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Savannah Beach, Georgia
August 21, 1974
The Regular Monthly Council Meeting of the City of
Savannah Beach was held this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in
the Council Room at Savannah Beach City Hall with Mayor
Michael J. Counihan presiding and a quorum consisting of
the following Councilmen present: Mr. Richard DeLoach, Mr.
John Wylly, Mr. Ernest Hosti, Mr. Joseph Agnew and Mr.
James Bond. City Attorney Lance Smith and Police Chief
John J. Price were also present. Visitors at the meeting
were: Mr. Richard Grosse, Mr. Al Williams,Jr., Mr. and Mrs.
Leon Case, Mrs. 011ie Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. James Fabrikant,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shaw, Mrs. John K. McAlpin, Ms. Kathy
Yeomans, Mrs. Griesback, Mrs. Irene Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Bob
Williams, Mrs. Gladys Gaudry, Mr. Robbie Robertson, Mrs.
Mildred Falligant, Mrs. Pat Hagan, Mrs. Lil Lucas, Mr. Earl
Anderson, Mr. Don Meyer, Mr. Joseph Limerick and Police
Lieutenant Sam Weatherly.
Mr. Richard Grosse appeared before Council to present to
them a petition signed by fifty -nine (59) residents of Fort
Screven. Mayor Counihan then requested the City Clerk to
read this petition which is as follows:
PETITION
August 1974
WE THE VOTERS, RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF FORT SCREVEN,
shaving individually sought redress from the City for its neglect of
our area, now jointly call upon the Council of Savannah Beach and
all municipal employees to faithfully execute the laws and or-
dinances of the City in our area, and provide the bare minimum
services, as follows:
1. We call upon the Council to publicly recognize and instruct
City employees that Fort Screven is a single- family zoned residential
area, and that no new businesses of any kind or high - density housing
is allowed without a public hearing where our views may be expressed,
and that a notice of such hearing be placed on the property in
question. THIS IS THE LAW, and must be enforced.
2. We call on the Public Works Department to at least patch up
the potholes on Van Horn Street until such time as the street is
repaved.
3. We call on the Council to instruct the Public Works Department
to replace the No Parking signs along Taylor Street that were taken
down in April. These signs were authorized by Council in early 1972,
and no Council vote was taken to remove them. No Parking - except
for Savannah Beach residents with Decal permits - must be enforced
by the police. Until these signs are replaced, the City:
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A. must erect a large sign warning the public about dangerous
currents, underwater rocks and steel beams
B. direct the Sanitation Department to pick up the trash from
the beach from Battery Point to Gulig Street on the same schedule
that they police the South End Beach
4. We call on Council to authorize immediate erection of signs re:
sea oats, vehicles on beaches, sand dune protection etc. along the
Fort Screven Beach. This was promised by Council six (6) months ago.
5. That a sign be placed at the Second Avenue entrance to Fort
Screven advising: "THIS IS A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREA. DRIVE SLOWLY.
RESPECT OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND CHILDREN"
6. That the Public Works Department, before November, replant
the area along Taylor Street eroded this summer by automobiles,
in order to prevent wind erosion.
In all of the above, the Council will see that we, as TAXPAYERS and
VOTERS, demand control by the City over the public hordes that have
been deliberately shoved on Fort Screven by the City this year.
Following the reading of this petition Mayor Counihan
stated that each Councilman had been supplied with a copy
of Mr. Grosse's petition and this would be discussed during
the regular business today.
The Clerk then called upon Mr. Leon Case who had re-
quested permission to appear before Council. He stated that
he was yielding his time to Mr. Al Williams, Jr.
Mr. Williams complained about holes in the street near
his property. He also stated that he needed a street light
very badly and had been promised one but as yet one had not
been received. He also stated that he had a grass problem
on the street right -of -way in front of his house and would
like something done about all of this.
