Thursday, June 21, 2018
A normally bitterly divided Savannah City Council today managed to agree on something.
They voted unanimously to adopt a property tax increase in preparation for eventual repeal of the controversial Fire Fee.
The tax rate in the City will go from 12.48 to 13.4 mills.
Council admitted that holding the tax increase to less than a full mill was due to "optics."
Alderman Julian Miller, previously a supporter of the Fee, said "I hoped we could do this without a tax increase, but I don't like the City we would have to live in if we don't do something."
Alderman Van Johnson, longtime opponent of the Fee, said, "No one likes raising taxes... but our millage rate as it is is not sustainable."
The Fire Fee, and new language in the City charter enabling it, is set for repeal at a future meeting.
In discussion prior to the vote, Alderman Brian Foster said that during the process of gaining more information about the Fire Fee, Council discovered that a third of properties in Savannah either pay zero or near zero in property taxes.
Foster said there are 5800 tax-exempt properties, with 19,000 properties in total not paying taxes.
Several Council members defended City Manager Rob Hernandez from public scorn regarding the Fire Fee idea.
Alderman Bill Durrence said, "The attacks on the City Manager are way out of line."
Regarding the news that Hernandez is a finalist for the City Manager job in Brownsville, Texas, Alderwoman Estella Shabazz directly asked the City Manager if he's going to stay in Savannah.
City Attorney Brooks Stillwell immediately said, "I don't think that's appropriate to ask."
In other Council news:
The $8.8 million award of a design contract for the new Westside Arena was briefly sidetracked so that the preferred bidder could take steps to "self-identify" more completely as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
The City Manager had to explain to Council that the City "no longer tracks" minority-owned businesses; the nomenclature is now the "race and gender neutral" Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) description.
Alderman Van Johnson opened discussion of awarding Arena design contract by saying, "Welcome to another part of the most significant public undertaking that this City will ever undertake."
An anticipated revision to the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance was approved which will eliminate the bar card and mandatory background check for servers.
However, the new Ordinance will not include a proposed Administrative Hearing Officer to handle liquor licenses.
Alderman Van Johnson says he wants to retain the right to "weigh in personally" on each liquor license.
They voted unanimously to adopt a property tax increase in preparation for eventual repeal of the controversial Fire Fee.
The tax rate in the City will go from 12.48 to 13.4 mills.
Council admitted that holding the tax increase to less than a full mill was due to "optics."
Alderman Julian Miller, previously a supporter of the Fee, said "I hoped we could do this without a tax increase, but I don't like the City we would have to live in if we don't do something."
Alderman Van Johnson, longtime opponent of the Fee, said, "No one likes raising taxes... but our millage rate as it is is not sustainable."
The Fire Fee, and new language in the City charter enabling it, is set for repeal at a future meeting.
In discussion prior to the vote, Alderman Brian Foster said that during the process of gaining more information about the Fire Fee, Council discovered that a third of properties in Savannah either pay zero or near zero in property taxes.
Foster said there are 5800 tax-exempt properties, with 19,000 properties in total not paying taxes.
Several Council members defended City Manager Rob Hernandez from public scorn regarding the Fire Fee idea.
Alderman Bill Durrence said, "The attacks on the City Manager are way out of line."
Regarding the news that Hernandez is a finalist for the City Manager job in Brownsville, Texas, Alderwoman Estella Shabazz directly asked the City Manager if he's going to stay in Savannah.
City Attorney Brooks Stillwell immediately said, "I don't think that's appropriate to ask."
In other Council news:
The $8.8 million award of a design contract for the new Westside Arena was briefly sidetracked so that the preferred bidder could take steps to "self-identify" more completely as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
The City Manager had to explain to Council that the City "no longer tracks" minority-owned businesses; the nomenclature is now the "race and gender neutral" Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) description.
Alderman Van Johnson opened discussion of awarding Arena design contract by saying, "Welcome to another part of the most significant public undertaking that this City will ever undertake."
