Criminal Defense Attorney in Garden City, GA.

Garden City is expanding public transit in the westside municipality, adding six new bus stops along Georgia 21, the main commercial corridor.

Garden City council unanimously approved a contract to expand Chatham Area Transit (CAT) services during Monday's council meeting. The expansion will be funded entirely by the city, making it the first municipality in Chatham County to enter into a direct contract with CAT.

“This is a pinnacle moment for our city in several respects and a culmination of six years of work,” said City Manager Scott Robider. “With the new K-12 and the growth of the ports and warehouse community, this was a necessary action to help our community capitalize on those opportunities.”

The deal calls for $18,000 annually (from the city’s general fund) for the next five years. Robider said American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will offset some of the costs. The city received about $3.25 million from the ARPA.

More:Chatham County cities using American Rescue Plan funds for water and sewer infrastructure

Once CAT obtains right-of-way permits, construction of the six stops will begin, likely early next year, said CAT CEO Faye Q. DiMassimo. The city will pay an additional $120,000 for the “deluxe bus stops” which will feature solar-powered light panels, covered seating, ADA compliant access and trash cans.

New CAT bus route 'tremendous' help

Council members praised the deal during Monday night’s council meeting. District 3 Representative Natalyn Bates Morris said the expansion will help her constituents “tremendously” as two of the stops will be situated in her district on Priscilla D. Thomas Way and Big Hill Road.

“This is going to be a great help to the residents because the closest stop right now is on the corner, right in front of Chatham City apartments. So those residents that live back in my district have to walk maybe a mile and a half. It’s a good haul,” said Morris.

Garden City is the only municipality in Chatham County besides Savannah that currently utilizes CAT’s public transportation services. CAT also runs in the unincorporated area.

The fixed bus routes, known as Route 3B and Route 3, stop along GA-21 at Minus Avenue, 3rd Street, Brampton Road, Prince Preston Way (Chatham City) and across from the Carey Hilliards restaurant, requiring customers to walk a “great distance between stops” according to Robider.

The GA-21 corridor is known for poor walkability and a project is currently underway to improve conditions along the road for pedestrians and businesses.

More:Study: Improving SR21 in Garden City would reduce crashes, traffic and improve walkability

The existing fixed bus route was approved by Garden City voters in the 90s. Those residents who live on Georgia 21 and are within walking distance of the stops pay the extra 1.15 mills on their property taxes to fund the service. CAT also receives federal funds to run the route.

Improving residents' quality of life

However, the contract means the expanded portion of the route will be bankrolled entirely by the city’s general funds. Had it been a referendum on the November ballot, a citywide majority would’ve needed to approve a citywide expansion of the service. The stops wouldn’t be exclusive to only that corridor and, according to Robider, there is no general support for a citywide expansion.

“We’re taking it one case at a time,” he said, “It was never a thought of doing a run around the voters. This is the only way to get this done in a timely manner to meet the need.”

More:Pooler residents reject funding public transit with taxpayer dollars, but 'the need is still there'

More:Chatham Area Transit names new CEO with Nashville background

During May’s primary elections, Pooler residents voted down a ballot referendum asking if residents would support a millage increase of 1.15 mills to bring CAT’s public transit services to the city.

“We are not waiting for the red tape to be removed; we are treating it like a business transaction for the benefit of the community,” said Robider.

Before:Leadership turnover, operational challenges mark the last 15 years of Chatham Area Transit

The city manager, as well as CAT CEO DiMassimo acknowledged that since personnel issues and organizational changes within CAT have quelled, the deal was able to come together relatively quickly.

Garden City is home to a large number of port-related industry and warehouses as the municipality borders the Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal. However, the city is trying to curb industrial encroachment and serve the needs of its residents. Expanding public transport is part of the effort to improve the quality of life in the industry-heavy area.

