Update From
Tybee’s Mayor
By Mayor Jason Buelterman
Congratulations to all of the candidates who ran for office in the
recent Tybee elections. We had three candidates for Mayor and twelve
for City Council. It isn’t easy to put yourself out there and do all that
is necessary to run for office, so we owe all of them a big thanks. Our
voter turnout was by far the highest in the County. Garden City’s was
18.4%, Pooler’s was 19.6%, Port Wentworth’s was 20.4%, Savannah’s
was 25.6%, and Tybee’s was 51.8%. It is such an honor to represent a
community that is so engaged. My term will end at the end of this year.
Best of luck to our new Mayor, Shirley Sessions, and the newly elected
council members—Barry, Nancy, Jay and Spec. I am sure they will do
a great job for Tybee.
This is my last update in the Beachcomber. Thanks to Alaina and her
team for making sure Tybee has a print publication to provide everyone
with information about our community.
There are a few projects I want to give everyone an update on.
First, you may have noticed new poles going up near the Bull and
Lazaretto Creek bridges. These are new power poles that Georgia
Power is installing. These will replace the old wooden poles and will
be installed from the Bull River to Lazaretto Creek bridges. We expect
to get a detailed update from Georgia Power soon and will share this
information via the City’s Facebook page and website so that everyone
is aware of what, if any, impacts there will be on traffic. This project will
help ensure that the one power line connecting Tybee to the mainland
is not susceptible to damage from high winds. You may recall we lost
power for several days after Hurricane Matthew when several of these
poles were knocked down.
Several months ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
raised the causeway between the two bridges. Since that time, we
have had several exceptionally high tides. While the causeway wasn’t
closed, water did encroach onto the eastbound lane. GDOT, with the
help of Tybee Police, identified the areas where the causeway wasn’t
raised as high as the contractor for the project was supposed to raise
it. These low spots will be raised soon. This will cause some traffic
inconveniences. We will work with GDOT to keep everyone notified so
you can plan ahead.
On November 7th, the Savannah District of Army Corps of Engineers
awarded a bid to Great Lakes Dredging for the upcoming beach
renourishment and dune building project. The total contract is for
$13,800,335.95. The State contributed $1,859,635 and the rest of the
money came from the federal government. This project is badly needed
and is the culmination of years of careful planning and coordination
between the City, the State and the Army Corps. Thanks to all who
worked so hard to make this happen. It was truly a team effort. Unless
we are successful in getting the federal government to extend our shore
protection project beyond the 2023 expiration date, this could be the
last federally funded renourishment project. It is absolutely imperative
that it is extended. Tybee has provided funds to the Corps to complete
a study that we had hoped would allow for this extension but we must
be vigilant in keeping this moving forward. If Tybee was forced to pay
for these projects with local funds, the impact on our community’s
budget would be massive. As part of the upcoming renourishment
24 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | DEC 2019
project, we will be adding dune crossovers in several areas. These
crossovers help ensure we protect our dune field while at the same
time allowing for safe access to the beach. This includes both 16th and
18th Street. As you know, these access points have been closed since
Hurricane Dorian. These crossovers are being funded with State funds.
After Matthew and Irma, we worked with State Representative Jesse
Petrea, State Senator Ben Watson and former Governor Nathan Deal to
secure $5,000,000 to help rebuild our beach and dunes. These funds
are paying for the previously mentioned $1.85 million contribution to
the renourishment project and will fully fund the new crossovers. If you
see Jesse or Ben, please thank them for their efforts to secure these
critically important funds.
By the time this article is printed, several streets should be in the
process of being repaved. This project is being funded with state
transportation funds. The streets being paved include portions of Old
Highway 80 (this is the road that connects Highway 80 to the Lazaretto
Creek area), Inlet Avenue, 5th Street, 17thStreet and Lovell Avenue.
The project should only take a few weeks.
The Marine Science Center construction project is moving forward.
The project continues to be on track for completion in March.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve as Tybee’s Mayor! I know you
will show Shirley the same level of kindness and afford her the same
degree of respect that you have shown to me. The people of this
community have been so incredibly good to me these last fourteen
years. Many people have thanked me for my service but I am the one
that owes you a HUGE thank you for the privilege of getting to serve as
Mayor of such a wonderful little community
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204 First St. • Tybee Island, GA • 912-499-4937
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