Mr. Leon Case, a resident of Miller Avenue, also had
similar complaints, especially about the potholes in the
street. Councilman Hosti agreed with him and stated that for
the past three weeks we have had rain almost every day and
in this type weather it was almost impossible to get these
streets straightened out. He stated further that now that
we were getting a little better weather, we should.be able
to give all these people some relief.
Mrs. Marie Edy of 207 Miller Avenue also complained
about the bad streets containing potholes as well as the
sewer overflowing and standing in her yard.
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Mrs. James Fabrikant,Sr. of Lewis Avenue, Savannah
Beach, appeared before Council with a petition containing
the signatures of approximately fifty (50) persons all
property owners and /or residents of Lewis Avenue.
At the request of the
to Council by the Clerk as
TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND
Gentlemen:
Mayor, this
follows:
CITY COUNCIL,
resolution was read
SAVANNAH BEACH, GEORGIA:
Attached are the signatures of fifty (50) persons, all property
owners and /or residents of Lewis Avenue.
We ask that you give priority and immediate consideration to the
sewer problem on Lewis Avenue which has deteriorated to the point
that there is almost no time that we have a free flow of sewerage
through our drains.
We have periods of three or four days at a time that commodes
cannot be flushed.
Gunk backs up and fills up the bathtubs.
Besides inconvenience, the health hazard is becoming increasingly
alarming, backyards, in desperation are being used as toilets.
Many thousands of dollars in damage has been done to floors and
rugs due to overflowing commodes.
Mr. Robbie Kent has done everything in his power
working days, nights, and weekends to alleviate our
we are desperate and need immediate relief. Please
to assist us
situation.
help us.
Following the reading of this petition by the Clerk, Mayor
Counihan announced that this will be taken up during the
regular business later in the meeting.
Mr. Andrew J. Shaw stated to Council that in view of all
the gossip going around the island concerning the City's
financial situation he would like to know how much we are in
debt and also how much our taxes are going to have to be
raised. Mayor Counihan stated that he would have to get
together with Mr. Agnew who is having a little back problem
and had not arrived at the meeting as yet but was expect a
little later on in the meeting. Mr. Shaw also complained
about the sewer problem in his area.
Mr. Shaw also questioned Council regarding delinquent
water accounts and also those in arrears with their taxes.
He wanted to know if anything was being done about this.
With reference to the water accounts, Mr. Jim Bond, Chairman
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o f t h e W a t e r a n d S e w e r D e p a r t m e n t , r e p l i e d t h a t m o s t o f t h e
d e l i n q u e n t w a t e r a c c o u n t s h a d n o w b e e n c o l l e c t e d a n d l e g a l
a c t i o n w a s b e i n g t a k e n a g a i n s t t h o s e w h o s t i l l h a d n o t
p a i d u p t h e s e o l d a c c o u n t s . W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e d e l i n q u e n t
r e a l e s t a t e t a x e s , t h e C l e r k s t a t e d t h a t F i F a s L i e n s w e r e
i n t h e p r o c e s s o f b e i n g p r e p a r e d a g a i n s t t h e o w n e r s o f t h i s
p r o p e r t y o n w h i c h t a x e s w e r e i n a r r e a r s , t h a t i t w o u l d b e
a d v e r t i s e d d u r i n g t h e m o n t h o f O c t o b e r a n d s o l d t h e f i r s t
T u e s d a y o f N o v e m b e r b e f o r e t h e d o o r s o f t h e C o u r t H o u s e
u n l e s s t h e d e l i n q u e n t t a x e s w e r e p a i d p r i o r t o t h a t t i m e .
M r s . I r e n e B r o w n s t a t e d t h a t s h e w i s h e d t o c o m p l a i n t o
C o u n c i l r e g a r d i n g a c i v i l i a n c o n s t a n t l y s e e n r i d i n g i n
o u r p o l i c e p a t r o l c a r s . C o u n c i l m a n F a h e y , C h a i r m a n o f t h e
P o l i c e C o m m i t t e e , r e p l i e d t h a t h e h a d i s s u e d o r d e r s y e s t e r d a y
t o C h i e f o f P o l i c e J o h n J . P r i c e t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e t h e r e
w i l l b e n o c i v i l i a n p e r s o n n a l r i d i n g i n a n y o f o u r p o l i c e
v e h i c l e s .
