At the October 1 City Council meeting, City Manager Charles Penny presented a contract proposal with Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR), a company based out of South Carolina, to handle debris removal after the city faced unprecedented damage from Hurricane Helene. Penny emphasized the widespread impact, noting that unlike Hurricane Debbie, Helene was primarily a wind event, which led to downed trees and power lines all across the city. Many residents have seen trees fall on their homes, with debris quickly piling up on streets.
To get Statesboro cleaned up, the city won't be able to rely solely on its staff. The manager stressed that FEMA's public assistance funds are expected to help cover the costs, but immediate action was necessary to get the cleanup started. The proposed contract with SDR is for $1 million, though the final cost could exceed that. The priority is for citizens to get the debris to the streets where the city can collect it. SDR will take care of the rest, handling everything from cutting up trees to clearing stumps.
Penny also made it clear that this process won't be a quick fix. Even with SDR mobilizing their crews within 48 hours, it could still take weeks or longer to clear the entire city. The council was also reminded that, if the cleanup cost exceeds the initial amount, they may need to reconvene for further approvals to keep things moving smoothly.
SDR’s representative, Bob Jackson, shared insights about their work in Georgia and other states affected by storms. Jackson assured the council that SDR has extensive experience working alongside FEMA and is well-prepared to assist Statesboro. He noted that their team would be mobilizing crews from across the country to ensure timely cleanup.
As the city continues its recovery efforts, residents are encouraged to get their debris to the curb, and SDR will take care of the rest, ensuring that no tree is left behind.
The City Council has awarded a contract for engineering and technical services for the temporary repair and inspection of Birds Pond Dam to Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) for an amount not to exceed $40,842. The project will be funded through Stormwater Fund revenues.
City Manager Penny explained that the dam sustained damage during Tropical Storm Debby, which caused flooding that overtopped the dam and bypassed the structure’s limits. The project aims to address these issues with temporary repairs to the earthen dam, particularly at the ends of the structure and the emergency overflow weir.
The approved proposal includes field inspections, project management, temporary repair designs, construction documents, and a final inspection of the repairs. The design will incorporate a Site Plan and Repair Details, and the actual repair work will be carried out by City crews.
These repairs are critical to mitigating potential flooding during this hurricane season. Once the temporary repairs are completed, the City will consider working with FNI on a more permanent design and project management to ensure the dam’s long-term functionality and flood control capabilities.
The City Council approved a contract with Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC to provide on-call engineering and consulting services for TSPLOST program management. The estimated annual cost of $224,640 will be funded by the 2018 and 2023 TSPLOST funds.
Atlas will support the City of Statesboro's Engineering Department with various projects, including construction engineering and inspection of roadways, sidewalks, and subdivision drainage infrastructure to ensure compliance with city standards. Additional services may include right-of-way acquisition, traffic engineering, materials testing, environmental and cultural reviews, and construction management.
The City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for these services, and Atlas was selected based on a thorough evaluation of responses.
Continue reading for all business coverd at the City Council meeting.
Public Comments (Agenda Item):
Consent Agenda
APPROVED: 1) Approval of Minutes
a) 09-10-2024 Public Hearing Minutes 12:00 pm
b) 09-10-2024 Public Hearing Minutes 6:00 pm
c) 09-17-2024 Work Session Minutes
d) 09-17-2024 Council Minutes
APPROVED: 5. Public hearing and consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2024-26: a Resolution adopting the update to the Urban Redevelopment plan for the City of Statesboro.
Mayor Pro-Temp Shari Barr "I took the time to scan through everything, and it reminded me of all the good things happening. We're really making strides in helping people have better housing in some of the more depressed areas of Statesboro. I’m proud of the city, the staff, and the contractors who’ve stepped up and are getting the work done. We need to pass this again to keep it going, right?"
In accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-61-1, the City previously undertook the creation of an Urban Redevelopment Plan in 2020. In order to align with the approval of the update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan in 2024, The City of Statesboro hired the Coastal Regional Commission to provide services to update the plan.
APPROVED: 6. Consideration of a motion to award a contract for engineering technical services for Birds Pond Dam Temporary Repair and Inspection to Freese and Nichols. Inc. (FNI) in the amount of Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $40,842.00. The project work will be paid from Stormwater Fund revenues.
This project proposes to address temporary dam repairs needed at Birds Pond from flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. The flooding overtopped the dam and bypassed the limits of the structure. This project proposes to provide construction plans to repair the earthen dam at the ends of the dam and the dam emergency overflow weir.
