Liberty County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Daniel Clark unveiled the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax 2015 campaign posters at the Liberty County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting Tuesday evening.
“We are proud to spearhead the efforts to continue this tax for Liberty County, and look forward to seeing you all at the polls on Nov. 4 with us,” Clark told the commission.
Commission Chairman Donald Lovette called Tuesday’s poster-unveiling a “soft opening” for the 2015 SPLOST campaign, and Clark confirmed that the chamber plans to make a “hard push” 30 days prior to the vote.
Clark said that the chamber has created a page dedicated to SPLOST on its website, which can be found at www.libertycounty.org/splost-2014. Clark also said the chamber has set up a YouTube account featuring video testimonials from community members regarding SPLOST.
“We’re trying to encourage people to understand that SPLOST is not just a tax, but has the ability for our county to do things with infrastructure and other projects that we normally could not do without raising taxes,” Clark said.
The SPLOST 2015 campaign posters feature the slogan “Vote Yes” along with images of various historic sites that benefit from SPLOST funds. One poster shows a child playing baseball, representative of the recreation department, which also benefits from the 1-cent sales tax.
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas also was on hand to show support for the SPLOST campaign.
“SPLOST is one of the most important things that we’re going to do in the next year-and-a-half,” Thomas told the commission. “Our city and our county is growing at such a rate, that unless we have something like the SPLOST, we’re not going to be able to continue that growth.
“Right now, Liberty County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, and it’s because of the things that this body has done with SPLOST money we’ve had in the past,” he said. “Without (SPLOST), we don’t grow as fast as we could. We don’t keep this growth that Liberty County has right now.”
Clark informed the commission of four scheduled SPLOST informational meetings, to be held Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Hinesville Area Arts Council; Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Liberty County Community Complex; Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Riceboro Youth Center; and Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Gum Branch Fire Station.
In other business, the commission:
• unanimously approved a rezoning request to allow six modular duplex homes on Hollywood Drive. Each duplex will have two two-bedroom, one bath units that will be rented out by the owner.
• heard an update from Liberty Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Scott Kroell. He introduced new LRMC Chief Financial Officer Mike Hester to the commission. Kroell also offered his support for SPLOST, which he said will help fund a proposed clinic on the county’s east end.
• unanimously approved the Liberty Rural Water System fee schedule.