HINESVILLE — The Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) approved several major initiatives during its June meeting between infrastructure projects and additional testing for potential discharge sites of its proposed water reclamation facility.

Approved motions stemmed from approving a multimillion-dollar road construction contract, expanding environmental testing along the Laurel View and North Newport rivers and a new public education program focused on coastal water systems.

Brynn Grant, the LCDA CEO, gave an update on the proposed water reclamation facility and ongoing efforts to gather additional environmental data before final site decisions are made.

She said the authority is continuing to evaluate both the Laurel View and North Newport River areas as potential discharge locations. Grant said a waste load allocation request has now been submitted for the North Newport River after board members directed staff to explore both options.

Expanded testing efforts are part of the LCDA’s response to public feedback regarding the proposed sewer infrastructure project. On June 9, the LCDA hosted a public information meeting on the water reclamation facility that quickly reached attendance capacity. Grant said the authority is still working to answer submitted questions from the public.

As part of that effort to address public concerns, the board approved moving forward with several initiatives.

First, the authority plans to finalize an agreement with Ogeechee Riverkeeper, an environmental nonprofit organization, to conduct baseline water quality testing in both river systems, where a potential discharge point could be.

Grant said the LCDA is excited about the potential agreement.

"We all trust their work," she said. “They are an environmental nonprofit that is dedicated to protecting the river. We know that all people would likely trust … the results they’d report to us and to the public.”

Grant said the goal would be to start the agreement and testing this summer.

Second, the board approved an agreement with Water Environment Consultants, a firm based in Mount Pleasant, SC, to conduct salinity and mixing-zone studies in both rivers. Stovall said this work will provide data on how freshwater and saltwater interact at potential discharge locations and how long it would take for freshwater to disperse.

The proposed agreement with the Ogeechee Riverkeeper would establish a minimum of one year of monitoring data, with the potential to renew, while Water Environment Consultant’s testing would take about a month to two months.

Grant said testing from both partnerships would support each other.

“The difference is that WEC is a private entity that is giving us a proposal we can approve today and execute immediately,” she said. “Ogeechee Riverkeepers, we’re still in conversation with them. That’s something they have to get their board to approve as well.”

Third, Liberty County residents will also have an opportunity to learn more about local waterways through a partnership with Georgia Southern University Institute for Water and Health in a Water Academy Workshop Series and Water Stewards Certification Program.

The four-week educational program, expected to begin later this year, will provide residents with information about coastal water systems, water quality, environmental stewardship and public health. Participants who complete the course will receive a state-recognized Adopt-A-Stream certification along with a Water Academy completion certificate.

"These initiatives reflect our commitment to transparency, sound science and community involvement," LCDA Board Chairman and State Rep. Al Williams said in the release. "We want to make sure our community has access to credible information, to understand the science behind the decisions we will be making, and to have meaningful opportunities to be part of the process."

Infrastructure and industrial projects move forward

The board voted to award a construction contract for the Tradeport West road project to Sikes Brothers Inc. following a competitive bidding process that drew eight proposals.

The contract with Sikes Brothers Inc. was approved at a cost of about $3.16 million.

Tradeport West is a 1,224-acre industrial site located south of Midway on US-17, bordering the Riceboro Southern Railway. Construction and site preparation have been accelerated by a $2 million OneGeorgia Rural Site Development Initiative grant, which will fund 7,000 feet of new access road, utility extensions and other site preparation. The grant will eventually have to be matched locally.

The site earned Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certification with “select” status, which is a signal to companies and site selectors that a location is ready for investment.

Joey Brown, the Tradeport West road project consultant, said staff are also exploring whether additional project elements such as lighting, irrigation and signage could potentially be included in the grant package for reimbursement.

Development activity also continues to accelerate at the Hinesville Technology Park, a 160-acre industrial and business hub.

LCDA Vice President of Business Development Malissa MacKay reported significant interest in available properties, including a prospect considering a building at 103 Technology Drive.

MacKay said the LCDA hosted a delegation from Europe, touring Liberty County and the Technology Park facility to learn more about the community.

"They were very pleased with what they learned about not only the facility but the assets here in the county,” she said. “We are one of the final locations for a high-quality prospect.”

She said the visitors were particularly attracted to the county's transportation advantages, including access to major thoroughfares like I-95. The delegation also toured a site in Tradeport East.

"The kind of interest we're seeing really underscores how competitive we think the site is," MacKay said.

The board also received a construction update on Atlantic Building Components' new facility, located in the Hinesville Technology Park.

Thomas & Hutton engineer Chris Stovall reported significant site work that has been completed.

He said while the original schedule anticipated vertical construction beginning later in the year, project progress may allow building work to start earlier than planned.

“It was on their schedule that they wouldn't actually start that building until November, and I think the way they're going … as soon as they can get the rebar, the concrete … they'll probably start the building earlier, but the plan is that by the end of the year having it complete,” he said.