North Georgia rep picks up SSI incorporation
By Pamela Permar-Shierling - The Islander
Rep. Tom Taylor (R-79), who represents Dunwoody, and parts of Chamblee and Doraville in North DeKalb County has agreed to introduce a bill to incorporate the City of St. Simons Island during the regular 2016 session of the Georgia legislature. Taylor was elected to the legislature in 2010.
The legal notice placed by Taylor ran in The Brunswick News on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Taylor is picking up sponsorship of the controversial bill despite the objections of the Glynn County delegation.
In a statement issued Feb. 16 local Representative Jeff Jones said, “After a careful and thorough review of the city charter bill prepared by the Citizens for Saint Simons and Sea Island, Inc. (C4SSI/SI/SI), it is abundantly clear that the legislation is so onerous and has so many problems that I have withdrawn my support for the legislation at this time.”
“While I strongly believe the citizens of St. Simons deserve the right of self-determination and a vote on controlling development on the island, this bill is not the answer to that effort.”
“The bill includes statutes and provisions that are over-reaching and create a concentration of almost unlimited power and authority to the Mayor and City Council.”
Read moreSSI Township proposed at Grits and Issues
Lindsey Adkison/The Brunswick News
Glynn County’s delegation to the Georgia General Assembly is pushing for township over incorporation for St. Simons Island.
That was the collective message Sen. William Ligon and Reps. Alex Atwood and Jeff Jones, all St. Simons Island Republicans, delivered to the business community during the annual Grits and Issues event, hosted by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce.
“I personally support this concept. It avoids the full blown city issue but still gives authority to the residents,” Jones said. “It will help address the real issue — control over development on St. Simons Island..."
Creating a township would be a wiser route to take, they said, noting it would mitigate any negative effects incorporation may have on Brunswick, Sea Island or other unincorporated areas of the county. READ FULL STORY →
St. Simons Island group weighs incorporation
“I personally have no objection to the incorporation of St. Simons, but my personal opinion is not the issue,” Jones said. “The issue for me is to listen to and then follow the will of the people in our community that will drive whether or not I support such a change. All three members of our local delegation agree that ‘local legislation’ issues must be thoroughly, openly and publicly vetted and discussed by the community.”