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Ludowici hires new police chief
New LPD chief
James Steiner was hired Tuesday as the new Ludowici Police Department chief. He had been serving as the interim chief since January. - photo by Photo by Mike Riddle

The Ludowici City Council on Tuesday formally hired James Steiner as the new police chief. He had been serving as the interim chief since January.
Mayor James Fuller made the recommendation to the council and said that Steiner had been doing a “great job” since taking over the department.
Steiner was hired by the LPD in January 2013. He is from Harrisburg, Pa., and he retired from the Army in 1996. The council unanimously approved the measure.
Steiner reported to the council that on March 21, a road check was held, resulting in the arrests of four people — two for driving with suspended licenses, one for driving under the influence of a drug or alcohol and one for driving without a license. He also reported that the police department bought three digital radios with funds acquired from an earlier arrest where illegal drugs, a weapon and approximately $2,000 were confiscated.
The council approved a resolution awarding a $258,204 contract to Florida contractor Palm Coast Utilities Inc. Palm Coast submitted the low bid for a project that will improve the city’s sewage system on Main Street.
In related business, Councilman Mark Chesser asked for an update on plans to provide city sewage service on Hendrix Street. After a brief discussion, Fuller said that due to the cost, the work can’t be completed unless a grant is approved to fund it.
Fuller also reported that all residents have been told to move their poly carts from the roads after trash has been picked up. The reminder was printed on customers’ utility bills.
The council did not appoint anyone to the library board, despite the board’s recommendation to replace Margarite Blakely with Joy Strickland. The council said it needs to research the matter before making a decision.

In other business, the council:
• Approved a flood-management plan for the city.
• Approved the Walker High School reunion committee’s fundraising walk from Long County High School to the Senior Citizen Center on July 5.
• Approved Kidz-Etc. having a 3K walk in July to benefit their scholarship program. A date for the walk will be announced later.
• Reported that the state and the county still are working on installing a traffic light at the IGA/Highway 84 intersection.


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