The city does anticipate expanding services beyond the Georgia 21 corridor to Dean Forest Road in the next phase, said Robider. A referendum is likely, as Dean Forest is an industry-heavy road and the largely ports-related businesses would have to pay for the millage increase.

"The goal is to shift the burden onto industrial rather than the city’s residents," said Robider. “But that will benefit them too because the workers at the warehouses can use the service."

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

GARDEN CITY, Ga. (WSAV) – Tens of millions of Christians from multiple denominations across the globe began observing Lent with the start of Ash Wednesday today.

Each year, Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) associated with repentance, fasting, reflection and ultimately celebration.

However, a local Garden City church is adding something new this year in observance.

“We wanted to open up Ash Wednesday to the neighborhood and to the community,” said Matt Stout, pastor of Garden City United Methodist Church. “We just finished a sermon series called ‘Let’s Pray’ and we talked about prayer.”

Stout said the series inspired a request for a prayer walk.

“So we have these signs printed out, we put them around the neighborhood just around the block around our church and so we’re encouraging people to walk the neighborhood and to pray,” Stout said.

One of the stops on the prayer walk offered ashes.

“There’s a cross, we say, ‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From ash you came, to ash you will return,'” Stout explained, “and so it means that we all have a limited amount of time here on Earth and we need to make the best of those days.”

There are several signs around the block, including a confession of sins and a prayer for community leaders.

“This community has meant a lot to me. It has been a very warm and inviting place for me,” Stout said. “I love Garden City and I think one of the things that God wants us to do is to pray for the prosperity of our city.”

He continued, “Some of the challenges that all churches have is that a lot of the folks in our church have been here for a long time and the neighborhood has just changed so much around us. So, we want to change with the neighborhoods, to and reach out to the folks who are here, not just the folks that have always been here.”

Those interested in participating in the prayer walk can go to Garden City United Methodist Church located at 62 Varnedoe Ave. until 7 p.m. tonight and receive the sign of the ashes. The signs will be out for the next three days.

The Garden City United Methodist Church has done other community activities such as food drives, back to school drives and has partnered with other churches to do community work.

GARDEN CITY, Ga. (WTOC) - The largest project in the Savannah-Chatham County School System history is almost finished.

The new K-12 multi-school project in Garden City will be more than 400,000 square feet and will be the new home for about 2,400 students.

Construction work will wrap up in June and students will be inside for the school year in August and be home to Groves High, Mercer Middle and Gould Elementary students.

Construction started on this project in January of 2021. The project manager says it was not always easy getting supplies in the middle of the pandemic but despite challenges, they are still on time.

Right now, they are just putting on the finishing touches with paving, electrical and cabinetry inside and the project manager says he is proud of the team for tackling this massive project.

“I’ve been in the school business for 35 or so years and this is the largest project I’ve ever worked on, the team has lived this thing for 26 months before that in the planning and design and then even master planning before that so it has been a long initiative for the district,” said Project Executive Dr. Slade Helmly.

The total price tag for the project is just over $135 million fully paid for by ESPLOST funds. It stretches out over 42 acres in the area.

The actual building is just phase one. Phase two to build the stadium and fieldhouse will begin sometime this fall. The good news for drivers in this area is that Priscilla Thomas Way will be back open on April 1.

Not only is this the district’s largest project, it will be the district’s first school where students from kindergarten through 12th grade are all learning in the same building.

“We think big, we think logically for our education to be able to have all of the educators under one roof from K-12 think about how you are transferring that knowledge, you are looking at the end when you come in at the beginning,” said SCCPSS Deputy Superintendent Vanessa Kiagler.

The deputy superintendent says right now they are working internally on a timeline for parents, students and staff and will begin to release those plans for the transition sometime next month.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

GARDEN CITY, Ga. (WTOC) - Land that a family has passed down for half a century is at the center of controversy.

It’s already zoned industrial and developers want to build a warehouse, but residents in the Rossignol Hill neighborhood packed a town hall meeting to say they’ve had enough.

