Key members of the local delegation to the Georgia legislature, Sen. Ben Watson (R – Savannah) and Rep. Jesse Petrea (R – Savannah), today released the following statement on proposed legislation that would create the City of Chatham Islands:
“During the last legislative session, we allowed for a thorough vetting of the issue of incorporation by the people of the Chatham Islands of Wilmington, Whitemarsh, Talahi and Oatland," they write.
“We announce today that we will not pass any measure allowing for a vote on incorporation of the Chatham Islands. The citizens of these islands have expressed their objection to incorporation. Indeed, over 50 percent of the citizens of Oatland Island alone have expressed objection," they say.
“The proposed cityhood measure fails to reach unanimous approval from all islands involved. Accordingly, there will be no movement on this bill during the 2020 legislative session.”
Another local islands community, Skidaway Island, held a referendum in March 2019 on a proposal to incorporate into a separate township. It failed by a wide margin.
“During the last legislative session, we allowed for a thorough vetting of the issue of incorporation by the people of the Chatham Islands of Wilmington, Whitemarsh, Talahi and Oatland," they write.
“We announce today that we will not pass any measure allowing for a vote on incorporation of the Chatham Islands. The citizens of these islands have expressed their objection to incorporation. Indeed, over 50 percent of the citizens of Oatland Island alone have expressed objection," they say.
“The proposed cityhood measure fails to reach unanimous approval from all islands involved. Accordingly, there will be no movement on this bill during the 2020 legislative session.”
Another local islands community, Skidaway Island, held a referendum in March 2019 on a proposal to incorporate into a separate township. It failed by a wide margin.
