RINCON — Roger Burdette is completing his fourth year as District 2’s representative on the Effingham County Board of Commissioners and is seeking his second full term. 

“Overall, I love to serve,” he said. “I’m not big on the politician part of it — never have been and probably never will be — but I do love to serve. I love to have an impact … with people.”

Burdette said this position has allowed  him to use his education and business experience a lot. He is the CEO of Podium Logistics, which has given him insight into the current boom in warehousing in the county. He said that there are some “tough, agonizing decisions that have to be made sometimes and I have to consider 11,000 people instead of 30 at times.”

“Our growth has exploded,” he said, “well beyond anybody’s expectations, and we’ve been working extremely hard behind the scenes trying to get things done.” 

Burdette said he thinks the board’s biggest downfall so far has been its communication to the public. He went on to say, “We have to consider traffic and we have to consider property rights.”

“The last four years have involved a lot of that, along with changing zonings, things that make sense — things we never encountered before.”

One thing Burdette said he’s proud of is the creation of a public relations position that will be used to improve communications between the board and the public. He also said commissioners have been working on the county’s comprehensive plan for the last year and a half. The plan takes into account transportation, zoning, recreation, water/sewer and county facilities.

The county’s proximity to the Port of Savannah is complicating traffic in the county. He added that the county no longer gives incentives to build warehouses.

Burdette also commented that the board is trying to attract more skilled labor jobs here, especially to the Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub. He mentioned that Hyundai-related businesses might come in as a result of construction of the Bryan County Megasite.

When asked if the Effingham Parkway will really be the “silver bullet” for traffic into and out of Chatham County, Burdette said, “I think it will but it’s largely going to depend on Savannah — how well they work with us on the discharge portion of it.” 

He said that it’s dangerous to get too far ahead on infrastructure projects because traffic patterns change.

Burdette said that many county challenges have to be resolved in conjunction with Savannah officials. He said the board wants to work with them but, “We haven’t had a lot of communication from them on any issue until that (construction near the Abercorn Landing water source) popped up.”

Burdetee said that the county has got to get its land-use maps correct and updated. He cited an issue at the Jamestown subdivision where a warehouse butts up against it. He spoke up against it as a constituent as he lives there and recommended placing a 25 foot berm there.

He vowed that he represents integrity and will do everything he can to ensure balance, considering growth and what’s best for the county.