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Two days after having the word 'Acting' removed from his title as City Manager of Brunswick, Bill Weeks faces a full plate of issues in getting the city on track. Financial matters such as the budget, decreased tax collections and SPLOST 5 are among the primary issues upon which Weeks is focusing.
Islander Staff Photo - Permar
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City chooses new manager; promotes from within
• Weeks on: the budget, the recession, the city docks and SPLOST
By Pamela Permar Shierling
"I have done my due diligence on this (city manager) search. We (the city) have good employees who need good direction," said Brunswick Commissioner Johnny Cason. "We have got to get this city moving."
With that Cason made a motion to amend the agenda for the city's Wednesday, January 18 meeting to include a decision to hire a City Manager.
Commissioner James Brooks followed with a motion to hire Acting City Manager, Bill Weeks, as the new City Manager.
Prior to taking the reins as acting manager, Weeks served as Assistant City Manager under former manager Roosevelt Harris until he stepped down about 4 months ago.
Weeks, who has worked for the City since 2007, will be on probation for six months.
Disagreeing with Cason and Brooks, Commissioner Cornell Harvey said, "We are rushing too fast." Harvey wanted to conduct another search.
Commissioners Brooks, Cason and Julie Martin voted in favor of Weeks; Com. Harvey voted no and Mayor Bryan Thompson abstained from the vote and made no comment during the discussion.
The city manager position came up for discussion during the city's last meeting of 2011, Wednesday, Dec. 21. At that time Thompson was outspoken in his support of Riveria Beach, Florida assistant city manager Paul White, who was the front runner for the job out of more than 60 applicants.
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Orthopaedic and spine center opens at SGHS
1/25/2012
By Pamela Permar Shierling
The Southeast Georgia Health System opened its state-of-the-art Orthopaedic and Spine Center to patients Monday, January 23 after allowing the public to tour the new facility on Saturday.
The Center is located on the third floor of the SGHS Brunswick Campus and offers surgical, interventional and rehabilitative care for athletes, active adults, senior citizens and weekend athletes.
During the Thursday, January 19 preview of the Center, Dr. J. Melvin Deese, orthopaedic surgeon and Medical Director of the Orthpaedic and Spine Center, said, "The third floor Center is just a step.
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Brunswick makes list of hardest hit cities
1/25/2012
By Matthew J. Permar
According to a new report published last Friday, January 20, Brunswick is on a list of American cities hardest hit employment-wise by the current recession.
Brunswick is #8 on a list called ‘The 9 American Cities Nearly Destroyed by the Recession.’
Published by 24/7 Wall St.® and picked up by Fox Business News®, the story is based on a report commissioned by the United States Conference of Mayors, and prepared by IHS Global Insight.
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Tour buses get more parking in pier village
1/25/2012
By Matthew J. Permar
Back in the 1990’s, when there was only one tour bus-trolley company available to show tourists around St. Simons Island, there were no major problems with the trolley owner using the Mallery St. parking area in the pier village as a base of operations.
The county even designated a parking spot for the trolley and erected a sign advertising the business on county property in Neptune Park.
Then, about 7 or 8 years ago, problems arose when two more tour companies opened for business on the island and everyone began arguing over the lone parking spot that was designated for the tour bus.
At one point, out of frustration, the county commission intervened and relocated the trolley parking to Beachview Dr. near the St. Simons Lighthouse.
But, once the new Neptune Park swimming pool and 'Fun Zone' opened the tour buses were relocated back to Mallery St.
Intervening again the county put the parking space for lease through the bid process and rented it to St. Simons Trolley Co.
That contract expired last year and in an effort to be more accommodating to the companies and allow all three of them a chance to use the spot, the county modified how the new contract would work.
The new contract included multiple time slots in the morning and afternoon for the space to give all companies a chance to use it.
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