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COASTAL VIEWPOINT NEWS FEED FROM FOX NEWS
| COASTAL VIEWPOINT has just become aware of a fantastic technology that is available on St. Simons Island. Since several of our staff have back problems, we have been researching solutions for many years. So we were very surprised to discover that there is a digital video X-Ray device on the Island. Watch the video below and judge for yourself. It can prove invaluable in legal proceedings or be used to provide the very best analysis of what is causing your pain. Just as a video reveals much more than a single photo, a video X-Ray reveals much more than a single X-Ray film. CLICK HERE TO SEE DEMONSTRATION OF VIDEO X-RAY |
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COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PLAN TO
EXPAND JAIL IN DOWNTOWN BRUNWICK - MARCH 2, 2010
The gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Hogan, Clark) prepare to push their desires onto the entire county again on Thursday, March 4th. They initially wanted a huge jail complex that included I and J streets of Brunswick. They took over homes and properties towards that end. Only Bob Torras, Sr. fought back and along with the city of Brunswick have prevailed in restraining the plan that would have made downtown Brunswick a huge jail complex.
There was talk recently (by the Brunswick news) that perhaps the gang of four had decided to compromise and yield to the desires of the majority of the county. But anyone who has followed the jail story knew that was not going to happen.
The gang of four have been responsible for spending about 4.5 million on the jail complex for downtown Brunswick and were only stopped by citizen Bob Torras and the city of Brunswick. They had figured on getting access to Brunswick alleys and streets but the city put a stop to their plans.
So after finding no way to build the huge complex that they wanted on some of the most desirable real estate in downtown Brunswick, the gang of four have decided to build the jail on the current property (of the jail) and make changes to the existing structure.
The sheriff will get his new offices on some of the land which the gang of four took over in the Brunswick downtown area (part of the 4.5 million land purchase). The new sheriff’s office will be built in addition to what has been called a band-aid fix (adding the 120 bed expansion). They know it will be inadequate when it is finished. So instead of planning for the future, the gang of four want to spend about $11.5 more million for an expansion that will be inadequate when it is finished.
Make no mistake, the issue of the jail expansion will be voted on and pushed through in the next meeting on March 4th. The other three commissioners (Sublett, Coleman, and Callaway) will no doubt vote against it but it will be a done deal. Worse than that, the gang of four are expected to insist on a fast track with no bids.
The sheriff will get his new office (about 12,000 square feet) which will cost about $2.5 million of the $11.5 million. Of course, there are usually additions and so these numbers are probably conservative. Ignoring public opinion, county commission chairman, Howard Lynn told the Brunswick news that they were going forward.
Tomorrow, Wednesday at 2 pm at the Federal courthouse, there will be a hearing before a federal judge to obtain a temporary injunction to prevent the county commissioners from contracting with a firm to design and begin construction on the planned expansion. The meeting is open to the public. The lawsuit was filed against the Glynn County Board of Commissioners alleging squandering of taxpayer money - specifically SPLOST IV and SPLOST V proceeds.
Coastal Viewpoint is particularly disappointed with the local weekly paper - The Islander for being a mouth piece for the very vocal commissioner Thaw. The part owner Matt and Tony Thaw were childhood friends but that is no reason to support this violation of public trust. On the other hand, we are pleased with the new writer for the Brunswick news, Nevin Batiwalla, who has been particularly good at staying on top of this story.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE AS WE COVER THE THURSDAY MEETING
EXPAND JAIL IN DOWNTOWN BRUNWICK - MARCH 2, 2010
The gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Hogan, Clark) prepare to push their desires onto the entire county again on Thursday, March 4th. They initially wanted a huge jail complex that included I and J streets of Brunswick. They took over homes and properties towards that end. Only Bob Torras, Sr. fought back and along with the city of Brunswick have prevailed in restraining the plan that would have made downtown Brunswick a huge jail complex.
