The Pierce County Industrial Development and Building Authority (PCIDBA) recently discussed and/or voted on the following during the regular monthly meeting held on May 7.
Partnership update (Pierce County): County Manager Raphel Maddox and County Chairman Neal Bennett both delivered updates to the PCIDBA board.
Maddox reported a June 3 luncheon at Mossy Pond had been scheduled for county officials to meet with U.S. First District Congressman Buddy Carter (R, Pooler, St. Simons Island), State House Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven), State Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) and Georgia Department of Transporta tion officials. (See related coverage.) The goal is to get additional money for a variety of projects, especially road improvement s. “Hopefully, they bring their checkbooks,” Maddox said.
Chairman Bennett delivered a follow up to last month’s update on roadwork throughout the county. Work on Golf Course Road. is nearly complete. A double yellow line has been painted “all the way down, trying to slow people down through there.” Pipe work and drainage is done on Tuten Road. Paving should begin next week.
A concrete pad has been poured for the new Otter Creek Fire Station. The old Southside Fire Station should be demolished this week. The county also recently signed a contract with Carter and Sloope of Macon to begin work on the recreation department expansion.
Locations are being considered for possibly relocating the Pierce County Food Pantry to a new building. Bennett said, “We’re just looking for the right location.” A spot in the industrial park was briefly considered, but determined to be not quite
right.
All right-of-ways have been secured for the Timber Lane railroad crossing bypass project. PCIDBA Executive Director Matt Carter personally thanked the county for moving forward on the Timber Lane project, which he feels is very important for the area.
Partnership update (Chamber of Commerce): Chamber of Commerce Director Christi Pitts delivered a brief update. The chamber’s 70th gala was a success and Pitts promised next year’s would be “even bigger and better”. Four students have applied for the chamber’s scholarship so far. Three of the four applicants were participants in the chamber’s Student Legacy Leadership program. Six new members joined the chamber. The chamber’s bylaws were recently updated. Finally, Pitts and others recently brains tormed preparedness ideas to ready for future severe weather, including a series of public message boards to be posted outside nearby local fire station s to communicate relief and supply distribution spots in case of phone network outages. The idea is currently just in the conversation stage, but Pitts will eventually seek local sponsors to assist with the materials and construction.
Pitts will attend an executive leadership conference on Jekyll Island July 7-10. Volunteers will assist with keeping the chamber offices open while she is away.
Finances: The PCIDBA’s April financial statements were unanimously approved with no comments or questions.
South Georgia Regional Development Authority (SGRDA): Citing the Grow Southwest Georgia organization and their program Locate SW Georgia, Executive Director Carter said counties in the southeast corner of the state were looking to do the same thing. Appling, Bacon, Clinch, Coffee and Ware Counties are already on board. The cost for participation in the group project is $2,500 a year per county. A motion for Pierce to join the Grow Southeast Georgia organizatio n was seconded and unanimously approved by the board.
Carter mentioned it is about time to mow the right-of-way area along the front of the industrial park. Completion sometime in later May to early June is the target. Maddox and Bennett said they can put Carter in touch with Tri-Skate, the company contracted for litter pick up and mowing throughout the county. No other recent developments were reported for the joint authority as resp onses were still being waited upon to various land sales or business investments pending in member counties other than Pierce.
Next meeting: The PCIDBA held its regular meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesda y, June 4 in the Chamber of Commerce boardroom, located in Blackshear’s Historic Train Depot. ( See related coverage.)
