Update From
Tybee’s Mayor & FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE
By Mayor Jason Buelterman
Since early May, a lot has happened relative to the long overdue replacement
of the Bull and Lazaretto Creek bridges and improvements to the causeway
between the two bridges. A more up-to-date cost estimate for the project has
been developed. The total cost of the project is expected to be $112 million.
In order for the final steps in the permitting process to be completed without
delay, the City Council approved spending up to $275,000 of City funds to
acquire the right-of-way needed to construct the project. Most of the land
needed to construct the project is located just to the south of the Bull River
Bridge and just to the north of the Lazaretto Creek Bridge. We are working
with Chatham County officials to get the County taxpayers to pay for half of
the cost of right of way acquisition. Such a contribution from City and County
governments also shows that there is a strong local commitment to getting
this project completed.
In my column last month, I mentioned that I would provide information
about who to contact to advocate for constructing the project as soon as
possible. I would encourage you to contact the board members of the Coastal
Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (CORE MPO). The easiest way to
do so is to email the director of the CORE MPO, Mark Wilkes, at wilkesm@
thempc.org and request that he forward your email to his board members
and urge the board to prioritize the Highway 80/Bridge Replacement project.
On another note, the City has completed the installation of new signs at the
foot of the public crossovers to more clearly lay out the rules and regulations
at the beach. They also will help identify locations more clearly so that those
here on vacation can quickly and accurately describe where they are if they
make a call for emergency assistance. Go check them out at the beach if you
haven’t already.
With the Fourth of July upon us, we are encouraging anyone who witnesses
fireworks being set off at the beach to contact the Tybee Police Department
at 786-5600. Fireworks are not allowed to be set off at the beach because of
the risk of dune fires which could spread to homes or businesses. The only
fireworks on the beach should be those that are part of our annual Fourth
of July celebration. This year, once again, the fireworks will take place on
the evening of the Fourth. This is the same night as the Savannah fireworks
show. We do this purposefully to lessen the overall crowd level. Our Island
has a limit as to how many people we can safely support.
Kudos to Tim Arnold and his Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers for all of their
hard work picking up trash left behind by some of our visitors. In the summer,
they meet weekly at 7 pm on Sundays at the Marine Science Center.
Volunteers are encouraged to come lend a helping hand. The Clean Beach
organization provides trash grabbers, buckets and gloves to those who come
out to assist. Check their website (tybeecleanbeach.com) for more details. I
URGE our visitors to LEAVE ONLY YOUR FOOTPRINTS behind at the beach.
Trash left behind not only impacts the beauty of our beach, but can harm
marine life. If you want proof of the impact that trash, especially plastics, can
have on marine life, go to YouTube and search “turtle straw removal.” You
will see a video of a mature sea turtle that ingested a plastic straw and how
marine biologists managed to get it out. After I saw it recently, I will never use
a plastic straw again.
Many thanks to Kim Trammell and Rene DeRossett for their work, once
again this summer, coordinating the children’s theatre camp at the Black Box
Theatre. They have provided this wonderful experience for our Island’s kids
the last few years. If you see them around the Island, please tell them thanks
for all they do.
Have a safe and enjoyable July! If you ever have any questions, concerns
or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact me at jbuelterman@cityoftybee.org
or on my cell at 844-8427.
10 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JULY 2018
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