By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

 

Rincon Councilmember Kevin Exley was seated after winning a special election in September; and now has been joined by re-elected Michelle Taylor and newcomers Brandy Riley and Mona Underwood.

All four of them campaigned that they want to get things done for the City of Rincon.

At the regular City Council meeting on Jan. 8 – the first official meeting for Riley and Underwood -- Exley presented a 20th-century visual aid: his “to-do” list on a whiteboard.

The list included projects and actions the council has discussed and considered during the past few years, but that action has been lagging or not done at all.

The list of 21 tasks Exley wants the city council to complete includes issues and agenda items such as: the new second entrance/exit for the Picket Fences neighborhood, review and hire a new recreation department director; complete a comprehensive plan update, hire a new city attorney, and new appointments to represent Rincon in various boards such as the Industrial Development Authority, Live Oaks Public Library and Effingham Health.

“When we ran for this position, we ran on transparency. We got to mash it down,” Exley began.

Some tasks on the board have updates in red, indicating what actions have been taken to date; and purple, indicating which actions need to be taken. Exley indicated the list on the board will be used to keep the council working through each issue until it's resolved.

“I think it's time for us to start going by this (list) and what I will ask is that (city manager) Mr. (Jonathan) Lynn just update this board at each meeting,” Exley said. “We don't have to have things already completed to be able to update the board.”

Underwood concurred with Exley on the actions that should be taken.

“Please make sure we have a follow-up on these things and we stay on people,” Underwood told Lynn. “I told him, ‘Take your vitamins and get your rest. There's a lot of work to do for the people of Rincon’.”

Underwood added Lynn will be reaching out to Georgia Southern University to possibly adding some intern positions to help with guidelines for the advisory boards and other tasks for the city.

Underwood also underscored the need for public input regarding the city’s master plan and comprehensive plan.

“We will be looking at putting together public forums. We want your opinion,” Underwood continued. “Once we get some feedback from the public, that's the best way to start working on the master plan. We want your input; but you got to come before us and you got to do that.”

In other action, the Rincon City Council:

·       Held a public hearing to consider an amendment to the city ordinances to allow for cottage foods as a home occupation.

·       Authorized the purchase of a dual-purpose K-9 officer at $19,500 to replace K-9 Razor who is “near the end of his work life,” according to Rincon Police Chief Jonathon Murrell. The funds will come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds and is in the city’s 2024 budget. The K-9 will be specifically trained for narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension.

·       Appointed Tim Milner to the Planning and Zoning Board; and

·       Appointed Exley as mayor pro tem.