A bill to allow some use of medical marijuana is likely to pass in Georgia next year, according to State Rep. Bill Hitchens.
Hitchens made his remarks at the annual two day Effingham Community Retreat held at the King and Prince on St. Simons.
“The more I learn the more I think we should do it,” Hitchens said. “I have every reason to believe it will pass.”
Transportation issues were also on the agenda in the first day of the retreat, with State Rep. Jon Burns, State Sen. Jack Hill and Brad Saxon with GDOT on hand.
All three state legislators said funding transportation projects is a continuing concern.
“We can’t count on Washington,” Burns said.
The legislators said there is a $70 billion shortfall for needed projects.
With the exception of the Jimmy Deloach project, current funded projects are all in north Georgia, Hill said.
Hill said he didn’t see much changing with the population grown in north Georgia giving the area more political clout.
The failure of the TSPLOST has left our area short on funds.
Hill told the group of just over 60 people he’d like to find another option that gives local control over funding.
“I don't want the state to direct all (funding) to Atlanta,” Hill said.
Burns said he and State Sen. Hill are serving on a state-wide transportation task force that will look at how every dollar is being spent.
Saxon, who serves as the GDOT assistant program delivery engineer for Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5, shared some facts about the agency along with local projects.
“We are way below what other states pay for transportation,” Saxon said.
Georgia is almost dead last, at 49th in the country in transportation spending.
“We spend $159 per person,” Saxon said.
Some traffic help is coming to drivers with a Port Wentworth diverging diamond interchange project.
The project is at Ga. 21, exit 109 on Interstate 95.
The project will widen Ga. 21 to four lanes and the northbound I-95 exit ramp onto Ga. 21 will be widened to include three left-turn lanes and a single right-turn lane.
The interchange, which is estimated to cost more than $6.5 million, has been fast-tracked due to the congestion, DOT spokeswoman Jill Nagel has previously said. Bidding is expected to start next spring while construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2015.
The state’s first diverging diamond interchange was constructed in DeKalb County in July 2012. It was followed a year later by one in Gwinnett County.
Tourism, the economy, along with updates from the hospital, library, cities and the county were also on the agenda.
Effingham County can expect employment and population growth this year, according to Michael Toma, with Armstrong State University.
“Things are improving in the Metro area and in Effingham,” Toma said
Employment growth for 2014 is projected at 2 to 2.5 percent, with an unemployment rate in the mid 6 percent range and population growth of 1.2 percent, Toma said.
“Labor is slowly improving,” Toma said.
Interin County Administrator Toss Allen also gave the group an update on the Effingahm Parkway/Portway project.
Allen said plans now call for a two-lane road that will cost $38 million instead of the original cost of $120 million.
Plans are to let the project in 2017.
Norman Jean Morgan, CEO of Effingham Health System, in her remarks said the hospital has a clear goal.
“We want to be the best health care provider in Georgia for our size facility,” Morgan said.
Morgan said the hospital is growing in the right ways with a 22 percent increase in all services in the last two years.
The hospital, now celebrating its 45th anniversary, has 123 physicians that come to the hospital and 22 admitting physicians.
Morgan said others, including hospitals, are coming to their door to see how the Effingham critical care hospital works.
“It’s because we are successful,” Morgan said.
Cheryl Hargrove, tourism project manager for the coast with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, had some tips on tourism specific to Effingham County.
Hargrove said tourism has an impact on everyone.
Without tourism dollars Effingham County property owners would pay an additional $98.44 a year, Hargrove said.
Hargrove presented part of a study done on Effingham County.
Some suggestions for Effingham included creating a B&B, restoring a theater (now complete), to turn a church into a cultural arts center and restoring a cemetery.
“The Mars Theatre is a tremendous asset for you,” Hargrove said.
Many travelers are now seeking a “participatory” experience and want things they can’t find at home.
Hargrove said it was also important to provide access for visitors and to identify ways they can spend money.
To see the slideshow on tourism for Effingham County, go to effinghamnow.com
Marcus E. Howard contributed to this story.