Glynn County commissioners voted to authorize a purchase order for engineering services to advance design and permitting for repairs to tidal pools and potential sand placement along East Beach on St. Simons Island.

County capital development staff said the work is the next step in a multi-stage study. Rosen Tabard, director of capital development, told commissioners the current phase will finalize construction documents, evaluate how much beach can be restored by scraping existing material and whether sand must be imported, and carry the project through permitting with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Tabard said those agencies have already been contacted to identify requirements; he said the Army Corps will require a cultural-resources study as part of its review.

The project was discussed after Commissioner Clark referenced constituent calls and a roughly $140,000 figure that has been mentioned publicly; Tabard described the $140,000 material as part of earlier outreach and said the current work will define final quantities and costs. Commissioners also noted a separate port dredging and expansion effort that may produce material in the area; staff said reuse opportunities are being examined but final design will determine what is feasible.

A speaker on the record said state lawmakers—Representative Townsend and Senator Hodges—have expressed support for the project at the state level and the county hopes for state contributions. The board approved the purchase order for engineering services to Moffatt & Nichol (listed in the county packet as the consultant) to complete design and permitting steps and to prepare construction documents.

The vote was taken by voice; the meeting record shows the motion was moved and seconded and the chair called for the ayes, after which the motion was approved.

The county described the immediate next steps as: completing construction documents that will quantify scraping versus imported sand needs, performing required cultural-resource and other permit studies, and submitting permit applications to DNR and the Corps. No construction schedule or final cost estimate was given at the meeting.

Commissioners framed the work as addressing an ongoing safety issue for beach users and as protecting a local and state economic asset tied to East Beach visitation.

The board did not identify a final funding source at the meeting beyond the potential for state assistance; staff said permitting and design will provide the numbers needed for project budgeting and any future appropriation.

The project will proceed to permit review and then return to the county for construction authorization once final designs and funding are in place.