An anticipated revision to the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance was approved which will eliminate the bar card and mandatory background check for servers.
However, the new Ordinance will not include a proposed Administrative Hearing Officer to handle liquor licenses.
Alderman Van Johnson says he wants to retain the right to "weigh in personally" on each liquor license.
Tags: Savannah Arena
One man has been arrested from a road rage incident that took place on June 15 in West Chatham.
Friday, June 15, Pooler officers received a call from dispatch regarding a car speeding down Interstate 16 chasing another while involved in road rage activity.
"The vehicle in the rear fired a weapon at the vehicle in front missing the driver but hitting the tail light," reports the Pooler Police Dept.
"After obtaining the tag number from a witness, detectives were able to track down the offender and make the arrest" on June 20, police say.
The alleged offender, Michael Broome, is being detained and awaiting arraignment at Chatham County jail on one charge of aggravated assault.
CID Commander John Schmitt states “We take road rage very seriously. Our detectives did an outstanding job following through and making this arrest. Pooler is safer place for it."
Friday, June 15, Pooler officers received a call from dispatch regarding a car speeding down Interstate 16 chasing another while involved in road rage activity.
"The vehicle in the rear fired a weapon at the vehicle in front missing the driver but hitting the tail light," reports the Pooler Police Dept.
"After obtaining the tag number from a witness, detectives were able to track down the offender and make the arrest" on June 20, police say.
The alleged offender, Michael Broome, is being detained and awaiting arraignment at Chatham County jail on one charge of aggravated assault.
CID Commander John Schmitt states “We take road rage very seriously. Our detectives did an outstanding job following through and making this arrest. Pooler is safer place for it."
City of Savannah and Chatham Area Transit (CAT) announced this week that there will be extended hours for the free DOT shuttle, effective July 9.
The City says the goal of the extended night and weekend hours is to help residents, employees and visitors access the downtown area.
Effective July 9, DOT’s hours of operations will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the weekday to 7 a.m. to midnight. DOT will provide shuttle service on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and holiday hours including MLK, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
DOT will provide shuttle service on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and holiday hours including MLK, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
City of Savannah Mayor Eddie DeLoach said, “Downtown Savannah has so much to offer, great restaurants, lots of shopping options, our historic district monuments and museums, entertainment opportunities. It’s also where many of us come to work each day. We are excited that our partnership with CAT is going to help people get downtown and move around the City without putting a dent in their pocketbooks.”
CAT Board Chairman Howard French said, “Thanks to our partnership with the City of Savannah, we will extend the service hours for the DOT shuttle, which is a win-win for riders, who work downtown late into the evenings and for the city and business community. We see both residents and tourists using the shuttles and I want to thank the Mayor, his staff, and our elected officials for this great public transit partnership.”
To date, CAT reports that it is averaging about 23,000 rides per month on the FPY service and ridership is on pace to hit a quarter million trips since the inception of the new shuttle service in September 2017.
City of Savannah Parking and Mobility Director Sean Brandon said, “The best places to park in downtown Savannah are in our parking garages. Now that CAT has expanded the DOT shuttle hours, our downtown workers and visitors are going to have an easier time getting to and from all of our garages, saving them time and money.”
Information about the shuttle routes can be found at www.savannahga.gov/parking or www.catchacat.org.
The City says the goal of the extended night and weekend hours is to help residents, employees and visitors access the downtown area.
Effective July 9, DOT’s hours of operations will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the weekday to 7 a.m. to midnight. DOT will provide shuttle service on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and holiday hours including MLK, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
DOT will provide shuttle service on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and holiday hours including MLK, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
City of Savannah Mayor Eddie DeLoach said, “Downtown Savannah has so much to offer, great restaurants, lots of shopping options, our historic district monuments and museums, entertainment opportunities. It’s also where many of us come to work each day. We are excited that our partnership with CAT is going to help people get downtown and move around the City without putting a dent in their pocketbooks.”