The proposal includes field inspection, project management, temporary repair design and preparation of construction documents, and final inspection of temporary repairs. Temporary repair design will include proposed Site Plan and Repair Details with specifications. The work will be performed by City forces to make the repairs to the dam.
This is needed in the event another storm occurs this hurricane season to mitigate flooding in the downstream area. After completion of this work, the City will consider the option to utilize the consultant, FNI, for a permanent design installation project management and/or construction project management for a full understanding of the dam’s purpose and flood control.
APPROVED: 7. Consideration of a motion to award a contract for On-Call Professional Engineering & Consulting Services to Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC (Atlas) to provide TSPLOST Program Management support to the City of Statesboro Engineering Department. The annual estimated amount of $224,640.00 is anticipated for Engineering support services. The project work will be paid from the 2018 and 2023 TSPLOST funds.
This project proposes to provide all personnel, materials and services necessary to provide professional Engineering & Consulting Services for various TSPLOST projects and additional services to include but not limited to Construction Engineering, and Inspection (CEI) of roadway and sidewalk projects, all roads and related drainage infrastructure being constructed for proposed subdivisions that must be built to city standards that need to be inspected at all stages of construction. Other services provided by Atlas, if needed, include right-of-way acquisition, traffic engineering, soils and materials testing, environmental, historical, and cultural management and permitting review, landscape architectural services, and construction management services.
The City of Statesboro issued Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for consulting engineering services for management of the City’s TSPLOST Program. The qualifications responses were evaluated and ranked on each response received based on the criteria set forth in the RFQ.
Other Business from City Council
Mayor Pro-Temp Shari Barr: "I'll take the first opportunity to say that glad you all made it here. Made it through the storm. I'm so appreciative of Public Works, Georgia Power and all the county workers and all the rescue workers, everything that's been going on this is unprecedented. It's a word that keeps being thrown around, because it really is. There's no electricity at my house here, but, nobody's harmed, you know, because we're okay. So in some ways, we were lucky, and in others, we've got a lot to deal with. I'm very appreciative of all the service workers, very appreciative of all the folks who stepped up, people who, once they could get out of their house, went to their church and gifted food and open showers. And it's a beautiful place we live. So people care about one another and come out and do what they can to take care of yourself, reminded of it and very appreciative. Thank you all."
City Managers Comments
Charles Penny discussed the contract with Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR) for debris cleanup following Hurricane Helene. He emphasized that the storm caused significant damage, primarily from wind, leading to downed trees and power lines throughout the city. Penny noted that city staff would not be able to manage the extensive cleanup alone, which is why SDR's assistance is crucial. The contract, valued at $1 million, would allow SDR to mobilize quickly and begin removing debris, with the expectation that FEMA will provide financial support for these efforts. He clarified that SDR would only move debris to the street, while city crews would handle collection. Penny urged the council to approve the contract to expedite the cleanup process and mitigate potential long-term issues.
The Statesboro Fire Department had a fire alarm blitz planned for this weekend, but it is being postponed.
The Water & Sewer Public Information Meeting that was originally held last night is looking to be postponed to October 14th.
The Art Park ribbon cutting is being postponed to October 17th at 4:30 p.m.
Public Comments (General)
Don Armel reminded the council and public that Georgia Southern's RAC is open to students, faculty and staff for showers starting October 1 through October 6 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
Manager Penny talked about Georgia Southern returning to class on Monday, October 7th, and also spoke about the Board of Education working to decide about schools.
Mayor Pro-Temp Shari Barr highlighted the valuable resources available to the community, specifically mentioning Pittman Park United Methodist Church as a key support hub. She noted that the church provides showers, charging stations, and meals for those in need. Barr also recognized the contributions of Georgia Southern athletics, which delivered large quantities of ice for residents. She encouraged anyone in need to reach out to these organizations, giving special thanks to Reverends Jonathan and Stephanie Smith and the volunteers who have worked to facilitate these services.
Mayor Jonathan McCollar acknowledged the unprecedented challenges the community is facing, referencing Georgia Power's statement that this is the worst disaster they've dealt with. He emphasized the importance of preparing for difficult times during more favorable periods, noting that living in the South means hurricanes are inevitable. He stressed the need for communities to have resources in place to respond effectively.
McCollar pointed out that government plays a crucial role in disaster response, as it is the only entity capable of providing the necessary support during crises. He thanked the council for their hard work in ensuring that residents have access to essential resources, such as clean drinking water. He mentioned the food bank's recent assistance to 267 families and highlighted an upcoming drop event by Feed the Boro to provide further support.
He encouraged residents to seek help when needed and reassured them that the council is available to assist.
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