M r s . L e o n a E a s t o f t h e F o r t S c r e v e n a r e a c o m p l a i n e d t h a t
r e c e n t l y s o m e o f t h e d r a i n a g e d i t c h e s h a d b e e n f i l l e d u p
a n d s h e w a n t e d t o k n o w w h y . C o u n c i l m a n H o s t i r e p l i e d t h a t
t o h o s k n o w l e d g e n o d r a i n a g e d i t c h e s h a d b e e n c l o s e d
u p . H o w e v e r , h e r e a l i s e d t h a t t h e y d i d h a v e a d r a i n a g e
p r o b l e m i n t h a t a r e a a n d t h a t s u i t a b l e a c t i o n w a s b e i n g
t a k e n a t t h e p r e s e n t i m e t o a l l e v i a t e t h i s .
M r s . L e o n C a s e s a i d s h e w a s a p p e a r i n g b e f o r e C o u n c i l
a g a i n t o c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e h o r s e s a n d d o g s r u n n i n g l o o s e
o n t h e i s l a n d a n d s h e w a n t e d t o k n o w w h e n s o m e t h i n g w o u l d b e
d o n e a b o u t i t . M r s . C a s e f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n e d t h e f a c t t h a t w e
h a v e a n o r d i n a n c e w h i c h s a y s t h e r e s h a l l b e n o h o r s e s o n
t h e i s l a n d . W h y c a n ' t t h i s o r d i n a n c e b e e n f o r c e d ? M r s .
C a s e a l s o c o m p l a i n e d t h a t t h e a n i m a l c u s t o d i a n d i d n o t r e -
s p o n d t o c a l l s t o p i c k u p t h e s e s t r a y a n i m a l s . M a y o r
C o u n i h a n t u r n e d t h i s q u e s t i o n o v e r t o M r . F a h e y , C h a i i m a n
o f t h e P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t , w h o r e p l i e d t h a t h e w o u l d g i v e .
i n s t r u c t i o n t o t h e p o l i c e d i s p a t c h e r t o a n s w e r t h e s e c a l l s
r e c e i v e d b y s e n d i n g a p o l i c e o f f i c e r t o t h e s c e n e .
M r s . C a t h y Y e o m a n s a p p e a r e d b e f o r e C o u n c i l w i t h C o m -
p l a i n t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a n i m a l s r u n n i n g l o o s e , F O R S A L E s i g n s
n o t b e i n g p l a c e d o n t h e T y b r i s a P r o p e r t y a s w a s s u p p o s e d t o
h a v e b e e n d o n e . A l s o t h e c h a n g e o f t h e d a t e s a n d t i m e s o f t h e
C o u n c i l M e e t i n g s . R e g a r d i n g t h e l a t t e r c o m p l a i n t c o n c e r n i n g .
t h e C o u n c i l M e e t i n g s M a y o r C o u n i h a n s t a t e d t h a t w e w e r e i n
t h e p r o c e s s o f c h a n g i n g t h e d a y a n d h o u r o f t h e s e m o n t h l y
m e e t i n g s w i t h a n o r d i n a n c e a n d t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e t h e y
w o u l d b e h e l d t h e t h i r d ( 3 r d ) M o n d a y o f t h e m o n t h a t 7 : 0 0 p . m .
M r s . J o h n M c A l p i n a p p e a r e d b e f o r e C o u n c i l t o r e m i n d
t h e M a y o r a n d s i x C o u n c i l m e n t h a t o n t h e d a y t h e y t o o k t h e i r
o a t h t h e y a l l s t a t e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r t h e
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good of the Island. She said she realized we do have problems
but if they keep this oath and work together, all of our
problems can be resolved.
