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County considers request for memorial, reviews road projects
casa
The Liberty County Board of Commissioners recognized CASA’s 20th anniversary during its July 18 meeting. CASA, an acronym for the Atlanta Area Court Appointed Special Advocate, Inc., is an organization that advocates for the rights of children who have been abused or neglected and placed in foster care. County officials and CASA representatives posed for a photo following a proclamation signing ceremony. - photo by Denise Etheridge

Proclamations and presentations topped the Liberty County Commission meeting agenda on July 18.

The commission acknowledged this year’s participants in the Riceboro Summer Youth Program, who attended the meeting to learn more about how local government operates. Riceboro City Council Member Chris Stacey was recognized for his dedication to the program and for mentoring local youth.

Commissioners also signed a proclamation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, Inc. The organization advocates for the rights of children who have been abused or neglected and placed in foster care. CASA was established on July 1, 1999. The program has more than 100 volunteers and has advocated for more than 4,500 children throughout Liberty County and the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, according to a proclamation read aloud by Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown. County officials and CASA representatives posed for a photo following the proclamation signing.

State Rep. Al Williams asked the commission to consider allowing a memorial be erected to Ralph Waldo Quarterman on courthouse grounds. Quarterman, who lived from 1918 to 1964, was the first African American to run for a seat on a county commission in Georgia, possibly in all of rural America, according to Williams. Quarterman is best known for organizing the Liberty County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1952. He also spent time in the African nation of Liberia in the early 1960s to help establish saw mills, Williams said. Funds for the memorial would be raised through private donations.

County engineer Trent Long updated commissioners on numerous construction and road projects, including the East End Fire Station. Long said the site construction plans for the site are 85 percent complete. A copy of the site plan for the Isle of Wight Fire Station was reviewed by commissioners. The proposed building is 14-feet wide by 45-foot long, with plans for one vehicle bay, a bathroom, heater and insulated panels.

The county administrator offered commissioners a TSPLOST overview, focusing on funding. Should voters approve a 5-year penny sales tax for transportation projects, the estimated gross revenue is $38 million. Brown said the estimated sum total would be $34.5 million after taking out exempt sales and indirect costs. TSPLOST funds would go toward constructing the Highway 84 connector or bypass.

Brown said the county is also speaking to the Georgia Department of Transportation about acquiring funding for numerous projects that qualify under the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan.

In other county business, the commission approved renewing a lease agreement with Liberty Independent Troop for one year.

Commissioners took no action on a deed for Headstart, as the county is waiting to receive documents from the city of Riceboro, according to Brown.

County officials also approved an amendment to the solid waste ordinance, deleting references to the word “authority."

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