There was talk recently (by the Brunswick news) that perhaps the gang of four had decided to compromise and yield to the desires of the majority of the county. But anyone who has followed the jail story knew that was not going to happen.
The gang of four have been responsible for spending about 4.5 million on the jail complex for downtown Brunswick and were only stopped by citizen Bob Torras and the city of Brunswick. They had figured on getting access to Brunswick alleys and streets but the city put a stop to their plans.
So after finding no way to build the huge complex that they wanted on some of the most desirable real estate in downtown Brunswick, the gang of four have decided to build the jail on the current property (of the jail) and make changes to the existing structure.
The sheriff will get his new offices on some of the land which the gang of four took over in the Brunswick downtown area (part of the 4.5 million land purchase). The new sheriff’s office will be built in addition to what has been called a band-aid fix (adding the 120 bed expansion). They know it will be inadequate when it is finished. So instead of planning for the future, the gang of four want to spend about $11.5 more million for an expansion that will be inadequate when it is finished.
Make no mistake, the issue of the jail expansion will be voted on and pushed through in the next meeting on March 4th. The other three commissioners (Sublett, Coleman, and Callaway) will no doubt vote against it but it will be a done deal. Worse than that, the gang of four are expected to insist on a fast track with no bids.
The sheriff will get his new office (about 12,000 square feet) which will cost about $2.5 million of the $11.5 million. Of course, there are usually additions and so these numbers are probably conservative. Ignoring public opinion, county commission chairman, Howard Lynn told the Brunswick news that they were going forward.
Tomorrow, Wednesday at 2 pm at the Federal courthouse, there will be a hearing before a federal judge to obtain a temporary injunction to prevent the county commissioners from contracting with a firm to design and begin construction on the planned expansion. The meeting is open to the public. The lawsuit was filed against the Glynn County Board of Commissioners alleging squandering of taxpayer money - specifically SPLOST IV and SPLOST V proceeds.
Coastal Viewpoint is particularly disappointed with the local weekly paper - The Islander for being a mouth piece for the very vocal commissioner Thaw. The part owner Matt and Tony Thaw were childhood friends but that is no reason to support this violation of public trust. On the other hand, we are pleased with the new writer for the Brunswick news, Nevin Batiwalla, who has been particularly good at staying on top of this story.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE AS WE COVER THE THURSDAY MEETING
United States federal judge Lisa Godbey Wood presided over the injunction that is an attempt to halt the jail expansion in downtown Brunswick yesterday, Wednesday, March 3rd.
For continuity, we have the previous story just below this one.
The suit was filed by Catherine Browning with the intention of blocking the jail expansion because it is a waste of tax dollars to renovate a 20-year old building by adding 120 cells for women prisoners knowing that by the time it is finished it will be woefully inadequate.
Mary Helen Moses, a local attorney for the Plaintiff, argued a federal court injunction was needed immediately because there was no time to bring the matter before a state court, where cases are backlogged. Moses explained that the county gang of four were going to put the jail construction through faster than usual.
Fortunately, Judge Wood is very familiar with St. Simons and our county commissioners. Coastal Viewpoint is sure that she understands that if she doesn’t stop them, they will go forward over the objections of the taxpayers and the other three commissioners who have been labeled with very unflattering comments by Commissioner Thaw of the gang of four.
The hearing lasted a bit over two hours. None of the gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Clark and Hogan) were present. For those who don’t know, Coastal Viewpoint refers to them as the “gang” because they vote together and make the decisions for Glynn County. There have been many accusations that they meet without the other three commissioners to make decisions ahead of time on actions by the Board of Commissioners.
The county attorney Brad Watkins was particularly aggressive towards Commissioner Sublett who testified that he had not seen certain reports regarding the jail and that they gang of four had not given those reports to the “other three commissioners” - Sublett, Coleman and Callaway.
