Latest news with #SPLOST
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chatham County Courthouse opens amid layout concerns
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — This morning, a new chapter begins for the Chatham County court system. After decades of planning and more than $80 million in SPLOST funding, the new courthouse officially opens its doors. This new courthouse behind me has been in the works for more than two called the Judge Eugene H. Gadsden Courthouse, and starting this morning, it will handle all state and superior court cases here in Chatham County. This project has been 25 years in the making. Sheriff Richard Coleman told us; deputies are in place and prepared to secure the building as hearings get underway. He also said law enforcement and court officials have worked together to make sure today's opening runs smoothly. However, some local attorneys have concerns about the courthouse's design and safety features. 'Private counsel and the public defender's office. We've always had to walk from outside into the courthouse. I've never in any of my divorce cases, transported two kilos of cocaine across the street, like the DA's office might, or a gun or any of that kind of stuff,' said Anthony Burton, an attorney in Savannah. The new building was funded through more than $80 million in SPLOST dollars. It should be noted that the old Coleman Courthouse will continue handling probate, magistrate, and recorder's court services. Several hearings are already on the docket Monday morning… including a high-profile homicide trial. WSAV will continue to follow how the first day unfolds and the concerns raised by attorneys are addressed in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Columbus pools set to open Summer 2025
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — After years of being shut down, three beloved Columbus pools are making a comeback, just in time for summer. Rigdon Park, Psalmond Road, and Shirley Winston pools all originally closed between 2015 and 2019 due to growing maintenance issues. Construction that began in 2023 is now nearly complete. Starting May 28, the pools will officially reopen, joining the Double Churches pool and the Columbus Aquatic Center in reviving a cherished summer tradition and valuable recreational space for local families. The funding for these renovations came from a special-purpose local-option sales tax, or SPLOST, approved in 2021. While the pools are almost ready, the city is still working to fully staff them. This is an issue that's affecting communities across the country. Director of the Columbus Parks and Recreation department, Holli Browder, said, 'You are currently looking at a deficit for lifeguards. We were actually featured on NPR statewide radio last week where they continue to have the same discussion we've had here in Columbus. That is not just a Columbus or Georgia related issue. It's nationwide. We're not looking at an effect opening. It would affect the operational hours and days. But again, we're being very optimistic and hopeful that we're going to be able to meet the numbers that we need to be sure that we can open those pools.' Columbus lifeguards must be certified through the American Red Cross. Parks and Recreation is offering certification classes for qualified applicants. The classes are scheduled for May 1-4 and 8-10. The city is encouraging anyone, from students to retirees, to consider applying. Browder said, 'It could be anyone who has a desire to serve the community and serve in a lifesaving capacity as a lifeguard. It's ages 15 and up, and we're grateful to have anyone who's willing to serve in that position.' Along with the pools, two new splash pads are set to open this summer, one at Carver Park and another at the City Services Center. To celebrate, the city is planning several community events in June, including a 'Welcome Back to Summer' party for kids. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office sounds alarm for new jail
LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — The Liberty County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) is sounding the alarm over the condition of its aging jail, and they are asking county leaders to help with constructing a new jail. LCSO said they are holding things together with tape and Band-Aids at the county jail. He said the more than 30-year-old facility is no longer meeting the needs of the growing population and that it's time to expand. WSAV spoke with Deputy Chief Al Hagan about the conditions. 'If you walk through the facility, you see where we're having to patch piping, where the copper pipe was put inside of concrete, air conditions are constantly breaking down,' he said. Hagan said it's an outdated facility that isn't safe for inmates or staff. The hope is the new jail will have a space for positive inmate programs and allow staff to do their jobs more efficiently. 'What we look at by having places to do programs allow us to send a better citizen back into the street instead of just bringing them here and warehousing people and turning them out the same person or worse, when they go back into the community,' said Hagan. The current facility has around 276 beds, 305 as the maximum of prisoners. Hagan told WSAV it is running near capacity every day. They are also housing federal inmates, while also holding prisoners from neighboring counties. In addition, we're told the ratio of toilets and showers per inmate is below state standards. 'Also, the county jail has become what I call the de facto mental health facility, because we have a lot of issues with mental health and a large percentage of our inmates has some form of mental health and so on,' Hagan said. 'Of course, our statewide facilities are not able to hold them all and we're having to try our best and I think we have four medical beds here for true medical issues.' A state evaluation revealed the county is in need of over 650 beds to keep up with future growth. However, the sheriff's office is pushing for at least 550, which would be cheaper and easier on taxpayers. Hagan said construction of a new jail could cost anywhere between $75-$100 million. 'It's mandated that the Sheriff's Office provide this service to the community,' he said. 'And so, I ask them to be mindful of it, understand that SPLOST is a way. When the SPLOST comes up, make sure they vote in favor of it because it will help offset the cost of this deal compared to what citizens pay straight from increased taxes.' He continued, 'I tell folks what growth comes crime. and we need to be prepared as we can in every way.' Hagan said shovels could be in the ground by early next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City launches special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) 8 survey