It was standing room only in the Cooper Center Thursday night while CenterPoint developers tried telling residents in Garden City their plans.

But they didn’t get to say much.

“I don’t want to keep y’all from talking, but I do want to be able to show for whoever would like to see the exhibits. I’m happy to do that,” said a representative with CenterPoint.

“We don’t want to see that,” said a resident.

Rossignol Hill residents in Garden City showed up some with signs saying “Profit or People.”

“Everybody who comes to Garden City all they wanna do is make money. Nobody wanna say we wanna help y’all,” said a resident.

“Father didn’t take no stuff, momma don’t take no stuff, and I guess I’m not taking any either,” said another resident.

And another said, “you can build as high as you want...the noise still gonna be there. The backup noise I can still hear it in my sleep....beep beep.”

They even tried to get answers from city leaders like the mayor.

“Are we going to hear from our elected officials?”

The mayor shook his head.

And the city manager did attempt to address the crowd, but some people who were ignored got angry.

“Mr. city manager....mr. city manager...mr. city manager.”

A couple of city leaders did voice where they stand.

“Whatever my community says...because I live here I grew up here is what the hell I’m gonna do,” said District Four Councilmember Richard Lassiter.

“I am accountable to the citizens of Garden City. I am accountable to the city of Garden City, the developer and most of all myself,” said At-Large Councilmember Gwyn Hall.

Developers wanted a chance for residents to hear them out saying they have listened, increased the buffer and added screened fencing around the warehouse and container yard.

“How would you feel if this were your property? If you owned this property and it’s been in your family for 51 years?” said a CenterPoint Developer.

Developers and the mayor said the plan still needs to go through the planning commission again. It’s unclear whether or not council will discuss it at their next meeting on Monday.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The 2023 Garden City Festival returns to downtown Augusta and will encompass two full days of excitement next weekend.

The festival at Sacred Heart Cuiltutal Center, 301 Greene St., will feature two celebrated soirees, garden and floral exhibits, engaging speakers, a vendor market, new pop-up workshops, family-fun Seedling Saturday, and private garden tours.

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The festival has recently been noted as one of the top 20 festivals in Georgia.

All festival proceeds benefit the programs and ongoing preservation of Sacred Heart Cultural Center.

April 20 - from 6 to 9 p.m.

The evening premiere of the festival will feature delectable cuisine, musical and artistic entertainment, and the first glimpse of extraordinary gardens and floral exhibits, unique plants and garden accessories in the Garden Market, and a silent auction of locally sourced items.

April 21, 22 - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

$25 Festival and Garden Tour (After April 20, tickets are available for $30 at the gate)

$10 Festival-only – (Does NOT include Garden Tour. After April 20, tickets available for $15 at the gate)

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April 21, 22 - from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This program offers tour participants the opportunity to visit exceptional and inspiring private gardens, not generally open to the public. Tours are throughout Augusta including historic Summerville.

April 21 - from 5 to 9 p.m.

Great toe-tapping music by local band, The Mason Jars, and a catered Pot Smoker BBQ dinner welcome guests to enjoy a casual party in the vibrant Sacred Heart courtyard garden. Before dinner, visit the exhibits and shop our unique Festival vendors. A separate ticket is required.

April 21 - at 9:30 and 11 a.m.

April 22 - at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m.

Hear experts during this series including Allen Armitage, Judy Kirkland, Jennifer Millwood, Elliot Price, and Ransom Schwerzler.

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April 22 - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Families can experience and learn about gardening and pollinators with hands-on activities and crafts. Youths 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

April 21, 22 - scheduled throughout both days

Enjoy a selection of mini-workshops led by vendors and local guests featuring unique garden, home, and lifestyle themes.

Friday and Saturday, vote for and bid on your favorite birdhouse-themed floral design. Selections will be located throughout the Sacred Heart Festival area. Take home a taste of springtime to delight you and your neighborhood birds.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.