At Monday morning’s regular county commission work session, Commander Alfalene Walker and Project Officer Jerome Loving of American Legion Post 515 announced an upcoming exhibit honoring Douglas’s own John S. Gibson. Gibson was a U.S. Representative who was instrumental in securing passage of the G.I. Bill in Congress in 1944. In a dramatic turn of events, people all over the state of Georgia mobilized to help the Congressman get from his home in Douglas to Washington D.C. in order to vote for the imperiled legislation.
The District 12 American Legion family and the Satilla Regional Library are bringing the John S. Gibson exhibit to Douglas. The exhibit will open at the Satilla Regional Library on February 16 and run through March 12. The opening ceremony is at 10:30 AM on February 16. This will be the touring exhibit’s first stop in Georgia. Commander Walker and Project Officer Loving also announced Post 515’s “What America Means to Me” essay contest. The contest is open to fifth graders throughout Coffee County, including private school and home-schooled students. The essay must be typed and is limited to 250 words. Those with questions about the exhibit or the essay contest may direct their calls to Project Officer Jerome Loving at (912) 592-6413.
After some discussion and review of matters to be dealt with in the regular meeting, County Administrator Wesley Vickers presented the year-end financial statement. The current year budget of over $15 million has left Coffee County with a surplus of $167,506.89. Mr. Vickers said that the county was “… lucky to have some additional revenue that was unanticipated.” Even that unanticipated revenue was, however, partially counterbalanced by FEMA expenditures from damage due to Hurricane Irma.
At the regular meeting, County Attorney Tony Rowell read a proclamation of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). The proclamation announced, “… the week beginning February 10, 2019 as National FCCLA Week in Douglas, Coffee County and urg(ing) all citizens to acquaint themselves with the activities and values of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.” FCCLA is a national nonprofit for students through grade 12 and helps youths assume their role in society through education and community involvement. First Vice President of the Coffee High School chapter of FCCLA Avery Hurst was present for the reading of the proclamation along with several other FCCLA officers and members.
Next the Commission approved appointment of Mr. Marvin Knight as board member for the Planning Commission to replace Ms. Linda Christian for the term expiring June 30, 2019.
The Commission then held a public hearing regarding a road closure for approximately 250 feet of Villa Street that the county had not maintained for years. County Administrator Wesley Vickers presented the application for the road closure. There were no statements from the public during the hearing and the Commission approved the resolution for the road closure.