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The City of Savannah has launched a new public survey to gather feedback from residents in preparation for a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) tax referendum, expected to appear on the ballot in November. The survey, available now by clicking here, aims to identify community priorities as City Council prepares a list of capital improvement projects to include in the proposed SPLOST referendum. Residents are asked to rank their highest to lowest priorities from a pool of six different areas of investment: Parks and Recreation, Community Development, Public Safety, Stormwater and Drainage Projects, Traffic and Transportation, and Municipal Investments. Additionally, residents can allocate a mock $100 budget across these categories to reflect how they would prioritize SPLOST 8 funding. On March 17, Chatham County issued a proposed timeline to local municipalities to prepare for the SPLOST 8 referendum. Municipalities must provide an approved, prioritized list of projects to Chatham County by May 23. The City's SPLOST 8 survey will remain open until May 16. Municipalities are scheduled to vote on an approved intergovernmental agreement (IGA) by July 16 that would outline the capital projects each municipality would fund through SPLOST 8. If the IGA is approved, the SPLOST referendum would move through the final stages of notification before being added to the ballot on November 4. SPLOST is a one percent county-wide sales tax approved by voters to fund capital outlay projects for local governments. Georgia law enacted the use of SPLOST in 1985 with the requirement of voter approval through a referendum. Since its inception, SPLOST 1-7 has generated nearly $700 million in funding for Savannah, and more than $1.5 billion county-wide. In Savannah, nearly 40% of sales taxes are paid by visitors. Municipalities are not allowed by law to balance the City's budget or to cover general operating or maintenance from SPLOST funds. Capital projects for the City funded by SPLOST have included newly paved streets, resurfaced roadways and new sidewalks, stormwater drainage infrastructure, renovations to City Hall, an extension to River Walk, traffic calming measures, new playgrounds, improved athletic fields, and upgraded or new community centers. Through SPLOST, Chatham County has utilized 73% of the funds for roadways and drainage but has also funded other important projects including the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center with now generates a recurring economic impact of more than $200 million in visitor spending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Snellville to break ground on $11.3M Briscoe Park Community Center
The Brief Construction is set to begin on the new community center at Snellville's T.W. Briscoe Park. The center will include two basketball courts, an indoor walking track, an outdoor pavilion, two multi-purpose activity rooms, and one aerobics room. While the community center construction is ongoing, officials say certain aspects of the park will be impacted. SNELLVILLE, Ga. - The city of Snellville is set to get a new community center. Construction on the $11.3 million project will kick off at T.W. Briscoe Park next month. What we know Officials say the center will be around 34,000 square feet and will include two basketball courts, an indoor walking track, an outdoor pavilion, two multi-purpose activity rooms, and one aerobics room. Construction is expected to be done in the summer of 2026. The project is primarily funded by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) approved in 2023. Additional funding comes via a grant from Gwinentt County. What they're saying "This is a project that has been in the conceptual discussion phase for over 20 years," said Mayor Barbara Bender. "It's very exciting to get to this point. We look forward to the Community Center at T.W. Briscoe Park becoming a place where people can exercise, stay fit and healthy, relax, and gather together for decades to come." "Briscoe Park offers our visitors over 95 acres of natural, passive areas and active recreation space for programming, all in one beautiful setting," said Lisa A. Platt, Director of Parks and Recreation. "With the addition of the T.W. Briscoe Community Center, Snellville Parks and Recreation will be able to elevate our service and programming for the community and continue working toward our vision innovative programming, to provide recreational opportunities that ensure quality of life for all in mind, body and spirit." Dig deeper While the community center construction is ongoing, officials say certain aspects of the park will be impacted. East Park Drive will be closed from Lenora Church Road to the four-way stop at Sawyer Parkway inside the park. The outdoor basketball courts will be closed when construction begins on May 5. Parking for Staley Field will be in front of the Parks and Recreation Office or at the lots near the softball fields. While the fitness trail behind the park office will be open at the start of construction, officials say it will be re-routed at certain times due to the project. What's next The city will host a groundbreaking event for the Briscoe Park Community on May 1. The Source Information for this story was taken from a press release by the city of Snellville.
