Sunday Solutions — Dec. 3, 2023
Good morning! A special legislative session brings extra-special items — including a look at Garden City’s request to nearly double in size. Less special: Voting precincts for a city election that aren’t in the actual city. There’s more news, but there’s no more mac’n’cheese. Onward.
A bigger Garden City?
The Georgia General Assembly opened a special session last week to redraw districts for statehouse and congressional voting districts and representation. But that’s not the only revision up for consideration: Two more are local legislative items from Chatham County, and one calls for a referendum to double the size of Garden City. Currently, Garden City is 14.3 square miles smushed between the Port of Savannah, Pooler, U.S. 17 and Interstate 16. The expansion would add areas in unincorporated Chatham County including parts of Berwick and Georgetown, extending from its current boundaries on U.S. 17/Ogeechee Road south to Abercorn Extension. It leaves out the Southbridge area, a failed expansion target in 2010. The legislation (HB4EX) — co-sponsored by Chatham County delegation members Carl Gilliard, Ron Stephens, Bill Hitchens, Edna Jackson and Ann Westbrook — would require a vote by citizens in the areas affected by the annexation plan to be set sometime in 2024 on or before Nov. 5. The Current’s data reporter Maggie Lee has created an interactive map to show which neighborhoods would be affected. Click here to see it.
The second Chatham item, HB3EX, also with support from the delegation, would reset portions of a 1994 law creating community improvement districts (CID) in the county including authorization for additional elected members and updating how they cooperate with municipal governments. Savannah City Council authorized a waterfront district CID in June if it could gain representation on the board. For some background on what that special tax district entails, here’s a story from the Savannah Morning News from March and some FAQs from the Savannah Waterfront Association.
The two Chatham items, filed last Thursday, are scheduled for consideration on the House calendar for Monday.
When residents can’t vote in their own town
Early voting turnout has been low in the Walthourville runoff election for mayor. It’s no wonder why: The two early-voting precincts allowed by law were located 7 and 13.7 miles away from the city itself. All precinct changes have to be approved by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, according to the new voting law passed in 2021 and, if it moved or opened on Saturday, the city must pay for election worker overtime with money it doesn’t have. The Current’s Robin Kemp reports that stakes are high in this runoff because the city leadership must have a balanced budget that provides services required to keep its charter — and it will levy new property taxes and set new revenue agreements to do it. The city faces a deficit of $1 million by the first of the year.
How did you do?
After a brief hiatus, the News Quiz has recovered from the Thanksgiving feast. The last test before holiday break must have been tough: Just 5 participants claimed a spot on the leaderboard. (C’mon y’all…)
Want your chance to be featured in next week’s leaderboard? Leave a first name or nickname on your quiz so we can keep track of your score. Last week’s News Quiz Leaderboard for 11/19/23:
First Place (10/10) – EMF33, Old Savannah Lefty
Second Place (7/10) – Peaches, Tillandsia
Third Place (6/10) – Randy
Click here for this week’s contest.
Hinesville landmark closes for good
Izola’s, the New Orleans-themed restaurant that became an international social media star closed Friday in Hinesville. The Current’s Robin Kemp went by to watch the last scoops of mac ‘n’ cheese. The TikTok and Instagram pictures and daily menus drew visitors — all called family — from around the world. Here’s Kemp’s wrap on the buffet and the people behind it all.
Your second cup: Remembering a trailblazer
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor died last week, and it’s been interesting to see how many people have forgotten that she was the first woman named to the nation’s highest court. O’Connor was nominated and confirmed in 1981 to the Supreme Court, where she sat for 24 years. On the nation’s highest court, O’Connor became a critical swing vote on issues including abortion, racial discrimination and affirmative action. The 19th takes a look at the impact her perspective brought to the court and the report reminds us that some issues of that time still aren’t “settled law.” Here’s the remembrance.
A bigger Garden City? Bill would OK vote to expand to south
By The Current
The expansion would add areas in unincorporated Chatham including parts of Berwick, Georgetown, extending from its current boundaries on U.S. 17/Ogeechee Road south to Abercorn Extension.
Money crunch, new law force Walthourville early voters to cast ballots miles from city
By Robin Kemp
Because the early voting sites are part of the countywide election plan, any changes would have to go through state elections officials at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Such changes, like adding an early voting location within Walthourville city limits, would cost the city money it doesn’t have.
The Tide: Izola’s closing leaves a void
By Robin Kemp
Owner and chef serve final lunches at HInesville spot known across the TikTok world.
Georgia lawmakers exchange sharp words as GOP-drawn political maps clear key vote Friday
By Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder and Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Republicans say maps meet judge’s specifications; Democrats say moves are a game to move Black voters around without fixing problem.
Regulators to consider another Georgia Power rate hike
By Emily Jones/WABE, Grist
Georgia’s Public Service Commission is poised to raise electricity rates for most Georgians to cover the cost of building new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle.
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