Thursday, June 12, 2025
Greetings, Coastal Georgia!
I’m Robin Kemp, The Current‘s accountability reporter in Liberty County. I’ve been working on a solutions journalism project you’ll be reading about soon. Solutions journalism isn’t about putting a shiny happy spin on the news, but showing how people like you are solving problems in their own communities: what worked, what didn’t, what remains to be done. Tell us what your community is tackling!
In our Cast Net this week: the rush to finalize SPLOST project wish lists throughout Chatham County, early voting for two of the people who will set your utility bill rates, and a funding threat to Fort Stewart’s museum.
This Saturday is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. To the Dogface Soldiers of Fort Stewart and all Army veterans: Hooah!
Let us know how we’re doing or send a suggestion to staff@thecurrentga.org — and please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors.
CHATHAM COUNTY
Proposed 3.89% property tax hike: Local property taxes could rise as much as 3.89 percent, due to the millage rate tentatively adopted by the Board of Public Education for Savannah and Chatham County. That’s about $65 on a home with fair market value of $250,000. You can attend public hearings at the Jessie Collier DeLoach Board Room of the Whitney Administrative Complex on at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. June 17, and at 6 p.m. June 25. The hearings will be livestreamed here.
PSC candidate forum tonight: Candidates for 2 Georgia Public Service Commission seats will take part in an open forum in Savannah tonight at 6 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street. Coastal Georgia for Democracy asks you to RSVP online. Confirmed as of publication are Daniel Blackman, Peter Hubbard, Alicia Johnson, Robert Jones, and Keisha Waites, all Democrats.
Juneteenth quilt project: Join hand-quilting instructors in creating a custom Juneteenth tribute quilt from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., June 14, at the Bull Street Library. Attendees don’t require experience, but the event is limited to 10 participants. The finished quilt will be displayed in the library.
CAMDEN COUNTY
Camden County Sheriff’s Office Town Hall: Sheriff Kevin Chaney and Chief Evans of Kingsland Police Department along with Chief Galloway of St. Marys Police Department will hold a town hall meeting for the Camden County community from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 24 at the Resiliency Operations Center, 135 Gross Road, Kingsland. Residents are encouraged to ask questions and present concerns regarding public safety in Camden County. Attendees are also encouraged to RSVP here.
No-Cost Adoption Event: Camden County Animal Control is hosting no-cost adoption events at Pet Supplies Plus, 6500 GA Hwy 40, in St. Marys from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 14 and 28.
BRYAN COUNTY
New flood insurance rates
People living in unincorporated Bryan County will soon receive a 25 percent discount on their flood insurance rates. Bryan County’s Community Rating System — a FEMA program offered to communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program — was recently upgraded to Class 5, meaning that those in unincorporated Bryan County who carry flood insurance will see a higher discount beginning in October.
Fisherman’s Co-Op opens: A new park featuring boat ramps, pavilions, grills and walking paths has opened to the public in Bryan County. The Bryan County Fisherman’s Co-Op at 4434 Fisherman’s Co-Op Road alongside Kilkenny Creek offers opportunities for fishing, bird watching, boating and sightseeing. Back in 2022, Bryan County was awarded $3 million from the Department of Natural Resources to steward the park and create recreational infrastructure.
GLYNN COUNTY
Port adds new tugboat: According to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Moran Towing Company has added a new tug to the Port of Brunswick. The Shiney V. Moran will join the company’s Diane Moran to help support vessel traffic at the growing port. GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch said that the company’s Brunswick Fleet will help prepare Colonels Island to accommodate the 10,000-vehicle vessels expected to arrive.
County FY26 budget nears final vote: The Glynn County Board of Commissioners is preparing to pass its Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Highlights include a decrease of $34,421 for the district attorney’s office, despite its subpar staffing levels and growing caseload. In contrast, the sheriff’s office has seen an increase of almost $6 million. The total operating budget amounts to $172,676,541. The county will hold a special called meeting today to hear citizen comments on the budget. Read the proposed budget here.
Hurricane prep event this weekend: The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1, 2025, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 19 named storms, including 6 to 10 hurricanes, half of which will be major Category 3 to 5 events. With the far-reaching impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Glynn County and Brunswick Emergency Management teams are holding an emergency preparedness event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at Lowes’ parking lot, 300 Glynn Isle, Brunswick.
LIBERTY COUNTY
3rd ID Museum may close: The Army Museum Enterprise, which runs Army military museums, may close Fort Stewart’s Third Infantry Division Museum. Task and Purpose reports Fort Stewart is on a list of potential closures and consolidation by mid-2026. AME wrote on Facebook the move was “(i)n support of Army transformation and a focus on directing resources toward readiness and lethality.” The Liberty County Development Authority economic development plan calls for more tourism. You can contact your members of Congress.
Home energy grants: Homeowners in the cities of Midway and Hinesville can get free energy audits and up to $20,000 in upgrades from the Bright Home Energy Savers Program. Households must make 80% or less of area median income. Signup is first-come, first-serve. Renters can ask landlords to apply for money-saving upgrades like insulation and heat pump HVACs. Remember: The Public Service Commission sets your electric rates, and Friday is the last day of early voting in the statewide special primary for PSC candidates. Tuesday is Election Day.
MCINTOSH COUNTY
Commissioners bid Zoucks goodbye: The McIntosh County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday morning to discuss renovating the White Chimney Creek boat ramp and appointing new members to the county Industrial Development Authority. This was County Manager Patrick Zoucks’ final meeting, and the board discussed plans to appoint an interim county manager.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY
Western-themed Father’s Day luncheon: The Effingham County Senior Citizen Center, 128 New Stilwell Road in Springfield, will host its Father’s Day luncheon from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. Attendees will enjoy hotdogs, beans and a huge bash.
ALONG THE COAST
Kids eat free: Through July 18, kids and teens 18 or younger can get free summer meals through Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Meals are served Monday through Friday at various locations. No signups are required. Find a spot at this link: https://helpendhunger.org/find-food/
Cast Net features nuggets from Coastal Georgia that we hope you’ll find interesting, fun or useful. All that said, we’ll need to hear from you to make sure we’re on the right track.
We’re always working to make sure our newsletters are as useful as they can be, and we’ll be experimenting over the next few months in this Thursday space. Send us your thoughts!
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Complaint targets Georgia PSC members over rate freeze endorsement
By Stanley Dunlap
Three elected state regulators are being asked to recuse themselves from voting on a proposed agreement to freeze Georgia Power’s rates for three years due to allegations that they violated state rules by publicly endorsing the proposal before an upcoming hearing.
Meet the PSC candidates
By Emily Jones/WABE, Grist
Georgia Public Service Commission candidates are vying for two seats, with incumbent Republicans Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson facing criticism for rate hikes and lack of transparency, while Democratic challengers Alicia Johnson, Daniel Blackman, Robert Jones, Keisha Sean Waites, and Lee Muns are pushing for affordable energy, clean energy, and greater public involvement in utility planning.
Democrat Blackman loses appeal in residency dispute for Georgia PSC candidacy
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville upheld the decision of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to remove Daniel Blackman from the ballot for the Georgia Public Service Commission District 3 seat, citing that Blackman had failed to prove he had established residency in the district in time to satisfy the legal requirements for candidacy.
New area code coming to southeastern Georgia
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
The Georgia Public Service Commission has announced that the state will receive an 11th area code, 565, as an overlay to the 912 area code in the southeastern part of the state, to ensure new phone numbers for 24 years.
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