LUDOWICI -- The Long County Commission will have a whole new look in the near future as the chairman and District 3 Commissioner Randy Wilson, District 2 Commissioner Mike McGowan, and District 1 Commissioner Charles Reddish Sr. all announced they at not seeking re-election this year.
Wilson, who is in his 20th year as a commissioner, said, "I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve the people of Long County, and I am thankful for their support. I just feel it is time for me to step down."
McGowan, who has been a commissioner for a total of 16 years, also said he appreciated support given to him by the county.
Reddish, who is in the final year of his first term, said, "I am proud of the fact that we have been able to accomplish several things over the last four years, like getting the code enforcement office established, the E-911 project going, and the land development code set up."
He added, "I am thankful to the people who supported me in my district and in the county. I also appreciate the opportunity to have worked with the other commissioners, but I just think I need to step down."
In business at the April commission meeting:
District 4 Commissioner Clifton DeLoach reported he had discussed putting a traffic light in front of the IGA Grocery on Highway 84 with U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. According to DeLoach, he was given positive feedback from the senator, and was told to contact Isakson's office with more information.
"We have had two fatalities at that location in the past and it is unsafe. We need a traffic light there, and I plan on continuing to do all I can to get us one there," DeLoach said.
According to the commissioner, he had also contacted 1st Congressional District State Transportation Board member Roy Herrington regarding the issue, but nothing had been resolved.
"With the growth that we are having, and it being the only grocery store we have in the town, that location is only going to become more dangerous," DeLoach said.
McGowan also gave an update on the E-911 project and planning and zoning. According to McGowan, the E-911 validation of Long County addresses is at 93 percent, with a minimum goal of 98 percent.
The commissioner also reported that the remodeling of the Wiregrass Communication Center in Darien was "taking a little longer than anticipated," due to certain equipment still needing to be purchased by McIntosh County. Despite this, the project still appears to be on track to be completed by the end of this year or early next.
According to McGowan, the final approval of the Long/Ludowici Land Development Code was nearly complete, but was being reviewed by both the city and county attorneys.
Code enforcement officer John Bradley reported 28 building permits issued during March and 58 through the year; 145 were still open. He also said eight new homes had been sold during March, and 30 had been sold in 2008.
District 1 resident Crystal Davenport asked that Tanner Drive be changed back to its previous name of Sand Hill Drive, but was told that was not possible.
"Right now is not the time to change it because if we did it would slow down the E-911 project," Reddish said.
McGowan added, "We don't want to get into the process of going back and changing the roads. All the addresses are being reviewed by GeoComm and the post offices, and it would just slow everything down."
District 2 residents Pastor V.C. McCray of the Miracle of God Ministry Church of Christ and Willie Cox Sr. who owns an automobile body shop in the district, asked commissioners what the timeline was for paving Smith-Cox Road.
"Realistically, that is a long ways off. I know it is important to you and many who live out there, but we have to get state funding for road paving projects. To get that, there are stringent guidelines to justify the roads chosen," McGowan said.
He added, "However, we may be able to see what we can do to help you at a county level. But, I can't look you in the eyes and tell you we can pave it any time soon because I would be deceiving you."
Wilson, who is in his 20th year as a commissioner, said, "I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve the people of Long County, and I am thankful for their support. I just feel it is time for me to step down."
McGowan, who has been a commissioner for a total of 16 years, also said he appreciated support given to him by the county.
Reddish, who is in the final year of his first term, said, "I am proud of the fact that we have been able to accomplish several things over the last four years, like getting the code enforcement office established, the E-911 project going, and the land development code set up."
He added, "I am thankful to the people who supported me in my district and in the county. I also appreciate the opportunity to have worked with the other commissioners, but I just think I need to step down."
In business at the April commission meeting:
District 4 Commissioner Clifton DeLoach reported he had discussed putting a traffic light in front of the IGA Grocery on Highway 84 with U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. According to DeLoach, he was given positive feedback from the senator, and was told to contact Isakson's office with more information.
"We have had two fatalities at that location in the past and it is unsafe. We need a traffic light there, and I plan on continuing to do all I can to get us one there," DeLoach said.
According to the commissioner, he had also contacted 1st Congressional District State Transportation Board member Roy Herrington regarding the issue, but nothing had been resolved.
"With the growth that we are having, and it being the only grocery store we have in the town, that location is only going to become more dangerous," DeLoach said.
McGowan also gave an update on the E-911 project and planning and zoning. According to McGowan, the E-911 validation of Long County addresses is at 93 percent, with a minimum goal of 98 percent.
The commissioner also reported that the remodeling of the Wiregrass Communication Center in Darien was "taking a little longer than anticipated," due to certain equipment still needing to be purchased by McIntosh County. Despite this, the project still appears to be on track to be completed by the end of this year or early next.
According to McGowan, the final approval of the Long/Ludowici Land Development Code was nearly complete, but was being reviewed by both the city and county attorneys.
Code enforcement officer John Bradley reported 28 building permits issued during March and 58 through the year; 145 were still open. He also said eight new homes had been sold during March, and 30 had been sold in 2008.
District 1 resident Crystal Davenport asked that Tanner Drive be changed back to its previous name of Sand Hill Drive, but was told that was not possible.
"Right now is not the time to change it because if we did it would slow down the E-911 project," Reddish said.
McGowan added, "We don't want to get into the process of going back and changing the roads. All the addresses are being reviewed by GeoComm and the post offices, and it would just slow everything down."
District 2 residents Pastor V.C. McCray of the Miracle of God Ministry Church of Christ and Willie Cox Sr. who owns an automobile body shop in the district, asked commissioners what the timeline was for paving Smith-Cox Road.
"Realistically, that is a long ways off. I know it is important to you and many who live out there, but we have to get state funding for road paving projects. To get that, there are stringent guidelines to justify the roads chosen," McGowan said.
He added, "However, we may be able to see what we can do to help you at a county level. But, I can't look you in the eyes and tell you we can pave it any time soon because I would be deceiving you."