So the hearing presented more evidence that would support those accusations that the other three commissioners (Sublett, Coleman and Callaway) were being left out of certain county business items because they refuse to go along with the “gang”. The Brunswick news quoted Commissioner Coleman as saying that he is now more convinced than ever that the gang has been withholding information and documents about the jail expansion options from him, Sublett and Callaway. Coastal Viewpoint also heard for the first time that the other three commissioners Sublett, Coleman and Callaway want their own attorney.
The actual suit is attached and readers need only click on the link below to read the brief suit. Coastal Viewpoint has read the suit and even though we are very against the jail expansion, it is hard to believe that Browning’s claim that her freedom of speech were violated will stand. Everyone knows that when you go to the county commission meetings and speak that you must speak on topic. Browning was instructed during such a meeting that she was off topic but continued to speak and was removed forcefully. That was the commission meeting about the pool in Neptune Park.
And Coastal Viewpoint regretfully has to agree with the attorney for the county that Browning’s claims are a separate issue from whether tax money can be spent on the downtown jail expansion. The only way the issue could be heard before Judge Wood was to make it a federal issue and that is why Browning’s claims were combined with the issue of wasted tax money.
Even though Coastal Viewpoint agreed with Browning’s point regarding the pool, we maintain that the freedom of speech that we all treasure so much does not allow us to say what we want when we want - especially when it is holding up a County Commission meeting. We should also say that we are not lawyers but contend that it is just common sense to speak according to the rules.
Also benefiting the opposition to the jail expansion was the fact that none of the gang of four showed. When asked why they weren’t subpoenaed, the reply was that they had indicated verbally that they would be at the hearing. That answer seemed to satisfy the Judge. And if there is one thing well-known to irritate a Judge, it is to be absent when needed.
Although county attorney Mumford was present, he had to repeat that he had no authority to make a decision to delay the vote by the county commissioners this evening.
Brad Watkins, an attorney for the county, challenged the federal court's jurisdiction to grant a restraining order over the vote. He said Browning's claims that her freedom of speech and due process rights were violated are a separate issue from whether tax money can be spent on the downtown jail plan. The tax issue involves state law.
Watkins handed Wood a stack of court documents to support his argument that the case should be in State court and that the same issue had already been considered in two previous lawsuits and therefore legally could not be brought up again.
The hearing ended with U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood telling the attorneys for the county (the defendants) that they must tell her by noon today (March 4) whether the county commissioners oppose waiting another seven days. She said that she will want to read the stack of documents that she had been given and would need seven days to study them.
Coastal Viewpoint believes the gang of four will decide to delay the vote but it will certainly be interesting if they go ahead during their scheduled meeting this evening with the vote to expand the jail. They have shown unbelievable audacity in the past so it is not a given that they will wait as the Judge has requested. We will update this story when we hear the Judge’s decision at noon today.
Judge Wood is known for her desire to pursue justice and is definitely the best judge that those opposing the gang of four could have hoped for. Perhaps she can find a way for justice to prevail in this case.
The gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Clark and Hogan) have until noon today to decide if they will wait another seven days to vote on renovating the current downtown jail.
For continuity, we have the previous story just below this one.
The suit was filed by Catherine Browning with the intention of blocking the jail expansion because it is a waste of tax dollars to renovate a 20-year old building by adding 120 cells for women prisoners knowing that by the time it is finished it will be woefully inadequate.
Mary Helen Moses, a local attorney for the Plaintiff, argued a federal court injunction was needed immediately because there was no time to bring the matter before a state court, where cases are backlogged. Moses explained that the county gang of four were going to put the jail construction through faster than usual.
Fortunately, Judge Wood is very familiar with St. Simons and our county commissioners. Coastal Viewpoint is sure that she understands that if she doesn’t stop them, they will go forward over the objections of the taxpayers and the other three commissioners who have been labeled with very unflattering comments by Commissioner Thaw of the gang of four.
