$5 Million Financial and Tourism

Climb to the top of the lighthouse on 112 steps leading to the top or (possibly) take the elevator for handicapped individuals, and enjoy the magnificent view, while you learn about the history of famous Darien and McIntosh County! Stroll through the quaint little gift shop to purchase souvenirs at the top of the light house (also possibly). Picture the endless possibilities of our almost limitless historical heritage. Think of the attraction of stories with pictures while educating people on all of Darien’s unique history: Native American, Scottish heritage, Geechee Gullah/ African-American heritage and others. While visitors stop and take in the timeless attraction of the unique history of our multiple cultures of the many different families in Darien and McIntosh county Georgia, they can enjoy a clear view of our city, our beautiful Altamaha River and lavish marsh grass. This is sure to make Darien the most talked about and beloved small city in the state of Georgia.

Museum and Convention Center will be contained at one site in beautiful Darien, GA. The best and fastest way to revitalize Darien GA. would be a project like this which will generate over $1 million tourism dollars to Darien and McIntosh county economy each year. Tourists will shop at local stores, eat at our local restaurants sleep at our local Bed and Breakfast/Hotels/Motel and perhaps purchase permanent homes or vacation residences. While they shop and enjoy local cuisine during their vacation for the summer or winter, they will add another $2 million to our local economy. ("When we find alternative means of funding, we no longer need to do things the old way. By generating residual city income, we have a potential or possibility to lower our property taxes or water bills,”)

The Darien and McIntosh County Lighthouse, Museum and Convention Center will be a one stop center. Consider it the main connection place for tourism, community events, and government, nonprofit and for profit, creating new jobs and economical growth for the local citizens of our city and county. It is our goal to have all of the major governmental entities to use the facility for their executive meetings, agencies such as: official city government meetings, official county government meetings and industrial authority/chamber of commerce and our educational system meetings.

Also this can be the gathering place for nonprofit organizations. Some of our successful nonprofits could be meeting and working at this location. Nonprofits such as Darien and McIntosh County Family Connection, McIntosh Seed, Altamaha River Keepers, Downtown Development Authority/Darien Economic Development, as well as other worthy organizations will meet here. The Non-Profits can have a main office or satellite office within the Convention Center.

At this time most of our Government meetings are overcrowded. Here they will have adequate space and wholesome clean environment, in a friendly, beautiful location that could be the headquarters or satellite office for all of these and more organizations. This we can call: “The One Darien Model” where all of the major players or decision makers are at one location and under one roof. This will give us an opportunity to work together for the continuous smart growth of McIntosh County and Darien Georgia.

Under Lotson as Mayor, the City of Darien’s Administration will set up new city committees. Times have changed. And it is time for us to move into the 21st century. Now is the time to establish for the first time in Darien history:

· An Environmental Protection Committee.

· A Housing Authority/Community Development Committee.

This will allow us to move forward as a city. It is absolutely imperative that these two committees become effective within my first year in office as Mayor. These committees will be equally comprised of environmentally conscious individuals as well as housing, community and economic development concerned individuals. New board and committee members will be a balanced mix of all races. (i.e. adequate number of whites as well as blacks and other ethnic groups from the city and county will be represented.)

This will make Darien and McIntosh County an excellent example for the rest of our Georgia cities and counties. That may want to duplicate and follow our 21^st century smart growth model for improvement. With this plan we will maintain our rich heritage and embrace our natural beauty that we are so proud of.

Now how will we pay for this?

Our city and county at this time are unusually divided; this need not be. Under the Lotson’s administration, as Mayor, this will be changed. The Mayor, City Council and City Manager will work in harmony with the County Government to demonstrate how local government can grow and prosper.

Some of the possibilities for financing this most needed project: 1. Corporate sponsorship such as the Darien Telephone Company, Georgia Power and others can pay for this lighthouse project in part or in full; 2. SPLOST funds; 3. Housing and Community Development Contractors; 4. Grants from Federal and State agencies; 5. Nonprofit organization sponsorship through an individual donor (endowment) or (historical educational landmark endowment).

Griffin Lotson, mayoral candidate, conducted extensive research on McIntosh county educational system. And he found out that approximately 60% of teachers and other school system employees reside outside of the city and county. An average salary of $40,000.00 time 91 employees amounts to over $3.5 million that could be in Darien and McIntosh County instead of elsewhere. This $3.5 million amounts is more then the entire city budget.

Lotson proposes to develop a very aggressive housing and community package exclusively for teachers. This package will help teachers to purchase their own homes and reside within the city of Darien. This will give our school system employees the opportunity to live in Darien, shop in Darien, and be a part of our various community programs, such as church services, recreational programs, community programs and many others….. And another financially significant point would be that, teachers will be able to bank at local banks in our community and this would also give finances back to the community. At this time we are paying out over $3 million in salaries. And under the present structure most of this $3 million is leaving our city and county and going to other cities and counties.

Under Griffin Lotson’s proposal most of this $3 million will remain in our city of Darien and in our county of McIntosh. If we want teachers to live in our community, we must provide

incentives and adequate affordable housing for them. At this time, we offer no incentive and very little opportunity for affordable housing for teachers.

Lotson also propose that 10% of all new housing construction and housing development property taxes, will be set aside exclusively for community development, such as ; boys and girls club, recreational community programs, library educational programs, senior citizen center and marketing funding for Darien tourism. This will be placed in a special account. The other 90% of property taxes will go to the city general funding account.

With Lotson as Mayor, we as a community will have, for the first time, a Government and Community Summit, bringing the City Council, County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Educational System and other for profit and nonprofit organizations together to form its first combined executive conference. We will be working together to solve economic problems that plague and is dividing our community as it exists now. We will come together as one. Yes, this will take time and a lot of planning. As a community, working together, we can accomplish this goal.

Lotson within his first six months in office will attend at least one or two meetings of each major branch of government

within McIntosh county: McIntosh County Commissioners meetings, School Board meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings. At this time the City is not working with the County. And the County is not working with the City. United we will stand. Divided we are falling apart and failing our communities. And this must stop!

One other main project that Darien needs now (ASAP) is *A NEW POST OFFICE*. Our current location is an accident waiting to happen. It is in a terrible place for parking, on a major highway (U.S. 17); the current post office is an eyesore. Post Office boxes are crammed wall to wall, with very little working space for the postal workers. The state postal location contract will end in less than 20 months and will not be renewed. With Lotson’s proposal we have three possible new locations for a post office in Darien Georgia: the old Ford Car Dealership on Highway 17, the former Archie’s Restaurant and, perhaps, a new location at Bluestein’s Shopping Complex.

Under the Lotson’s administration the Mayor will be working with the City Council and City Manager. And we will partner with the county government and work together with the U.S. Postal Service to fix the problem that we have now with our post office location in Darien, Georgia. Lotson has been in constant communication with the postal service to bring into reality the plans for a new post office. This proposal for a new post office was on the front burner of the city government two years ago and, somehow, it has died, mostly because of very little time being spent on this project. Not only do we need to work on the new post office, we must work on a host of other common contracts that will be eliminated and will not be renewed in approximately eighteen to 20 months.