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By Pamela Permar-Shierling
I attended two public meetings yesterday (Thursday, August 13) which were held to take public input for the Master Plan Glynn County is undertaking for the Marshes of Glynn Libraries (MOGL) and the Casino building on St. Simons Island.
The County has begun to plan for capital project needs for 10 years down the road which is a good idea.
Also the Casino building needs a new roof and a new HVAC system.
The County and MOGL are working with McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS) to lead the planning process. MPS is a nationally recognized architecture, planning, and interior design firm with extensive experience in public library design. The firm developed the Brunswick Library’s 2014 master plan and led its renovation completed in 2019.
The County is also looking at the possibility of a new branch library on the mainland probably in the northwest portion of the county which is growing pretty rapidly.
There is a broad seven question survey regarding a new branch library and the Casino available through Thursday, August 27. To take the survey go to https://moglibraries.org.
At the meeting on St. Simons yesterday to a person the request was leave the Casnio’s atrium alone. I am sure that will happen. The Casino is a unique building because of that atrium and it will remain.
The Casino building entrance is a bit awkward; the library needs more space; and the theatre needs to be renovated into a true performing arts theatre.
Also almost to a person the request at the St. Simons meeting was to plan the Casino, theatre, and library upgrades / renovations for the residents not the tourists.
Amen.
As for a branch on the mainland one is definitely needed. Maybe mileage wise it isn’t a long way into downtown Brunswick from the north and west parts of Glynn County, but time-wise it can be a traffic hassle. So it is an excellent idea for a branch that is more accessible to folks who live further out in the county.
Some great suggestions for a new library branch came from yesterday’s public meeting at the Brunswick-Glynn County Library.
As one lady so wonderfully described the purpose of a library – it is essential to the health of our community, she said. “One of the last vestiges of humanity where the young and old have a way to engage.”
Bravo.
Other suggestions, while maybe not as exceptional, were definitely instructive and included teen rooms, teen activities and programming, meeting rooms, computer center, and strong broadband services, spaces for kids, books on tape, a quiet outdoor seating area, and a creation studio or makers space.
All great ideas.
Help out MOGL and the County. Take the survey (https://moglibraries.org.). If you offer your opinion, you have a better chance of affecting the outcome of the Master Plan.
Kudos to Glynn County Police Chief Bryan Sipe and his officers who are stopping and citing golf cart drivers and e-bike riders on St. Simons.
Chief Sipe reported 183 golf cart stops have been made with 16 citations given, 115 verbal warnings and 52 written warnings. In two nights of working the Pier 107 stops were made.
Glynn County Police officers are also keeping an eye on e-bikes and nine e-bike stops have been made. These stops are less of a citation thing but more of a safety thing.
Parents, grandparents before you buy your adorable child an e-bike, or e-moto or scooter, read the information on the Glynn County Police Department’s Facebook page.
Make sure you know what you are buying and what your liability as a parent is. By law some of these electric bikes may be ridden on a bike path while others are not allowed on bike paths.