The hearing lasted a bit over two hours. None of the gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Clark and Hogan) were present. For those who don’t know, Coastal Viewpoint refers to them as the “gang” because they vote together and make the decisions for Glynn County. There have been many accusations that they meet without the other three commissioners to make decisions ahead of time on actions by the Board of Commissioners.
The county attorney Brad Watkins was particularly aggressive towards Commissioner Sublett who testified that he had not seen certain reports regarding the jail and that they gang of four had not given those reports to the “other three commissioners” - Sublett, Coleman and Callaway.
So the hearing presented more evidence that would support those accusations that the other three commissioners (Sublett, Coleman and Callaway) were being left out of certain county business items because they refuse to go along with the “gang”. The Brunswick news quoted Commissioner Coleman as saying that he is now more convinced than ever that the gang has been withholding information and documents about the jail expansion options from him, Sublett and Callaway. Coastal Viewpoint also heard for the first time that the other three commissioners Sublett, Coleman and Callaway want their own attorney.
The actual suit is attached and readers need only click on the link below to read the brief suit. Coastal Viewpoint has read the suit and even though we are very against the jail expansion, it is hard to believe that Browning’s claim that her freedom of speech were violated will stand. Everyone knows that when you go to the county commission meetings and speak that you must speak on topic. Browning was instructed during such a meeting that she was off topic but continued to speak and was removed forcefully. That was the commission meeting about the pool in Neptune Park.
And Coastal Viewpoint regretfully has to agree with the attorney for the county that Browning’s claims are a separate issue from whether tax money can be spent on the downtown jail expansion. The only way the issue could be heard before Judge Wood was to make it a federal issue and that is why Browning’s claims were combined with the issue of wasted tax money.
Even though Coastal Viewpoint agreed with Browning’s point regarding the pool, we maintain that the freedom of speech that we all treasure so much does not allow us to say what we want when we want - especially when it is holding up a County Commission meeting. We should also say that we are not lawyers but contend that it is just common sense to speak according to the rules.
Also benefiting the opposition to the jail expansion was the fact that none of the gang of four showed. When asked why they weren’t subpoenaed, the reply was that they had indicated verbally that they would be at the hearing. That answer seemed to satisfy the Judge. And if there is one thing well-known to irritate a Judge, it is to be absent when needed.
Although county attorney Mumford was present, he had to repeat that he had no authority to make a decision to delay the vote by the county commissioners this evening.
Brad Watkins, an attorney for the county, challenged the federal court's jurisdiction to grant a restraining order over the vote. He said Browning's claims that her freedom of speech and due process rights were violated are a separate issue from whether tax money can be spent on the downtown jail plan. The tax issue involves state law.
Watkins handed Wood a stack of court documents to support his argument that the case should be in State court and that the same issue had already been considered in two previous lawsuits and therefore legally could not be brought up again.
The hearing ended with U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood telling the attorneys for the county (the defendants) that they must tell her by noon today (March 4) whether the county commissioners oppose waiting another seven days. She said that she will want to read the stack of documents that she had been given and would need seven days to study them.
Coastal Viewpoint believes the gang of four will decide to delay the vote but it will certainly be interesting if they go ahead during their scheduled meeting this evening with the vote to expand the jail. They have shown unbelievable audacity in the past so it is not a given that they will wait as the Judge has requested. We will update this story when we hear the Judge’s decision at noon today.
Judge Wood is known for her desire to pursue justice and is definitely the best judge that those opposing the gang of four could have hoped for. Perhaps she can find a way for justice to prevail in this case.
The gang of four (Lynn, Thaw, Clark and Hogan) have until noon today to decide if they will wait another seven days to vote on renovating the current downtown jail.
JUDGE HEARS INJUNCTION TO STOP THE JAIL EXPANSION IN DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK
Lisa Godbey Wood (born 1963) is a United States federal judge. Wood was born in Lexington, Kentucky is married and the mother of twins. She received a B.A. from the University of Georgia in 1985. She received a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1990. She was a law clerk , Hon. Anthony A. Alaimo, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in 1990. She was in private practice in Brunswick, Georgia from 1991 to 2004. She was a Magistrate judge (part-time), Glynn County Magistrate Court, Georgia from 1998 to 2000. She was a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia from 2004 to 2007.