Mr. Joe Limerick appeared before Council to request
permission to hold several events over the coming weekend
for the benefit of the young people. He stated it was his
intention to promote business on the island and to provide
entertainment for the young people and thereby create better
communications between the young people and various govern -
mental bodies. He stated further that he was hopeful of
having entertainment on Savannah Beach on two occasions
on Labor Day Weekend. The first affair to be a concert by
a popular rock group on Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
on the City owned property on the Strand between Fifteenth
and Sixteenth Streets. He stated further that on the following
day, Saturday, a three hour program was planned beginning at
1:00 p.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m.; and on the following day,
Sunday, a musical program was planned to begin at 1:00 p.m.
and end at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Limerick stated that prior to this
administration taking office a similar program was planned
with the co- operation of Police Chief John Price and the
Savannah Beach Police Department and it was highly successful.
Mr. Limerick stated further that they were also requesting
permission to put on a surfing contest on two days the
following weekend, September 7th & 8th. He stated also that
if these events were successful he would like to work out
some arrangement with Council by which similar events could
be put on during the winter months with the idea of stimulating
business during the slack season. Mr. Limerick also stated
that a project for the future was a bike path between the cities
of Savannah and Savannah Beach. He said he would like to work
with Town Council anyway that he could to promote more programs
and more diversified entertainment and better communication
and relationships with the young people of our community.
Mayor Counihan then asked Mr. Sam Weatherly, Lieutenant
of Savannah Beach Police Department, if he had anything he
would like to add to Mr. Limerick's idea to create entertainment
and activity for the young people was an excellant idea.
Lieutenant Weatherly stated that almost everyone was aware
of the problems that we have with some of our younger
population and that he felt that the type of affairs that
Mr. Limerick was sponsoring would be a help in bringing
about an improvement in these conditions. When asked for
his opinion regarding these affairs, Chief Price of the
Savannah Beach Police Department stated that as long as
the starting and ending hours stipulated by the Police Depart-
ment were observed by these people, he felt they were good
and he did not feel that we would have any problems. He
also stated that they could count on 100% co- operation from
the Police Department. Finally, Mr. Limerick stated that
all of these events would be staged at absolutely no cost
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to the City of Savannah Beach.
Mayor Counihan then declared the meeting open for
business.
The minutes of the Special Called Meeting of July 1, 1974,
and the Regular Council Meeting of July 17, 1974, were approved
as written.
Bills of the various departments for the month of
July were approved.
Councilman Ernest Hosti, Chairman of the Department
of Public Works, reported that the ditch work at the inter-
section of Jones Avenue and Twelfth Street had been completed
by the State Highway Department and this should stop the
eroding of Twelfth Street at this intersection.
Councilman Hosti also reported that the contract had been
let by the Chatham County Commissioners for the resurfacing
of a portion of Van Horn Street and the award had been made
to the Findley Company. He also stated that the work should
begin as soon as the weather clears and we stop having so
much rain. He added that the scarcity of asphalt had pre-
vented the temporary repairs to Van Horn which we would
have liked to have gotten done as a temporary measure until
the resurfacing could be accomplished.
Chairman Edward Fahey of the Police Department stated
that the complaint registered by the lady at today's
meeting about a civilian riding in a police car had been cor-
rected. He stated further that in regard to the bicycle cars,
instructions have been issued to the Police Department to
keep them off Butler Avenue, off of the Strand and off of
Jones Avenue. He stated these little cars may be ridden be-
tween Butler and Jones on the streets running east and west
but not on Jones, Butler or the Strand. Chairman Fahey
stated that he had contacted the lady that rents these
vehicles and she had promised him that if a police officer
catches one of these vehicles riding on a prohibited street
that when they bring the person back to her, she would
refund the money and prohibit the use of these vehicles by
these people.
Councilman Edward Fahey requested a second reading on
the ordinance ammending section 2.1 on the code of ordinances
of Savannah Beach changing the day and hour of the regular
monthly meeting of the City of Savannah Beach from 3:00 p.m.
on the third (3rd) Wednesday of each month to 7:00 p.m. on
the third (3rd) Monday of each month.