CAT Board Chairman Howard French said, “Thanks to our partnership with the City of Savannah, we will extend the service hours for the DOT shuttle, which is a win-win for riders, who work downtown late into the evenings and for the city and business community. We see both residents and tourists using the shuttles and I want to thank the Mayor, his staff, and our elected officials for this great public transit partnership.”
To date, CAT reports that it is averaging about 23,000 rides per month on the FPY service and ridership is on pace to hit a quarter million trips since the inception of the new shuttle service in September 2017.
City of Savannah Parking and Mobility Director Sean Brandon said, “The best places to park in downtown Savannah are in our parking garages. Now that CAT has expanded the DOT shuttle hours, our downtown workers and visitors are going to have an easier time getting to and from all of our garages, saving them time and money.”
Information about the shuttle routes can be found at www.savannahga.gov/parking or www.catchacat.org.
Friday, June 15, 2018
The ninth and tenth homicides of 2018 in Savannah city limits happened within hours of each other.
22-year-old Joshua Thomas was fatally shot on Thursday in the ninth homicide. In a separate incident early Friday, 32-year-old Shawntray Grant was murdered on Randolph Street, for the tenth.
In the death of Thomas, "Officers responded to Tuten Avenue between W. Bay and Hudson streets at around 2:20 p.m. on reports of a shooting. Once on scene, officers located an adult black male suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital in serious condition. He succumbed to those injuries shortly after," police report.
Violent Crimes detectives say they "do not believe this is random."
In Grant's death, "At around 2 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Randolph Street on reports of a shooting. Once on scene, officers discovered Shawntray Grant, 32, deceased in a parking lot," police report.
Anyone with information on these cases is asked to call the Violent Crimes Unit tip line at (912) 525-3124. Information may also be forwarded to CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
22-year-old Joshua Thomas was fatally shot on Thursday in the ninth homicide. In a separate incident early Friday, 32-year-old Shawntray Grant was murdered on Randolph Street, for the tenth.
In the death of Thomas, "Officers responded to Tuten Avenue between W. Bay and Hudson streets at around 2:20 p.m. on reports of a shooting. Once on scene, officers located an adult black male suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital in serious condition. He succumbed to those injuries shortly after," police report.
Violent Crimes detectives say they "do not believe this is random."
In Grant's death, "At around 2 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Randolph Street on reports of a shooting. Once on scene, officers discovered Shawntray Grant, 32, deceased in a parking lot," police report.
Anyone with information on these cases is asked to call the Violent Crimes Unit tip line at (912) 525-3124. Information may also be forwarded to CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Savannah City Manager Rob Hernandez, in the middle of a hot political fight over his controversial Fire Fee idea, announced today that he is a finalist for the job of City Manager in Brownsville, Texas.
“The past 20 months have been some of the most rewarding and challenging of my career. During this time I have developed a deep appreciation for Savannah, one of America’s great cities. I have also come to realize how much the citizens care about their community, and how passionate they are concerning its future," he writes in a statement.
"My goal has been to develop a City organization that matches the excellence of this community, and help Savannah fully realize its true potential. We have made much progress in a short amount of time, but in hindsight we perhaps moved too quickly on too many fronts. I have also at times been too blunt when diplomacy would have been better. For this, I apologize," Hernandez writes.
"Criticism of government is healthy and important, and comes with the territory. I don’t take it personally, even if some of the attacks on me have been very personal. What I do want is to work in a community that wants to work with me. I am not sure that is currently the case. Amid a sustained level of criticism and uncertainty, I have considered opportunities outside Savannah. While I have no desire to leave, I did feel it was a prudent move for me and my family," he writes.
"I am excited about Savannah’s bright future. I do hope we can work together to get there.”
Hernandez has only held the Savannah office since September 2016, hired by City Council in the wake of Mayor Eddie DeLoach's victory in the November 2015 city elections.
