– Aug. 14, 2024 –
Good morning! Bulloch residents unhappy with the planned transfer of water from their county to the Hyundai plant are seeking a referendum on the issue. Meanwhile, McIntosh County continues to fight its citizens’ efforts to vote on the rezoning of Hogg Hummock. While we all might wish we could vote to shorten hurricane season, we are instead approaching its peak, with an updated and only slightly less severe forecast from the National Weather Service.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
Hyundai pledges $250,000
Just hours before a public hearing Tuesday about draft permits for four wells to supply the Hyundai Metaplant with up to 6.6 million gallons of water a day, the EV manufacturer announced it would add $250,000 to a mitigation fund for nearby water users impacted by its wells. With the development authorities of Bulloch and Bryan counties as well at the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority kicking in the same amount, the fund totals $1 million.
But many of the more than 150 residents who attended the hearing at Southeast Bulloch High School fear that amount will be inadequate. And they oppose the idea of wells in their traditionally agricultural county providing water for an EV manufacturer in neighboring Bryan. The Bulloch Action Coalition has called for a referendum to oppose the county’s water agreement. The group collected signatures at three busy tables set up at the school’s entrance. For more details and a video of the meeting, see this article from Grice Connect.
Hurricane season update
With hundreds of Coastal Georgia residents still grappling with rivers overflowing their banks thanks to Tropical Storm Debby, federal forecasters updated their predictions for the Atlantic Hurricane season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects a total of 17-24 named storms (with winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 8-13 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including 4-7 major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). That’s just one named storm lower than its May prediction. Tropical Storm Ernesto is threatening the Caribbean this week, then expected to remain at sea. But the heart of the season is yet to come in September, and forecasters urge everyone to “prepare for threats like damaging winds, storm surge and inland flooding from heavy rainfall; and to have a plan if asked to evacuate.”
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with the historical peak of tropical activity on Sept. 10.
Sapelo referendum
We’re getting closer to a scheduled Oct. 1 referendum in McIntosh County in which voters will decide if they want to overturn the rezoning that allows larger houses in Sapelo Island’s Hogg Hummock. That’s if the county-wide vote goes forward. Citizens used a provision of the state constitution to collect enough signatures on a petition to force the vote. But late last month the county commission filed a request to stop the election, challenging its own probate judge and citizens. The circuit of five judges set to hear the case then recused themselves. On Friday Superior Court Senior Judge Gary C. McCorvey of the Tifton Circuit was assigned to hear it. That same day, Probate Judge Harold Webster filed a motion to dismiss and gave his arguments against the county’s move to quash the referendum. Webster cited opinions from both the attorney general and the state Supreme Court in defense of the petition process for repealing zoning.
One Supreme Court justice “specifically listed ‘zoning ordinances and decisions’ among the types of matters that a concerned electorate might challenge using the petition and referendum process,” Webster wrote.
With the recusals delaying the matter, the county’s request for a hearing as early as Aug. 12 is already impossible.
Also noted:
The South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative Summit Workshop scheduled for Thursday at the Richmond Hill Wetland Center has been canceled due to flooding. Tuesday’s scheduled workshop at the Coastal Botanical Garden and Historic Bamboo Farm was also canceled. These meetings will be rescheduled at a future date to be decided. Upcoming meetings will be held in Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty and Camden counties. Register for any of these meetings here.
The coast is home to more bald eagles than any other region of Georgia. DNR biologists located 83 nest territories along the coast during surveys earlier this year. They fledged 99 eaglets, as the Georgia Recorder reports.
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Hyundai wells scrutinized at public meeting
A large crowd of concerned citizens attended a public meeting and public hearing on the draft permits for Hyundai-related wells.
Officials race to meet Hyundai’s water needs
Local governments make water agreements to meet Hyundai’s schedule, while farmers still have questions about their wells.
Slideshow: First responders, volunteers aid Bradley Point flood victims
Visual journalist Justin Taylor visited the waterlogged Bradley Point neighborhood on Monday as Savannah and Chatham County personnel and volunteers worked to help people trapped in their homes.
Update: Vote postponed over deal to give nonprofit control over Forsyth Park
A controversial agreement proposes giving a nonprofit control over conservation efforts at Savannah’s Forsyth Park. A city council member has grave concerns.
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