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SAVANNAH, Ga. — On Thursday, several members of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, alongside Senator Derek Mallow, held a press conference to address key issues impacting their collaboration with Chatham Area Transit (CAT).
This meeting was prompted by Chatham County’s recent warning that it might terminate its partnership with CAT.
“Senator Mallow is engaging our delegation and collaborating with the county to reach a consensus,” stated Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis. “In simpler terms, it’s about finding common ground and getting along.”
Chatham Area Transit had previously responded to Ellis’s remarks on Wednesday. The subsequent day, Ellis and Mallow convened a conference to propose strategies for maintaining their partnership with CAT.
Senator Mallow drafted a letter proposing a path forward. In his communication, he outlined several requests, including:
- Increasing the County’s representation on the CAT Board
- Adding an addition Seat for the City of Savannah
- Establishing a deadline for completion of the CAT Audit
- Create a framework for earlier CAT Millage Hearings
Ellis had made previous statements that claim millions of tax dollars are not allocated for by CAT. The CAT Board responded that the $7 million dollars were split between two different documents.
CAT claimed the county didn’t look at the second document. Ellis responded to CAT response during Thursday’s conference.
“I never said anybody stolen or anybody took money, but there were gaps in what was given to me from my managers and financing, and we needed for those gaps to be filled,” Ellis said.
Not all of the commissioners were present during the conference but were said to have received a copy of the proposal.
Mallow said if the changes and items are agreed upon, the new bill can be in front of the state legislature as early as January.
“We are all coming together and by moving this thing forward, all those other losses, everything else in my opinion, becomes a moot point because there will be a new governing law,” Mallow said. “We all agree that that is going to be the best pathway forward.”
Mallow is slated to share his proposal with his delegation on Friday.
