Glynn County to seek public input on Veterans Park memorial bench fees

Lisa Garganis, Recreation and Parks Director, told the Glynn County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee on March 5 that the county is seeking to establish a Veterans Memorial Bench Program and needs authorization to advertise a public hearing on proposed fees. "The fee would basically be dollar for dollar," Garganis said, explaining the charge would cover the cost of a bench, a plaque and installation rather than ongoing maintenance.

Garganis said the bench program was recommended by the Veterans Memorial Park committee, which the board approved in 2022, and that members want to focus on bench memorials rather than smaller footstone options. She described the program as similar to an existing bench program at Neptune Park: the county would replace an existing bench with a purchased bench and affix a family‑chosen plaque.

The director told the committee the county would budget the program to break even and only expend funds when someone purchased a bench. If the committee proceeds with advertising and the board later sets fees, Garganis said the county would hold a public hearing in April and aim for a July rollout.

The Finance Committee approved a motion to authorize advertising the public hearing; the motion passed by a show of hands. The vote was a hand/voice vote and no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The next formal step is a public hearing to set the fee schedule, at which the board will decide whether to adopt specific prices and any program details.