Wood was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia . Wood was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 9, 2007, to a seat vacated by Dudley H. Bowen, Jr.She was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 2007, and received her commission on February 8, 2007.
Judge Wood enjoys an excellent reputation and Coastal Viewpoint gives her a big thumbs up for her pursuit of justice!
Wood was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia . Wood was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 9, 2007, to a seat vacated by Dudley H. Bowen, Jr.She was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 2007, and received her commission on February 8, 2007.
Judge Wood enjoys an excellent reputation and Coastal Viewpoint gives her a big thumbs up for her pursuit of justice!
THE JUDGE
ANOTHER BOC DISASTER - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TAPE WITH BLATANT FAVORITISM
The BOC voted unanimously to give Cap Findig a reduction in his bid for the concession stand at Neptune Park and Pool. It grossed about $70,000 last year but Cap Findig says he lost his can and could no longer pay such a high license fee. Findig wanted to reduce his bid from $18,000 to $7500 PLUS 10% of gross. However, Sublett motions that he pay $7500 or 10% of gross - whichever is greater. There is a second and the vote is unanimous.
"Point of clarification - It is a one year contract with three one-year renewals thereafter" was said by county attorney Mumford. The county continued to suggest that it was a three-year contract.
Hello BOC!! We also like Cap Findig even if he doesn't count the cost before making a bid. Fendig is the person who ran for President last election. Obviously, he didn't last long. He is currently running for State Senate. However, that is not our concern.
The concern of Coastal Viewpoint is that our BOC is unabashedly on video giving out a license to him without asking for bids and as part of a rather obvious favoritism.
This is taxpayer money and you are supposed to be judicious with it!!
Rotary Club Chili Cook-Off
a Great Success
a Great Success
Everyone was having a great deal of fun and not too much heartburn as they tasted their way around the circuit of chili contestants. Coastal Viewpoint was there and we had our spoons. Frankly, except for a few second choices, all were first-rate chili.
The contestants had a great deal of fun but the cooking was serious. The cooks had experimented for weeks perfecting their recipes. They all had their fans and certainly there was a chili to suit everyone's taste.
Each contestant had prepared about 12 gallons of chili but by 1:45, most had ran out.
The Chili Doctors had their act together dressed as doctors in their scrubs and with prescriptions for whatever ailed you. The solution, of course, was chili. They did very well winning the heat award, decoration award and 2nd place in people's choice. They are just a few guys from Savannah who come down every year for the fun.
The contestants had a great deal of fun but the cooking was serious. The cooks had experimented for weeks perfecting their recipes. They all had their fans and certainly there was a chili to suit everyone's taste.
Each contestant had prepared about 12 gallons of chili but by 1:45, most had ran out.
The Chili Doctors had their act together dressed as doctors in their scrubs and with prescriptions for whatever ailed you. The solution, of course, was chili. They did very well winning the heat award, decoration award and 2nd place in people's choice. They are just a few guys from Savannah who come down every year for the fun.
Another contestant, the William Ligon Campaign, was there for the first time but did remarkably well winning 5th place in people's choice. William Ligon is running for State Senate. Jeff Chapman who holds that position is running for Govenor which opens up his seat.
The Stringrays provided first rate music and there was lots of toe-tapping and audience fun. If you haven't ever been before, it is more than worth the $8 entry fee. Make sure you plan on being their next year. Thanks to the Rotary Club for this fine event!
The Stringrays provided first rate music and there was lots of toe-tapping and audience fun. If you haven't ever been before, it is more than worth the $8 entry fee. Make sure you plan on being their next year. Thanks to the Rotary Club for this fine event!