested a lot of money ... and we need to figure out what we can and can’t do to help him,” said LCDA Chairwoman Christy Wingate.
According to Raymer, who is a partner with RMR and Associates, the total cost for the deceleration lane is around $350,000, but for the store, One Stop Express, to be able to open, the first stage of the decal lane has to be completed, which will cost $123,000.
RMR and Associates bought the land off Highway 57 near Smiley Elementary School with a long-term goal of establishing a town center village. The first step was the building the convenience store.
“I would like to see us get Jay (Swindell, the county attorney) in on this ASAP to research it and tell us what can be done to help him,” said Development Authority member Wallace Shaw.
After a brief discussion, the authority voted to have the county attorney research the issue to see what could be done. They also decided to research a One Georgia Grant to see if money from it could be used for the decelleration lane.
In other business the authority reported:
• That the planned Web site was still on schedule and that Wingate would go to Savannah to discuss its progress with the contactor who is doing the work.
• Wingate reported that a conflict of interest policy for the board members was still being researched and hopefully, by the May meeting, a draft would be ready for the board to review.
• Wingate reported that McGowan Roofing was making progress in the construction of the building at the industrial site.
• Reported that members Lillian Simmons, Michelle Poppell, Gary Swindell and Anthony Smith would be attending the introductory training course for being a member of the Development Authority on June, and that on June 12, they would be taking the advanced course along with Wingate and Shaw. The training will be in Savannah.
• All members welcomed new member Anthony Smith.