The Bryan County Development Authority reduced the list of executive director candidates to three Tuesday in a called meeting at the Station 7 firehouse on Hwy. 204.
After a nearly three-hour executive session, where members met with four of the final candidates, Personnel Committee Chair Ted Akins recommended F.J. "Josh" Fenn, Jeremy Merklinger, and John Powers as the three finalists.
The three Georgia residents were selected out of approximately 92 applications received from all over the country, according to Akins.
Fenn, President and CEO of Eastman-Dodge County Area Chamber of Commerce and EDC Development Authority, brings 10 plus years of experience in Georgia economic development to the table, Akins said.
He said Merklinger and Powers also offer significant experience in Georgia economic development, and both are from the Savannah area.
Merklinger, currently Regional Manager for commercial developer DP Partners, was on the Savannah Economic Development Authority a number of years, while Powers owns his own marketing company, Bottom Line Marketing Partners. Powers also worked several years with the Georgia Ports Authority and was executive director of the Bulloch County Development Authority about three years, Akins said."We received a lot of well-qualified applications. It allowed us to narrow it down to those with significant experience in Georgia economic development, which is what we needed and wanted," Akins said.
Chairman Sean Register said he was happy with those selected
"All three (of the finalists) are very qualified and come with a lot of experience," he said. "We’re excited about this. We’re going to do good things."
He said they expect the long process to be complete soon and hope to make the decision at the next development authority monthly meeting on Feb. 26.
The new director will replace Jean Bacon, who held the executive director position for approximately seven years before the board decided in November not to renew her contract. It expired Dec. 31.
Commissioners apply for permit
The Bryan County Board of Commissioners' have applied for renewal of the discharge permit at the wastewater treatment plant in Black Creek's Interstate Centre.
The treatment plant and discharge plan have been in place since the plant opened some years back, according to County Engineer Dale Dudley. Unlike the controversial Liberty County plant, where the proposal is to release fresh water into a salt-water estuary, Dudley said treated wastewater from the Interstate Centre is not released into the nearby Ogeechee River.
"With this land application system, the water is treated for contaminants then released over the land (at the back of the park)." Dudley said.
The notice invites those with comments about the proposed permit to send them in writing to the EPD at 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Ga 30354.
Those interested can see a copy of the permit at the Board of Commissioners Office in Pembroke.