Bill Text: GA SR431 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails; designate

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2009-05-11 - Veto V16 [SR431 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR431-Enrolled.html

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09 LC 34 2212S(SCS)

Senate Resolution 431

By: Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Pearson of the 51st, Thomas of the 54th, Bulloch of the 11th and Fort of the 39th

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Designating the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia contains countless sites relating to the American Civil War era, including antebellum, military, civilian, African American, women's, Reconstruction, and other significant history; and

WHEREAS, many of these historic sites would be greatly enhanced, both educationally for our children and as tourist attractions, if properly interpreted on site and adequately promoted; and

WHEREAS, by dividing the entire state into six historic regions–the Chickamauga & Atlanta campaigns, the March to the Sea, the pursuit of Jefferson Davis, Wilson's Raid, the Northeast Georgia mountains, and South Georgia's agricultural bounty–a comprehensive history of Georgia's Civil War era can be told through the creation, marketing, and maintenance of six historic driving trails; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 2000, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of dedicated Georgians known as Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails began working on the development of six such historic driving trails; and

WHEREAS, Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails has already raised over $1 million in federal grants, plus hundreds of thousands more in both private and public funds, involving well over 100 Georgia city and county jurisdictions to date, plus thousands of Georgia's citizens, and has begun the installation of approximately 300 historic interpretive markers, over 2,000 roadway directional trailblazer signs, the construction of several roadside parking pull-off areas, and the initial printing of over one million new educational/tourist brochures with an informative website (www.gcwht.org); and

WHEREAS, in order for Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails to continue toward full development and success, it needs the continuing cooperation of the Georgia Department of Transportation, of other state agencies, and of local municipalities across the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia, having joined in financially assisting the efforts of Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails, desires to avoid wasting any taxpayer funds by duplicating Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails in any manner or form and to avoid confusing Georgia's citizens, guests, and tourists by the duplication of names, titles, logos, signage, routes, or any other distinguishing characteristics of a Civil War era historic driving trail.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the six driving trails already in either development or planned by Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails are to be designated as the official state-wide Civil War Era Historic Driving Trails of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails shall have the authority to direct the planning, construction, and maintenance of Civil War era historic driving trails upon any roadway in the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and all other state agencies are authorized and directed to work cooperatively with Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails state-wide in the latter's creation and placement of appropriate historic interpretive markers, roadway directional trailblazer signage, roadside parking pull-offs, and various marketing materials, including specifically along any state and federal designated highways in all six regions state-wide in which Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails conducts its activities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and other state agencies are further authorized and directed to work cooperatively with Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails in any other areas of the state not specifically mentioned in this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Natural Resources.