Pressing ahead with plans to cope with growth associated with an additional brigade at Fort Stewart, area officials met Tuesday to draft bylaws, propose a memo of understanding and schedule a general membership meeting.
Substantial federal funding is available to communities impacted by the military if they have a growth-management organization to handle applications and payments.
Liberty County Commission Chairman John McIver, chairman of the Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership, led the meeting Tuesday, which included representatives of the four counties involved:
McIver representing Liberty County; Mike Melton, Richmond Hill city manager, representing Bryan County; Faye Hussey, Tattnall county manager; and Mike Riddle representing Long County.
McIver said the cities might want more direct representation, and if so, they would have to be accommodated.
“I’m not used to county people standing up for city people,” Melton said.
Sonny Timmerman, director of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission, temporarily is providing staff help to the partnership and he presented the proposed bylaws for an organization with 17 voting members. The 17 members include the chairmen of the four county commissions; the mayors of Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Allenhurst, Midway, Riceboro, Gum Branch, Flemington, Walthourville, Pembroke, Ludowici and Glennville; the garrison commander of Fort Stewart; and Tom Ratcliffe, representing the Georgia Military Affairs Committee.
All the municipalities in the four-county area are included except Reidsville in Tattnall County, which has decided not to participate.
The partnership will meet again Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. in the Liberty County commissioners’ conference room.
The fourth Tuesday of each month has been proposed as the partnership’s regular meeting.
Substantial federal funding is available to communities impacted by the military if they have a growth-management organization to handle applications and payments.
Liberty County Commission Chairman John McIver, chairman of the Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership, led the meeting Tuesday, which included representatives of the four counties involved:
McIver representing Liberty County; Mike Melton, Richmond Hill city manager, representing Bryan County; Faye Hussey, Tattnall county manager; and Mike Riddle representing Long County.
McIver said the cities might want more direct representation, and if so, they would have to be accommodated.
“I’m not used to county people standing up for city people,” Melton said.
Sonny Timmerman, director of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission, temporarily is providing staff help to the partnership and he presented the proposed bylaws for an organization with 17 voting members. The 17 members include the chairmen of the four county commissions; the mayors of Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Allenhurst, Midway, Riceboro, Gum Branch, Flemington, Walthourville, Pembroke, Ludowici and Glennville; the garrison commander of Fort Stewart; and Tom Ratcliffe, representing the Georgia Military Affairs Committee.
All the municipalities in the four-county area are included except Reidsville in Tattnall County, which has decided not to participate.
The partnership will meet again Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. in the Liberty County commissioners’ conference room.
The fourth Tuesday of each month has been proposed as the partnership’s regular meeting.