Mon, Aug 6, 2007

By BRANDEE A. THOMAS

The Brunswick News

Much like snowbirds in the winter, progress in Glynn County has one destination in mind – south.

Along U.S. 17 and U.S. 82 in southern Glynn County, new subdivisions, restaurants, gas stations and hotels are popping up seemingly every day.

But is Glynn County ready for the boom?

Well, according to various officials, the answer is a resounding yes.

As the area continues to grow, Glynn County officials have not turned a blind eye to adding additional services and building up the public infrastructure in outlying communities.

"The majority of the dirt roads have been paved," said Jim Bruner, county engineer. "There are a few more on our list to pave, and we should have a contract ready to send out for bids for that by the end of the month."

In addition to paving roads, the county is also focusing on extending public water and sewer services to residents and businesses in that area.

"We recently completed installing seven miles of 12-inch water mains," Bruner said.

"We're in the final stages of testing and sanitizing the lines now. They should be operational in less than a month."

According to Bruner, the majority of the lines were installed along Buckswamp, Myers Hill and Ratcliff roads.

Despite the county's southern extension of water and sewer services, the majority of residents there are on well and septic tank systems, he said.

"The county doesn't have any rules that say you must come on line with our water and sewer services, but they are more than welcome to tap in," Bruner said.

"If they have a properly functioning well or septic tank, residents are more than welcome to keep using that. But if their system malfunctions, they wouldn't be issued a permit for a new one if they have county water and sewer lines right at their front door."

Public safety and emergency services are other areas officials are focusing on.

According to the Glynn County Fire Department, there has been emergency coverage on U.S. 17 South for the past 20 years.

"(Fire Station No. 6) has a fire engine and an emergency squad," said Capt. Jerome Johnson, the department's public information officer.

"There are always at least four firefighters on duty – two for the engine and two for the emergency squad."

Johnson said there aren't any plans for adding additional fire stations to the area in the near future.

"That station is sufficient, our average response time for the fire engine is around six minutes," he said of the station at 3320 U.S. 17 South.

The Glynn County Police Department also has representation in the area.

"We have an office inside Fire Station No. 6 where officers can have access to a phone and a computer to do their reports," said Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering.

"There is always at least one officer assigned to that area, sometimes even two or three."

Doering said his department is in the process of increasing its presence in the U.S. 82 area, as well as all other communities in Glynn County.

"We are working to install computers in the patrol cars so that officers can do their reports in their vehicles," Doering said. "This will allow us to be more efficient with the officers that we have by allowing them to spend more time on their beats, instead of in the office."

And county employees aren't the only ones making progress.

While there are several convenience stores and other retailers in the area, there are no large grocery stores.

At least not for a few more weeks.

"We are scheduled to open Oct. 24," said Lisa Smith of Harveys Supermarket corporate communications office.

Smith said that in addition to offering Georgia-grown produce, the store will have several other amenities.

"The store will create around 75 to 80 positions and will have a pharmacy and full service deli/bakery," she said.