Local Government

Continued debate marked the final hearing of the proposed millage rate increase that was settled at 8.625 mills this week. The council then approved a contract for Thompson Consulting Services to conduct debris removal monitoring, as required by FEMA, in order to be eligible for reimbursement for hurricane recovery efforts. President Joe Biden approved 100% cost reimbursement on Wednesday, for these recovery services provided by local governments.

The City of Statesboro will hold a public information meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, at City Hall to educate residents and business owners about the city’s water and sewer system, its current capacity, and future growth potential. All residents and interested parties are invited to attend.

The EAGLE Academy at Georgia Southern is an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program that supports students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Senator Hickman spoke with the students about their experiences in higher education and their daily lives.

In order to meet protocol required under Georgia code, the City of Statesboro will host three additional public hearings on the millage rate, with a quorum of City Council members present. Two hearings will be on September 26, and a third will be held October 3 in conjunction with a special called meeting to formally adopt the millage rate.

The joint Bulloch County and Statesboro Long Range Transportation Development Planning process is nearing completion, with the draft Master Plan now under review and the final public open house held this week. The final report and recommendations are expected by the end of the year.

Brooklet City Council approved the water and sewer agreement for new subdivision with amendments made to the R-3 zoning ordinance that impacts subdivisions. They rolled back the millage rate and received an update on the progress on the new sewer system. Continue reading for all business covered at the meeting.

Statesboro City Council approved a lower 8.725 mills increase after several hours of debate and discussion led to a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Jonathan McCollar. Read about this and all business covered by the Council at its September 17 regular meeting.

At the recent Brooklet city work session, a broad spectrum of issues was discussed, ranging from the future of the old Southeast Bulloch Junior High School property to updates on city financial policies and infrastructure projects. Key discussions included proposed changes to public comment procedures, new procurement guidelines, and the allocation of SPLOST and TSPLOST funds for community projects.

County Commissioners and citizens praised and thanked all County employees for their commitment and dedication at Tuesday's meeting. Three new Bulloch Fire Battalion Chiefs were introduced and an update was given on when roads will be open after Hurricane Debby. Keep reading for this and all business covered at the Commission meeting.

The Bulloch County School Board continues to narrow the site drawings of the new SEBHS, with cost efficiency and current student body size at the forefront of the plan's direction. Superintendent Charles Wilson says the future sewage management plan for the school is still pending on the proposed intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Statesboro and Brooklet. Read about this and more from Thursday night's BOE meeting.