ORDINANCE
Councilman Fahey then moved the adoption of this or-
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dinance on its second and final reading. The motion was
seconded by Councilman Agnew and unanimously carried.
Councilman Jim Bond, Chairman of the Erosion Committee,
stated that the bids for our Erosion Project had been opened
by the Corps of Engineers yesterday and that they looked
real good. He stated that the lowest bid was less than one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,00.00) over what the Corps of
Engineers had originally estimated the project and this was
real good.
Councilman Richard DeLoach, Chairman of the Fire De-
partment reported that the "beeper" system had been in-
stalled and was ready to go. Now all we need is a dispatcher
and he felt we would have one very shortly.
A motion was made by Councilman Joseph Agnew that the
appointment of Mr. Earl Anderson as Zoning Administrator,
Co- ordinator of Planning and Development be confirmed.
This motion was seconded by Councilman John Wylly and
unanimously carried.
A motion was made by Councilman John Wylly to adopt a
proposal of the Chatham County Health Department concerning
the condemnation of dilapidated and run -down housing.
Councilman Wylly stated that the cost of the propsed budget
for inspection for our housing program consisted of: one (1)
housing inspector one day a week a total of seventeen (17)
days at a salary of $603.40; including $35.30 social security,
$48.27 state retirement, $76.50 travel time, $25.00 supplies
and printing and $12.50 postage which is a total of $800.97.
This motion was seconded by Councilman Edward Fahey and after
a discussion it was unanimously approved.
In regard to the petition submitted by Mr. Richard
Grosse, Councilman Edward J. Fahey moved that an active com-
mittee be appointed by the Mayor to meet with the petitioners
listed by Mr. Grosse to see if a solution to that problem
could be found. Mr. Counihan then appointed Mr. Ernest Hosti
and the Department of Public Works Committee to look into this
matter and to report back at the next meeting.
With reference to the request by Mr. Joe Limerick for
permission to hold certain entertainment ovher the Labor Day
Weekend and a surfing contest on September 7th & 8th,
Councilman John Wylly moved that this permission be granted
provided there was no cost to the City. This motion was
seconded by Councilman Fahey and unanimously Carried.
Mayor Counihan stated to Councilman Joe Agnew that
during his absence from the meeting certain questions were
raised in regards to the City's finances. The Mayor stated
to Councilman Agnew that this matter was turned over to
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him while he was not here. Before Councilman Agnew had a
chance to answer he was interrupted by Mrs. Louise Shaw
who wanted to know how much in debt this town was in and if
money was spent by Council legally couldn't it be gotten back.
She stated further that if something wasn't done water
and taxes would have to go up. Mayor Counihan stated to
Mrs. Shaw that this matter had been turned over to Mr.
Agnew, Chairman of Finances and General Government, and that
a report would be given at one of our future meetings.
This was agreed to by Council.
There being no further business the meeting was ad-
journed to the next Regular or Special Called Meeting.
CLERK OF COUNCIL
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AN ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2.1 OF THE CODE OF THE
ORDINANCES, CITY OF SAVANNAH BEACH, TYBEE ISLAND,
GEORGIA, PERTAINING TO REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS OF
THE GOVERNING BODY SO AS TO CHANGE THE DAY AND HOUR
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
SECTION I.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEN of the City of
Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia in regular monthly council duly
assembled and it is hereby ordained by authority of the same that
Section 2.1 of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia is stricken in its entirety and
a new section is inserted in lieu thereof, which shall read as follows:
"Section 2.1 Governing Body Meetings, day and hour."
The hour for holding the regular meetings of the
governing body is 7:00 p.m. Meetings shall be
held on the third (3rd) Monday of each month.
SECTION II.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed.
ENACTED in open Council this 21st day of August, 1974.
(SEAL)
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Enacted:
CITY OF SAVANNAH BEACH, TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA
BY:
MAYOR
ATTEST:
July 17, 1974
August 21, 1974
August 21, 1974
CITY CLERK