09/07 - Senator rakes Jekyll panel. He wants better answers from the island authority.

The Florida Times-Union
September 7, 2007
By CAROLE HAWKINS,
Times-Union correspondent

State Sen. Jeff Chapman is asking the Jekyll Island Authority Oversight Committee to get better answers on how the island's aging hotels and amenities will be upgraded.

In a memorandum sent to the six-member legislative committee Wednesday, Chapman criticized Jekyll Island Authority members for their "lack of transparency and accountability" in addressing public concerns about island redevelopment.

Chapman, R-Brunswick, has previously asked the authority members why they awarded a $10 million rent abatement to developer Trammell Crow, how they plan to honor a mandate to keep Jekyll Island affordable to average Georgians and how they plan to keep details of their work in clear view of the public.

The authority responded to those concerns in an Aug. 20 letter to Chapman and during a meeting with the Oversight Committee on Aug. 30.

Oversight Committee member Rep. Terry Barnard, R-Glennville, said he has not received Chapman's letter, but he is satisfied the authority is doing its job.

"I felt the board thoroughly answered our questions [at last week's meeting]," Barnard said. "Unless there's something I'm missing."

Chapman believes, however, there is quite a bit missing from the authority's responses, which he called "disappointing" in his letter to the Oversight Committee.

Chapman continued his criticism of the authority's awarding of a $10 million rent abatement to redevelop the old Buccaneer Hotel. Authority Chairman Ben Porter had explained the decision by comparing Trammell Crow's rent abatement to a similar deal given to developers of the Jekyll Island Club hotel years ago. But, Chapman says, such a comparison is apples and oranges.

"The Jekyll Island Club building, a historic property of the state of Georgia, required renovation to historic standards, at costs significantly higher than those associated with new construction," Chapman said in his letter. "No such showing of need has been presented in the case of the Trammell Crow project."

Authority member Ed Boshears supported Chapman's argument, and said a contract made just a year ago to redevelop the old Holiday Inn did not include such large incentives. In that case the developer would make a 2 percent gross receipts rent payment for the first three years instead of the standard 3 percent.

"It's nothing like the deal we gave to Trammell Crow," Boshears said.

Chapman also criticized the authority for not making details of the Trammell Crow contract and rent abatement available until one business day before the panel voted.

Such short notice gave the public too little time to prepare to comment on a $90 million contract that includes such a substantial incentive, Chapman wrote.

"This lack of transparency is inexcusable," he said.

Details of three proposals to build a so-called town square center are also expected to be closed to the public the until the authority's Sept. 24 meeting. In a recent interview Porter would not comment on whether hotel rates in those proposals were affordable.

Chapman continued to criticize the board for a lack of commitment in keeping Jekyll affordable to average Georgians.

In his letter to the committee, Chapman recommended the authority renegotiate the Trammell Crow contract in public view.




This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090707/geo_197608776.shtml.