Jim Langford is the Project Executive for Linger Longer, selected as the Revitalization Partner by the Jekyll Island Authority with regard to a proposed 45-acre development. Here is an aerial photograph of the Jekyll Island Site Development Plan.

Jim joined Linger Longer about 6 months ago. Surprisingly, he told me came from a long line of yellow-dog Democrats and even served on the DNR Board with two of my yellow-dog Democrat friends, Reese Thompson from Vidalia, and Jim Butler, from Columbus. Jim’s father served as a Democrat in the Georgia House and Senate. I mention this because Mercer Reynolds, the Reynold’s Plantation Reynolds and owner of Linger Longer, is a heavy Republican contributor.

Jim’s background is in environmental work, historical site restoration and archeological site preservation. He has previously been the State Director of the Trust for Public Land.

It was on the DNR Board that he met Jamie Reynolds, a cousin of Mercer Reynolds, who owns all or most of the Linger Longer company. According to Jim, Jamie’s grandfather had a cabin on the Oconee River in the early 1900’s which he called Linger Longer. The grandfather’s will provided that the property could not be sold or divided unless a dam was built on the river. And what do you know, in the 1970’s they built a dam, created Lake Oconee and the Reynold’s fortune was made, or at least a good portion of it.

The controversy surrounding the award of the development project to Linger Longer focuses on the request for proposal, RFP#244. There were 4 companies that submitted proposals. Three of them submitted proposals based on the proposed 45-acre development specified in the RFP. However, Linger Longer submitted a proposal to develope 63 acres. Linger Longer got the award. One of the companies that did not get the award, Jekyll Island Company, filed suit November 15th in Fulton Superior Court to set aside the award to Linger Longer because its proposal did not comply with the requirements of the RFP.

The question that I wanted to ask Jim and Linger Longer was why did they submit a proposal that covered more acres than the 45 specified? It seems to me that a company submitting a proposal on a project potentially worth millions of dollars certainly would not want to screw it up by failing to comply with the bid requirements.

This is what Jim told me. The RFP was put out in June 2007. A mandatory meeting was scheduled for June 25th. There is a note on the JIA webpage about this mandatory meeting on June 25, 2007. There is also a list of attendees and among them is Wade Sheally of the Jekyll Island Company.

According to Jim, during the June 25th meeting someone, not Linger Longer, asked a “key” question. The questions asked at the meeting are posted on the JIA website. The question to which Jim refers is as follows:

6. WILL PROPOSALS BE RESTRICTED TO THE TOWN CENTER SITE?
A. No, the RFP primarily addresses the Town Center Site because the JIA wanted to receive readily quantifiable and comparable offers for a specific property and project. The RFP also discusses the JIA’s desire to enter into a long-term partnership with the selected developer based on the results of this first project. Proposers are encouraged to discuss your interest in becoming the Authority’s long term development partner and how you would propose structuring the partnership in terms of future development opportunities on Jekyll Island. It could include a discussion of future development options, management of the Authority’s existing amenities and proposed financial structure for the partnership.

Jim and Linger Longer interpret this question and answer as somehow modifying the specifications contained in the RFP. Frankly, Jim, I don’t see it. It seems to me that the answer reaffirms that the JIA is seeking a partner for a particular project, the 45 acre project. Jim and Linger Longer will have to consult with their lawyers but I wouldn’t spend a lot of money until the Superior Court or even the Supreme Court rules. After the interview Jim advised that a hearing has been scheduled in Fulton Superior Court sometime in January on the issue of whether or not the Court will restrain the State and the JIA from proceeding with development of the Linger Longer proposal.

I should also mention that Senator Jeff Chapman had written to the oversight committee in the legislature, indicating his concern over the Linger Longer proposal. According to Jim, Sen. Chapman’s letter was written before the details of the Linger Longer proposal were known and he hopes the Senator’s concerns are being dealt with.

One of those concerns was the cost of accommodations on Jekyll as a result of the development. Jim told me that there are 4 hotels in the development, one of which is the fancy one attached to the conventiion center. The convention center rooms will cost $183 per night.

Jim denied that there was any back room deals in this process. He even indicated that a reporter in Atlanta who had initially been interested in looking into the matter further, had apparently become satisfied with the information available and was not pursuing the story any further.

Linger Longer and the JIA are now asking for public input to tweak the plan. If you want to let them know what you think you can check out rediscoverjekyll.com.

I intend to follow this saga and see how it turns out. Should be interesting, to say the least.