A story from April in the Brownsville Herald lists him as one of 30 applicants.
His signature policy proposal, a new Fire Fee, was intended to help stabilize the City's budget problems but caused intense public furor.
Hernandez was visibly frustrated with Council at last week's regular meeting, in which he was tasked with re-doing the Fire Fee with days to go before the mandatory budget and tax rate adoption.
“The past 20 months have been some of the most rewarding and challenging of my career. During this time I have developed a deep appreciation for Savannah, one of America’s great cities. I have also come to realize how much the citizens care about their community, and how passionate they are concerning its future," he writes in a statement.
"My goal has been to develop a City organization that matches the excellence of this community, and help Savannah fully realize its true potential. We have made much progress in a short amount of time, but in hindsight we perhaps moved too quickly on too many fronts. I have also at times been too blunt when diplomacy would have been better. For this, I apologize," Hernandez writes.
"Criticism of government is healthy and important, and comes with the territory. I don’t take it personally, even if some of the attacks on me have been very personal. What I do want is to work in a community that wants to work with me. I am not sure that is currently the case. Amid a sustained level of criticism and uncertainty, I have considered opportunities outside Savannah. While I have no desire to leave, I did feel it was a prudent move for me and my family," he writes.
"I am excited about Savannah’s bright future. I do hope we can work together to get there.”
Hernandez has only held the Savannah office since September 2016, hired by City Council in the wake of Mayor Eddie DeLoach's victory in the November 2015 city elections.
A story from April in the Brownsville Herald lists him as one of 30 applicants.
His signature policy proposal, a new Fire Fee, was intended to help stabilize the City's budget problems but caused intense public furor.
Hernandez was visibly frustrated with Council at last week's regular meeting, in which he was tasked with re-doing the Fire Fee with days to go before the mandatory budget and tax rate adoption.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) of the Coastal Empire announced today that it has begun a search for a new executive director after the departure of former director Kesha Gibson-Carter.
Gibson-Carter served in the role for five years. She has accused local law enforcement and District Attorney Meg Heap of trying to bully her into silence when she complained about a large backlog of unprosecuted rape cases in Chatham County.
"She had a passion for the RCC and an unwavering commitment to assisting and supporting victims of sexual assault,” said Lynne Wolf, President of the Board of Directors of the RCC. “We wish her the best as she pursues new endeavors.”
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council "will assist RCC in identifying resources for interim support during the RCC’s search for a new Executive Director," the group says.
Gibson-Carter served in the role for five years. She has accused local law enforcement and District Attorney Meg Heap of trying to bully her into silence when she complained about a large backlog of unprosecuted rape cases in Chatham County.
"She had a passion for the RCC and an unwavering commitment to assisting and supporting victims of sexual assault,” said Lynne Wolf, President of the Board of Directors of the RCC. “We wish her the best as she pursues new endeavors.”
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council "will assist RCC in identifying resources for interim support during the RCC’s search for a new Executive Director," the group says.
Thursday, June 7, 2018
If today's meeting was any indication, Mayor Eddie DeLoach's announcement Wednesday of potential extreme cuts in City services if the controversial Fire Fee is reduced by half seemed to take many Council members on both sides of the debate by surprise.
The clock is ticking, as the decision means Council and City Manager Rob Hernandez must come up with a new budget in two weeks, before the next fiscal year's millage rates must be set according to state law.
Mayor DeLoach said today he has directed City Manager to "Modify the numbers and bring us something forward so people can feel better about" the Fire Fee.
At Wednesday's impromptu solo press conference, DeLoach said he would support cutting the Fire Fee by half — down to $120 per single-family house per year — but that draconian budget cuts might result, including laying off as many as five percent of City employees.
Alderman Van Johnson responded that while he was "blindsided" by the Mayor's press conference Wednesday, he commended the Mayor for his "chutzpah" in admitting the policy needed changing.
