HomeMy Public PortalAbout19590909CCMeetings
Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Ga.
September 9, 1959
The regular meeting of Town Council was held today at 8 P.M. in the Council Room in the
Town Hall and was attended by Mayor Brown, who presided, and Councilmen Peters, Powers,
Hosti, Waters, Meddin, Lovell, Town Attorney Solms, Jr.,Superintendent Reed; Chief
MoCutchen, Joseph Anderson, Paul Hernandez, William Whalen, J. A. O'Leary and Stanley
Stark.
Mr. Anderson.stated that Mr. McGeehee, who owns property in 1N!r. Anderson's area had
informed him that he intended building a ten foot road on an unopened street named
Robinson Avenue from Meddin Drive to his property. W. Anderson objected to this and
asked if Mr. McGeehee had a legal right to do this. Mr. Solms asked if Mr. Geehee
owned property on Meddin Drive or Robinson Avenue and ac uld he get to his property by
another street and Mr. Andersen stated that he could. He asked if the Town was going
to open Robinson Avenue and he was informed that the Town -did not own this street. Mr.
Anderson stated that Mr. MoGeehee threatened to take him into court. Mr. Anderson was
excused.
Mt. Paul Hernandez appeared before the board in connection with a request of some of the
property owners in the Estill Station Section wanting the Town to extend their water
mains to theft section. The Clerk read a letter in connection with this.' Mr. Hernandez
stated that Superintendent Reed had informed him that a small size line could be run for
house use. Mr. Lovell stated that he did not have the figures with him but that the cost
would be approximately $5000.00 to lay a six inch water main for fire protection and that
a two inch line could be run to furnish water for the homes. Mr. Hernandez stated that
they were not asking for what they felt they were entitled to. The Mayor asked if they
would be willing to bear part of the expense and asked if he would agree to contact the
other property owners regarding this matter, Mr. Hernandez stated that the Town should
contact them. Mr. Solms stated that the water works system has outstanding water cer-
tificates and that the Town must comply with the restrictions incorporated in these until
a final payment on the debt is paid off. Superintendent Reed stated that the cost to
ruh a six inch line which would include labor, fittings, fire plugs, eto.,would be from
$14,000.00 to $15,000.00. The Mayor asked Mr. Hernandez if he could get fifteen (15)
property owners to agree to take water and he said that he would try. The Mayor in-
formed him that if fifteen (15) water takers would use the service he thought that a two
inch line could be installed. Mr. Hernandez was excused. Councilman Lovell stated
that every water taker outside the Town Limits should be put on a water meter.
Another Committee consisting of Meseve4 O'Leary, Hernandez and Whalen appeared before
Council. A letter was read from a Committee from the Voters for the Improvement of
Savannah Beach, L. A. McDonough, Chairman, requesting the use of voting machines in the
Tybee elections. Mr. O'Leary stated that Mt. McDonough was to have appeared also but
theft he had to attend another engagement. The Mayor suggested postponing discussion
relative to the voting machines until Mr. McDonough returned. Mr: O'Leary stated that
the purpose of their organization is to encourage voting interest on the island that
in this day it is too much of a lack of interest in government, and people should attend
Council meetings that throughout the country the press is excluded from Council meetings
and that his Committee was just here to observe. Councilman Lovell asked if his organi-
sation was just for Tybee or for Chatham County. Mr. O'Leary stated that they had con-
tacted the pepresentatives from Chatham County to change the Charter and that a petition
is before the public. The Mayor asked if they had elective officers in their organi-
zation, is it to improve property on the Island? Mr. Hernandez stated that the organi-
zation was for improvements to anything on the island and asked them if they were welcome
to attend meetings. The Mayor stated they were always welcome after which they were ex-
cused.
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The minutes of the meeting of August 12th were read and adopted.
The Mayor asked Superintendent Reed when he was going to Florida to see about the
Palmetto Piling and he stated he would leave in several days. At the present time
the groin in front of Solms Hotel is being repaired and that the high tide does not
cover it.
