The Coastal Regional Commission saw a direct result of the partial federal government shutdown Wednesday when its scheduled speaker, Gary Ingram, superintendent of the U.S. Park Service for the Cumberland Island and Fort Frederica sites, was unable to appear because his agency was closed.

About 800,000 federal workers expect not to receive paychecks because President Donald Trump and Congress are at odds over the building of a border wall. The impasse has prevented passage of bills needed to fund about 40 percent of agencies like the National Park Service.

The CRC will invite Ingram to speak on another date. Mike McClellan, the stewardship coordinator of the Georgia Forestry Commission, explained activities of the forestry commission. It cooperates with the CRC in sharing office space and developing a demonstration working pine forest at the CRC headquarters.

CRC Executive Director Allen Burns reported on state plans to revamp state transit operations, consolidating them from three current agencies into one new Georgia Mobility Agency. Burns said measures were being finalized for action in this year’s session of the General Assembly. One provision would make Long County eligible for one of the new pilot transit programs being planned.

The Coastal Regional Commission serves Liberty, Long, Bryan, Chatham, Bulloch, Effingham, McIntosh, Camden, Glynn and Screven counties and the 35 cities in these counties. The CRC provides local and regional comprehensive planning services as well as specialized planning services in transportation, water resources, and historic preservation. 

The CRC also provides  geographic information services and information technology services to the local governments. The CRC manages transportation services such as Coastal Regional Coaches and the regional vanpool program. It also serves as the Economic Development District for Coastal Georgia and the Area Agency on Aging

Parker can be contacted by email at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.