Alderman Tony Thomas accused the Mayor of "throwing the City Manager under the bus."
"You outlined a plan... but I don't know if the City Manager has analyzed that plan," Thomas said.
Several Council members, including Alderman Bill Durrence and Alderwoman Estella Shabazz, insinuated that they had no idea the Mayor's Wednesday announcement was coming.
Most Council members were reluctant to back any of DeLoach's specific suggestions, especially the idea of cutting five percent of the City workforce.
A lengthy back-and-forth included Johnson directly telling the Mayor that "We warned you that this would be unpopular. We warned you that this would affect poor folks. We warned you that this would affect nonprofits."
One citizen spoke to Council briefly about the issue.
Rick Ellison, President of Retirees Unite For the Future, told Council that "Savannah's going to hell in a handbasket.... we're getting killed by taxes from the school board, killed by the Fire Fee, and killed by the parking rates downtown."
When Alderman Julian Miller tried to explain that the school board's proposed 16 percent tax hike largely had nothing to do with the City's Fire Fee, Alderman Johnson responded that "those of us who've been up here for a while" — meaning himself and Alderman Thomas — "understand that all these things are interconnected" in the public mind.
In explaining the difficulties of redoing the budget to conform to the newly reduced Fire Fee, City Manager Hernandez at one point became visibly frustrated with Mayor and Council.
"I need you to be very clear... as to what the rules of engagement are in bringing you options and recommendations," he said.
If the Fire Fee is reduced as the Mayor directed, "I have to make up $11.2 million in revenue this fiscal year" which is already halfway over, he said.
"I need you to clarify what's in play and what's not in play," Hernandez said.
Hernandez explicitly urged Council not to suggest directing the $10 million revenue surplus toward reducing the Fire Fee.
"It is not prudent to use one-time money to go toward recurring expenses," he said of the surplus, which has already been earmarked for other purposes in previous Council votes.
Council is expecting to take up the City Manager's options at a budget retreat June 18. Hernandez was tasked to include an option without a Fire Fee at all.
The clock is ticking, as the decision means Council and City Manager Rob Hernandez must come up with a new budget in two weeks, before the next fiscal year's millage rates must be set according to state law.
Mayor DeLoach said today he has directed City Manager to "Modify the numbers and bring us something forward so people can feel better about" the Fire Fee.
At Wednesday's impromptu solo press conference, DeLoach said he would support cutting the Fire Fee by half — down to $120 per single-family house per year — but that draconian budget cuts might result, including laying off as many as five percent of City employees.
Alderman Van Johnson responded that while he was "blindsided" by the Mayor's press conference Wednesday, he commended the Mayor for his "chutzpah" in admitting the policy needed changing.
Alderman Tony Thomas accused the Mayor of "throwing the City Manager under the bus."
"You outlined a plan... but I don't know if the City Manager has analyzed that plan," Thomas said.
Several Council members, including Alderman Bill Durrence and Alderwoman Estella Shabazz, insinuated that they had no idea the Mayor's Wednesday announcement was coming.
Most Council members were reluctant to back any of DeLoach's specific suggestions, especially the idea of cutting five percent of the City workforce.
A lengthy back-and-forth included Johnson directly telling the Mayor that "We warned you that this would be unpopular. We warned you that this would affect poor folks. We warned you that this would affect nonprofits."
One citizen spoke to Council briefly about the issue.
Rick Ellison, President of Retirees Unite For the Future, told Council that "Savannah's going to hell in a handbasket.... we're getting killed by taxes from the school board, killed by the Fire Fee, and killed by the parking rates downtown."
When Alderman Julian Miller tried to explain that the school board's proposed 16 percent tax hike largely had nothing to do with the City's Fire Fee, Alderman Johnson responded that "those of us who've been up here for a while" — meaning himself and Alderman Thomas — "understand that all these things are interconnected" in the public mind.
