The Pierce County Industrial Development and Building Authority (PCIDBA) recently discussed and/or voted on the following during the regular monthly meeting held Aug 7.
Partnership update: County Manager Raphel Maddox introduced the county’s new Public Safety Director Blake James to those gathered. As the EMS Director for Pierce, James was already a familiar face to many of those present.
Maddox also gave a run down of the response to Hurricane “Debby”, including the prompt response by the state to requests from the county, including road closure signs that were sent without stands, because signs were asked for but not stands.
Overall, Maddox said the response to “Debby” was smooth and well coordinated, following a pre-storm meeting Sunday, August 4, to get plans in place. Maddox especially praised the Georgia Deprtment of Transportation for “a job that would normally take two weeks they did in eight hours.”
South Georgia Regional Development Authority (SGRDA) update: Aubrey Brown, Senior Manager of Business Development for CSX in Florida and Georgia, was on hand to give a special presentation, celebrating the park’s designation as a Site Select. Brown said it was “an important day for South Georgia for a number of reasons.” Standard land use issues had been addressed and of 19 spots in the entire nation, this was the only one in Georgia. “This is only going to put you in a better position in Georgia and in the county,” Brown said. “I can tell you that in our world this is a very big deal.”
Brown presented the SGRDA with a commemorative plaque complete with a gold colored railroad spike to mark the occasion.
Finances: July financials for the PCIDBA were unanimously approved and entered into record without comment.
Closed session: The PCIDBA board went into a closed session for approximately 20 minutes at the end of their regular meeting. Real estate was the topic under discussion. The board voted to sell tracts 3 and 4 of the industrial park, comprising 10 acres of land, including uplands and wetlands, to as yet undisclosed buyers. Carter says the individuals are part of “Project Expansion” and more details will be forthcoming in September.
Next meeting: The PCIDBA will hold its next meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 4 in the Chamber of Commerce boardroom at Blackshear’s Historic Train Depot.
