Pooler City Council
• Keep taxes as low as possible
Even in this economy, Pooler's tax digest and revenue streams continue to grow with every house sold and every business opened in our fair city. Pooler continues to be not only financially sound with a balanced budget but has also operated with a multi million dollar surplus over the years. A "rainy day" fund is obviously a prudent and appropriate account for the city to maintain, but at some point that excess revenue should be returned to the tax payers to spend as they see fit.
• Infrastructure that keeps up with growth
Our government should be proactive, not reactive. We know where the houses are being built and where the businesses are being opened. Traffic patterns should be anticipated and addressed with new median cuts and traffic lights before cars stack up and accidents occur. It might also be wise to look at creating bikeways as PUD's are developed to foster mixed use neighborhoods.
• Long term planning for the city
Pooler's population has already doubled since the last census, and in 2007 the mayor told the "Savannah Business Report" that "at that rate, we could grow to be a city of 30000-plus people." The pace has obviously slowed somewhat recently, but it is still very impressive. As a member of the PUD review board, I was involved in the creation of the city's cell tower ordinance, but it did not come soon enough to prevent locating a tower on Pine Barren looming over the elementary school. Pooler has to stay ahead of the curve to continue to prosper. I would love to see the city's website be transformed into a virtual city hall where bills can be paid, permits obtained and officials addressed without the need to physically drive to the actual building, especially as the population grows.
• Be a voice for all of Pooler’s citizens
I am uniquely qualified to address the needs of the city as a person who both grew up in west Chatham, graduating from Groves High School, and moved to the Godley Station area being drawn back to Pooler when I came home to raise a family and start my career. I am blessed to have many friends and neighbors that I grew up with still living here as well as many who may not have heard of our wonderful city before moving here and making it home. I can be a bridge between Pooler's past and Pooler's future because I am Pooler's past and Pooler's future.
• Maintain Pooler’s small town charm as it becomes the focus of West Chatham County
Protecting the integrity of existing neighborhoods is an important component of building new ones. Appropriate buffers between various developments allow each to foster and maintain its individual character. The biggest disappointment I have had with the current council was the rezoning from residential to industrial of a tract that abutted an already existing subdivision. Creating an Historic district on the Hwy. 80 corridor might also be a useful way to keep our "Main Street" a true slice of Americana.