In explaining the difficulties of redoing the budget to conform to the newly reduced Fire Fee, City Manager Hernandez at one point became visibly frustrated with Mayor and Council.
"I need you to be very clear... as to what the rules of engagement are in bringing you options and recommendations," he said.
If the Fire Fee is reduced as the Mayor directed, "I have to make up $11.2 million in revenue this fiscal year" which is already halfway over, he said.
"I need you to clarify what's in play and what's not in play," Hernandez said.
Hernandez explicitly urged Council not to suggest directing the $10 million revenue surplus toward reducing the Fire Fee.
"It is not prudent to use one-time money to go toward recurring expenses," he said of the surplus, which has already been earmarked for other purposes in previous Council votes.
Council is expecting to take up the City Manager's options at a budget retreat June 18. Hernandez was tasked to include an option without a Fire Fee at all.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Responding to a growing volume of outrage from businesses, nonprofits, churches, and citizens about the controversial new Fire Fee, Mayor Eddie DeLoach today announced that he will direct City Manager Rob Hernandez to formulate a "Plan B" which will cut the Fire Fee payments at least in half — but the Mayor threatens that deep and severe budget and service cuts will have to happen as a result.
"It's obvious we're moving too fast and we have not communicated this in the best manner... We brought too much change too quickly," said the Mayor.
Saying "We understand we need to move on to Plan B," the Mayor will ask the City Manager for a new plan to include a way to cut all Fire Fee payments by more than half.
"Make no mistake: This plan will include difficult cuts," including "no less than five percent of non-safety employees," the Mayor said.
"DeLoach says he will push to "eliminate unnecessary programs." He says," I ask that everything be on the table for cuts other than public safety."
DeLoach said that the Fire Fee issue was the most controversial local issue since the crime wave which was largely responsible for him getting elected in 2015.
Saying "time is of the essence" in coming up with a new budget, the Mayor said he hopes the new plan can be adopted in time for the deadline for the City to set property tax millage rates next month.
The new Fire Fee rate will start at $120 a year instead of the planned $256 a year for a basic single-family home, the Mayor says.
"It's obvious we're moving too fast and we have not communicated this in the best manner... We brought too much change too quickly," said the Mayor.
Saying "We understand we need to move on to Plan B," the Mayor will ask the City Manager for a new plan to include a way to cut all Fire Fee payments by more than half.
"Make no mistake: This plan will include difficult cuts," including "no less than five percent of non-safety employees," the Mayor said.
"DeLoach says he will push to "eliminate unnecessary programs." He says," I ask that everything be on the table for cuts other than public safety."
DeLoach said that the Fire Fee issue was the most controversial local issue since the crime wave which was largely responsible for him getting elected in 2015.
Saying "time is of the essence" in coming up with a new budget, the Mayor said he hopes the new plan can be adopted in time for the deadline for the City to set property tax millage rates next month.
The new Fire Fee rate will start at $120 a year instead of the planned $256 a year for a basic single-family home, the Mayor says.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
The City of Savannah says it received 67 applications for the Chief of Police position at the Savannah Police Department. "Two of those applications came from current SPD officers," a spokesperson says.
The City has gone on the record in previous reports that current Interim Savannah Police Chief Mark Revenew is not interested in the job permanently.
The City has contracted with Mercer Group, an executive recruiting firm, to lead the search process, expected to result in a final pick by September.
Once the list of candidates is narrowed, those candidates will be interviewed by three panels.
· The first panel will be made of executive City staff members.
· The second panel is a citizens advisory panel, with each member of City Council selecting "a member of the Savannah community to represent them on this panel," the City says.
· The third panel consists of law enforcement executives.
Citizens Advisory Panel members, picked by City Council members, are as follows:
Mayor Eddie DeLoach: Reed Dulany III, president and CEO of Dulany Industries
Alderwoman Carol Bell: Greg Parker, owner of the Parker’s convenience store chain
Alderman Bill Durrence: Brenda Walker, President of the Live Oak NOA
Alderman Brian Foster: Savannah attorney Steven Scheer
Alderman John Hall: Rev. William Eason, Edgemere/Sackville Neighborhood Association president
Alderman Van Johnson: Da’Henri R. Thurmond, Sr., pastor of St. Paul CME.
