The Task Force established to study the feasibility of development of the I16 – US 301 interchange met for the second time on September 13, 2011. The purpose of the meeting was to present and receive feedback regarding the market assessment performed by the consultant. The presentation included discussion regarding key national and regional trends to be considered, including:

1. Increasing effect of globalization
2. Lingering effects of the Great Recession
3. Georgia’s  rapid growth
4. Emergence of a powerhouse SE United States “global portal” combining Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson Internation Airport
5. Importance of interstates as the “connective tissue” of the economy

The Market Assessment examined the following: demographics, employment profile, site competitive assessment, industrial potential and recommendations, retail potential and recommendations, and resident recommendations.

Market Assessment Powerpoint

The public is invited to a public hearing of the Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:00PM, September 8 in the County Commissioner meeting room. The following items will be heard:

1. Conditional use for multiple business submitted by TJLS Properties located at 8699 Hwy 67

2. Sketch plan submitted by Annie Dell Rawls located at 1183 Old Happy Road

3. Variance submitted by Tim Kintzinger located at 1023 Hunters Pointe Drive

4. Sketch plan submitted by Doris Thompson located on Old Groveland Road

5. Sketch Plan submitted by Stephen and Roxanne deal located at 481 Brannen Hodges Road

6. Conditional use for multiple businesses submitted by Daniels Properties located at 22204 Hwy 80 East

7. Conditional use for an  inert landfill submitted by Denise Wilson Burnsed located on Zell Miller Blvd.

Bulloch County received a $500,000 Employment Incentive Program grant for economic development purposes. The grant will be used to acquire storm drainage improvements to benefit Great Dane Limited Partnership’s new facility. The project is located in Phase II of the Gateway Industrial Park located on US 301 and expects to employee 243 new permanent jobs within twenty-four months.

The Task Force organized to study the future development of the I-16 / US 301 area met on August 16, 2011. The Task Force is made of a number of key stakeholders from the community. The first meeting introduced the Task Force members to the consultants hired by the County to study the project feasibility and to develop a master plan for the interchange. The meeting focused on the following questions:

• What types of development would benefit Bulloch County?
• Why is the intersection important to the County?
• What are the regional challenges and opportunities?
• What would the business park look like?
• How would the park be positioned?
• How would the park benefit Bulloch County?

Kickoff Meeting PowerPoint

Bulloch County received a $1,279,210 Economic Development Administration grant for economic development purposes. The grant will be used for infrastructure improvements to benefit Great Dane Limited Partnership’s new facility. The project is located in Phase II of the Gateway Industrial Park located on US 301 and expects to employee 243 new permanent jobs within twenty-four months.

The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved the spending plan for Fiscal Year 2010 at its regular meeting. The $73.2 million annual work program including $30.541 million in General Fund expenditures and authorizes $26.5 million in Special Local Option Sales Tax expenditures. The budget assumes no increase in the current millage rate (10.44 mills countywide and 1.8 mills in the Statesboro Fire Tax District).

The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved the spending plan for Fiscal Year 2010 at its regular meeting. The $73.2 million annual work program including $30.541 million in General Fund expenditures and authorizes $26.5 million in Special Local Option Sales Tax expenditures. The budget assumes no increase in the current millage rate (10.44 mills countywide and 1.8 mills in the Statesboro Fire Tax District).

On July 1, 2010, Coastal Regional Coaches will begin service in Bulloch County establishing a demand-response, advance reservation (Dial-a-Ride) public transportation program. CRC already provides this type of transportation service for Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Screven counties. The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners has entered into a contract with the Coastal Regional Commission in Brunswick, Georgia to provide this service and is co-funding the program at a cost to the county government that will not exceed $20,000 through June 30, 2011, with an option to renew annually. Therefore, availability of this program is subject to annual funding by the County. However, the County is not the operating agency for this service.

This system will be available to anyone that wishes to use public transit. Service availability will be on Mondays through Fridays (excluding some holidays), operating from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Trips must be scheduled 24 hours in advance and service is provided on a first-come, first serve basis. The service is also available to human services providers on a subscription basis.

The cost for the local fare will be $3.00 per boarding ($6.00 round trip) from the point of origin, plus an additional $3.00 for each county boundary crossed when travelling regionally. Exact fares must be paid either prior yo pick up, or at the time of boarding. Drivers cannot make change or extend credit for riders.

For more information on this program, prior to July 1, please contact Barbara Hurst, at the Coastal Regional Commission at 912.262.2800

In a presentation to the Board of Commissioners, the Statesboro-Bulloch Recreation Department shared the results of a economic impact study prepared by the Georgia Southern University Bureau of Business Research and Development. Splash’s positive impact on the local economy benefits the tourism sector and reinforces the emergence of Bulloch County as a regional growth center. The present total economic seasonal impact is estimated at $8.6 million dollars and has created 161 jobs. The expansion of Splash in 2009 increased output and job creation by 63%. Total attendance in 2009 was 154,034, a new record. 2010 numbers are expected to show an increase because some of the new features in the 2009 expansion were not opened until later in the season. Splash continues to retain positive net earnings or “profit” after debt and depreciation is taken into consideration. The venue continues to add to the quality of life of the community offering a family atmosphere with sensational features and service. We owe great thanks to the Board of Commissioners for supporting this experience.

The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners announces that it has received a federal grant award of $215,000 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Federal Stimulus Program) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. These funds will be used to further leverage $1.1 million in 2007 SPLOST funds allocated over the next five years to retrofit County facilities, educate the community and train development personnel in green building techniques.

The primary goal is to meet Governor Perdue’s Energy Challenge to state and local government to reduce energy costs by 15% in the next five years. Bulloch County, like many other units of government, is looking for ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. One such way this can be accomplished is through the completion of detailed energy audits of County facilities along with the creation of a comprehensive energy strategy. Bulloch County has identified 11 of its largest and oldest County-owned buildings for which retrofits to be conducted comprising approximately 171,925 square feet. The average annual energy cost for these facilities is $315,027.00 and they use over 3 million kilowatt hours (kW/h) of electricity, 12 million gallons of water and 25 million cubic feet of natural gas each year. The County recognizes how significant these energy costs are to a budget that is already stretched and knows that identifying, costing and prioritizing energy improvements is absolutely necessary.

Upon concluding a comprehensive energy audit of the aforesaid facilities, $172,000 of grant funds will be allocated to the the facilities meeting the highest priority needs for energy retrofitting. Remaining grant funds is expected to be used for training county building inspectors and planners on modern energy codes and and LEED certification, and to draft a model green building code to be considered for potential adoption by the County Commission to incent new sustainable development.

A 15% reduction in County energy costs would save nearly $50,000 annually. The program would also help make our county a leader in terms of “Going Green!”