Superintendent Reed asked what the status was on the groin at First Street. He stated
that he was going out further with the 19th Street groin and also that he had resumed
work on the new jail.
Councilman Lovell informed Council that the Later tower has to be painted again that
some of the cat walks and tie rods have corroded and the cost woul0 be about $2000.00
for a repainting job. A recent electrical storm damaged some of the electrodes in the
tank. Superintendent Reed stated that the adjustor was down to check on the damage.
He also stated that they were 48 delinquent water accounts. Mr. Lovell stated that they
shcsuld all pay up. The Mayor stated that they had been notified that the water would
be cut off and an effort made to collect these back accounts by the next meeting.
Chief NeCutchen reported that the 1958 Mercury Police Car has been giving quite a lot of
trouble, the Mayor asked if the Town could get any adjustment as it has been very expensive
to operate. Chief McCutchen also stated that some speed limit signs are needed.
Councilman Waters reported that several stray dogs whi ch have been picked up and put in
the pound had chewed out the chicken wire enclosure. He also asked about Social Security
for the Police Department. Councilman Meddin asked who would pay for it and he was in-
formed that the initial payment setting up the Police Department payments, which would
amount to"several hundred dollars, would have to be paid by the Town. Mr. Solms will
get the information and present it at the next meeting.
Councilman Powers reported that the extra equipment purchased for members of the Fire
Department has been delivered to them.
The Mayor stated that acquiring easements on Butler Avenue for the State Highway Depart -
ment is going to be difficult and that the project could be lost and that he and Mr.Solms
were going to itlanta Friday to meet with State Highway Department Officials relative to
this and other matters. The Mayor stated that every property owner on Butler Avenue mast
be contacted to give easement rights, and he was informed by highway engineers that por-
tions of Butler ..venue at the curve and adjacent to provate property would have to be
raised to provide adequate drainage but that if sidewalks were laid from First Street to
Sixth Street and then again from Thirteenth to Sixteenth Street that Butler Avenue could
be adequately drained. He wanted to know if Council would go along with him to try and
work out the best plan for the Island. It was moved, Seconded and passed that the Mayor
be authorized to work out the best plan on the laying of the sidewalks with the State
Highway Department.
The Mayor stated that the Tybee School wanted some pavement laid on Fifth Street and
suggested making Fifth Street a one -way street running east.
It was moved, seconded and passed that bills for the month of August for General Govern-
ment amounting to $2,059.66 and bills'for the Rater Department amounting to $1,142.11 be
paid.
A petition was presented from Mr. Henry M. Dunn requesting the Town to fill in Lots
81 and 126, Ward 1, as the Town had dug a ditch through these lots for the convenience
of the Town and it was difficult to sell them in their present condition. Referred to
Mr. Solms to handle.
The Home Insulation Service requested permission to replace a roof under their 1959
license. Permission granted with the provision it would apply to this one roofing job.
It was moved, seconded and passed that 1959 license issued to Humpty Dumpty by J.B.
McElveen be transferred to Humpty Dumpty by T. B. McCarroll to openatea:s2estaurant by
a payment of $35.00.
It was moved, seconded and passed that the October meeting of Town Council be set for
the second Wednesday of the ninth at 4 P.M.
It was moved, seconded and passed that the Town appropriate $500.00 to the Savannah
Beach Chamber of Commerce and also that $50.00 be advanced to Mr. Solms for expenses
of a trip to Atlanta with Mayor Brown.
Mayor Brown stated that there was an organization in the Savannah Beach Chamber of
Commerce, known as the Tybee Historic Society. They had offered to put money into the
development of a recreation center in the Town's property at Fort Screven. Fifteen
subscribers have put (t $100.00 each with the thought that a fund of $10,000.00 could
be collected by bringing in others. The Town will lease the park to the Society for
$1.00 per year and among other things a museum will be established and an effort made
to have historic articles loaned to the Society for exhibition in the mOseum. If
there were no objections they will proceed with the work. IT was moved, seconded and
passed that a Resolution covering the above be adopted.