Alderman Julian Miller: Kevin Klinkenberg, executive director of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority
Alderman Tony Thomas: Edna Jackson, former City of Savannah Mayor
Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz: Ulysses Bryant, President of the Liberty City NOA; retired SCCPSS Campus Police Chief, Current SSU Interim Police Chief
The City has gone on the record in previous reports that current Interim Savannah Police Chief Mark Revenew is not interested in the job permanently.
The City has contracted with Mercer Group, an executive recruiting firm, to lead the search process, expected to result in a final pick by September.
Once the list of candidates is narrowed, those candidates will be interviewed by three panels.
· The first panel will be made of executive City staff members.
· The second panel is a citizens advisory panel, with each member of City Council selecting "a member of the Savannah community to represent them on this panel," the City says.
· The third panel consists of law enforcement executives.
Citizens Advisory Panel members, picked by City Council members, are as follows:
Mayor Eddie DeLoach: Reed Dulany III, president and CEO of Dulany Industries
Alderwoman Carol Bell: Greg Parker, owner of the Parker’s convenience store chain
Alderman Bill Durrence: Brenda Walker, President of the Live Oak NOA
Alderman Brian Foster: Savannah attorney Steven Scheer
Alderman John Hall: Rev. William Eason, Edgemere/Sackville Neighborhood Association president
Alderman Van Johnson: Da’Henri R. Thurmond, Sr., pastor of St. Paul CME.
Alderman Julian Miller: Kevin Klinkenberg, executive director of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority
Alderman Tony Thomas: Edna Jackson, former City of Savannah Mayor
Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz: Ulysses Bryant, President of the Liberty City NOA; retired SCCPSS Campus Police Chief, Current SSU Interim Police Chief
Friday, June 1, 2018
The City of Savannah says it is extending the deadline for property owners to submit Fire Fee Discount applications to Friday, June 15.
It was originally today, June 1, but only about 2,000 discount applications had been filed as of earlier this week, out of over 47,000 eligible properties in the City.
“We believe it is important to give people an extra two weeks to complete their applications so they can receive a discount. We hope more of our property owners take advantage of the discounts and take the appropriate measures to make their homes safer,” said City Manager Rob Hernandez.
The City says the Revenue Department has received nearly 1,000 calls each day for the past three days from property owners seeking help with their applications. "In addition, the number of applications received has nearly doubled in the past few days," a spokesperson reports.
The discounts will take off up to 20 percent of the Fee, estimated to start at $256 per single-family home, per year.
Anyone who needs help with their Fire Fee Discount application can contact the Revenue Department by calling (912) 525-2810 or by e-mailing [email protected].
The City is encouraging property owners to contact the Revenue Department by e-mail due to high call volume and higher than usual wait times.
It was originally today, June 1, but only about 2,000 discount applications had been filed as of earlier this week, out of over 47,000 eligible properties in the City.
“We believe it is important to give people an extra two weeks to complete their applications so they can receive a discount. We hope more of our property owners take advantage of the discounts and take the appropriate measures to make their homes safer,” said City Manager Rob Hernandez.
The City says the Revenue Department has received nearly 1,000 calls each day for the past three days from property owners seeking help with their applications. "In addition, the number of applications received has nearly doubled in the past few days," a spokesperson reports.
The discounts will take off up to 20 percent of the Fee, estimated to start at $256 per single-family home, per year.
Anyone who needs help with their Fire Fee Discount application can contact the Revenue Department by calling (912) 525-2810 or by e-mailing [email protected].
The City is encouraging property owners to contact the Revenue Department by e-mail due to high call volume and higher than usual wait times.
