You could say Screven County commissioners snatched the Go Fish project from the jaws of death.
Commissioners recently appeared poised to let an $82,000 state grant to improve the Burton’s Ferry boat landing go because they didn’t want to match the funds during these hard economic times. 
But they figured out a way to use excess SPLOST funds to pay part of their $82,000 share of the $164,000 project. The improvements will include a floating dock, paving, better lighting and picnic tables. Go Fish Georgia, a state Department of Natural Resources project, is meant to boost economic development and help establish Georgia as a national fishing destination.
Commissioner Stan Sheppard said groups that hold fishing tournaments have said they will come to Screven County if the improvements are made to the boat landing. The project will “pave the way for something bigger in the future,” he said, such as a restaurant, fuel station or marina.
“This is a project that’ll bring money into the county,” Sheppard said. “If done right and promoted properly, it will pay for itself and it will provide service to citizens.”
The grant has been in the works for several years, with the county already spending $11,000 in engineering funds. The county’s contribution to the matching-fund grant will consist of $53,600 in cash and $28,400 in in-kind contributions from county workers. About $42,000 will come from SPLOST funds.
Commissioners didn’t want to take a large chunk of money from the general fund for a non-essential project.
At the last minute, they came up with the idea of using SPLOST money. The money from the Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax will be funneled through the recreation department.
The only commissioner voting against the proposal at Tuesday’s commission meeting was Dennis Lawton, who oversees the recreation department and said he wanted to be assured that the department would not suffer financially because of the decision. Commissioners Sheppard, Roland Stubbs, Will Boyd, Greg Ellison and J.C. Warren voted for using SPLOST funds for the project; Gary Crews was not present at Tuesday’s meeting.
In other action Tuesday, all the commissioners who were present unanimously voted to re-appoint Warren Poythress to the planning and zoning board. By a vote of 4-2, with Sheppard and Stubbs voting against, they appointed Don Glisson to the planning and zoning board, replacing Tommy Pace.
They did not take action on a third seat on the planning and zoning board because Bobby Smith had not yet officially resigned. Smith has said he will resign from planning and zoning because he recently was appointed to the industrial development authority board, where he was elected chairman.
Also Tuesday, commissioners agreed to spend $2,000 to buy nearly an acre of land on Highway 24 for a new fire station in the McBride Circle area. The property is between McBride Circle and Brannen’s Bridge Road, on the north side of the road.
Commissioner J.C. Warren said at least a year will pass before commissioners consider building the new fire station. The last fire station the county built cost about $90,000, he said. The new station will serve 325 families and should cut their insurance rates in half, he said.
In other action Tuesday:
-- County commissioners presented a plaque to the Screven County Junior Boys baseball team, which recently won a state championship. “This is quite an accomplishment,” Sheppard said. “A lot of us get close but not many of us actually win the trophy.”
-- Commissioners agreed to allow families with property zoned R2 to give their children parcels as small as one acre. Previously, two acres was the smallest parcel that could be given. “It helps the citizens out a whole lot,” said Mike Dixon, zoning administrator.
-- Commissioners agreed to spend $500,000 to seal 15 miles of road, including: Millhaven Road, five miles; Stoopto Road, three miles; Country Club Road, 1.2 miles; Hiltonia Creek Road, 1 mile from the city limits to the bridge; Black Creek Road, 1 mile; and Arnett School Road, 1.5 miles.
The work will be done in the next six to eight months, said Travis Forehand, the new county roads superintendent. Vernon Edenfield, who previously headed roads and solid waste for the county, now is over only solid waste.
-- Commissioners agreed to double the hours the waste transfer station is open on Fridays. The new hours will be 8 a.m. to noon. The change will not cost any extra dollars; employees will work split days to cover the extra time. The commissioners who wanted the change said they were trying to improve access to the transfer station.