A measure aimed at promoting development at the intersection of I-95 and Islands Highway in Midway stalled at Monday’s Liberty County Development Authority meeting over the issue of minority representation.

The Nextsite organization proposed to work with the LCDA on the development at the Exit 76 interchange. The project was labeled the top priority at Liberty County’s annual planning workshop for the last two years.

Nextsite offered a long list of deliverables for a three-year term.

State Rep. Al Williams, a member of the authority board, noted that Nextsite portrayed no minority representation among the employees pictured. He said he was not prepared to vote until the composition of the Nextsite team was explained.

The authority decided to do a request for proposals to find sources for the Exit 76 work. LCDA Executive Director Ron Tolley noted that the RFP would take several months and that prices likely would be higher than Nextsite’s which is subsidized by Georgia Power.

Monday’s meeting saw three new members sworn in, the first time that has ever happened.

Luke Moses, Willa Lewis and Marcus Sack officially took their seats on the authority board Monday. LCDA members serve staggered terms but a combination of resignations and terms ending made three seats vacant at the same time.

Melissa Carter Ray was elected secretary of the authority board, replacing Brian Smith whose term ended.