TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | SEPT 2018 11
Update From
Tybee’s Mayor
By Mayor Jason Buelterman
We have a lot of important projects on the horizon as we continue working
to fulfill our community goals as laid out in Tybee’s Master Plan. Here is an
update on a few of them.
Relative to making access to the Island safer:
The critically important project to widen 80 and the replace the Bull
and Lazaretto Bridges is moving forward. The Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT) anticipates having a public meeting in October to
review the progress with the public and provide more detailed plans. The
permitting process is nearly complete and Right-of-Way acquisition funds
have been identified for the next phase. The biggest hurdle will then become
identifying the funds to construct the project. The expected cost is $112
million. It is a state and federal highway, so funds will be coming from state
and federal sources.
I am sure you noticed the large signs just east of the Lazaretto Creek Bridge
and at Bryan Woods. These are the ones I mentioned a few months ago in
the Beachcomber. They’re expected to be turned on before this article is
published. The signs are controlled by the GDOT center that controls similar
signs all over the state (mostly on interstates) and are intended to warn
drivers about wrecks, traffic delays, flooding issues, etc.
Paving of the causeway between the Bull and Lazaretto is expected to be
completed between Labor Day and early November. The work will take place
at night and we have been assured there will be no problems should there
be a need for a hurricane evacuation. Equipment will simply be moved off
the causeway to allow for free flowing traffic. The road will be raised up to 8
inches to avoid flooding from abnormally high tides which has been a more
frequent problem in the past few years.
Relative to our goal of making Tybee a better and safer place to walk
and ride bikes while not interrupting traffic flow:
We are in the final stages of completing design work on improved traffic
flow, parking, sidewalks and street-scaping for the north beach area as well
as 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th Streets between Lovell and the beach. Before
finalizing anything, we will continue to solicit citizen input. The goal is to
greatly enhance the safety, functionality and overall appearance of these
areas.
The Public Safety Committee of our City Council is working to address the
increased number of pedestrians, bicyclists and golf carts on 2nd Avenue
south of Memorial Park, as well as the impact that golf carts have on
vehicular traffic on Jones. This is a complicated issue but we are looking
at some possible remedies that will hopefully improve the situation over the
coming months.
The Marsh Hen Trail project continues to plod along slowly. We are at this
time addressing a right-of-way issue where the trail is planned to be built.
The money for the project was placed in our budget this past year. The long
range plan is that this Trail will connect the Tybee bike path to the Rails-to-
Trails on McQueen’s Island and to Fort Pulaski’s system of trails.
Relative to our goal of enhancing our community’s educational
opportunities and environmental stewardship:
We have a committee of City Council and staff working on plans for a new
Marine Science Center and have committed funds towards the design of the
building. We are moving forward on plans to construct a new facility within
the next year, barring any unexpected problems or a rough hurricane season
this year.
A few other things I wanted to pass along:
Back in late June, we adopted our budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year
which runs from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. By budgeting conservatively,
we were able to cut the millage rate for property owners on the Island while
maintaining a healthy fund balance.
New flood maps took effect on August 18 that could have an effect on the
amount that homeowners pay for flood insurance. The maps were a significant
net positive for Tybee. I would encourage you to contact your insurance
company to ensure they are taking the new maps into consideration when
they calculate your flood insurance premium.
The US Army Corps was allocated $13 million for Tybee’s shoreline. Unlike
previous renourishment projects, the funds do not require a local match,
which typically is 40% of the total cost. Additionally, for the first time, the
Corps may be using some of the funds for sand dunes. We hope to use the
approximately $5 million we fought for at the State level to piggyback on this
project. The Corps is in the early design stages of this project and plans to
begin work in the late fall of 2019.
I hope you had a chance over the summer to attend a play, movie or concert
at the Post Theatre. The volunteers and staff of the Post Theatre are doing a
wonderful job of providing a venue for the performing arts to the benefit of
the entire Island. If you haven’t had a chance to attend an event there, you
should check one out. This is a facility we all should be very proud of.
Finally, congratulations to Jameson Burke. Jameson is a Tybee native who
recently graduated from Savannah Arts Academy. He was accepted into the
prestigious Juilliard School’s Dance Program. Only 22 students from around
the world were selected for admission into their Dance Program this year.
Best of luck to Jameson as he heads to the Big Apple and kudos to Jameson,
his family and all those who supported him over the years!
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jbuelterman@cityoftybee.
org or on my cell at 912.844.8427 if you ever have any questions, concerns
or suggestions.
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