Whether one supports growth or not, it is here*, and Dave says, “We have only one chance to do this right!”
Pooler has grown 263% since 2000*, and some predict the population of Pooler will grow to 50,000 in the next five to ten years. With that growth comes unprecedented challenges.
Simply put, there will be no “do-overs” for bad decisions.
Throughout this website are examples of the many leadership roles that Dave has held over the years. Pooler needs Dave’s leadership and experience to unite people for the common good and protect our community from poor decisions resulting in little or no benefits. Dave Legasse will provide that leadership. He will apply his significant business and community experience to help ensure that Pooler’s growth will benefit the entire community.
This website discusses Dave’s background and outlines his position on issues facing the residents of Pooler and the entire region and the development of a solid, comprehensive approach to protecting and improving our community.
With his leadership skills, Dave will address the Top 10 challenges we face. All future decisions must first consider the citizens of Pooler, our sense of community, our safety, and our quality of life, now and into the future.
FYI: To accomplish much of the TOP 10 listed below, Pooler’s Charter, ordinances, and master plan must be updated. These “rules” control what we can and cannot do and were developed decades ago. They are of little value in dealing with the challenges we now face. All need serious updates as soon as possible.
- Growth requires a well-planned infrastructure to handle the new development. Yet, parts of ‘Old Pooler’ have systems in need of significant improvements. The needs of the older neighborhoods must be addressed.
- Pooler has no High School. A plan for more and better schools must be completed. Working with the school board (Savannah-Chatham County Public School System), these new schools should be forward-thinking and provide amenities that the entire community can use and enjoy, such as swimming pools and auditoriums. In addition, I support a charter school to serve Pooler! Learn more about this endeavor at SustainableFuturesAcademy.org/
- Pooler has no Hospital or Emergency room. Plans have been on hold for over a decade. This is simply unacceptable for a city of 30,000 residents.
- Green spaces, walking and bike trails, and parks can no longer be an afterthought. Such places provide quality of life, as do conference centers, outdoor theaters, dog parks, cultural centers, and additional recreational facilities. Currently, residents must leave Pooler to find such places.
- Dave defines his quality-of-life approach as places and programs designed for young people, families, and older adults. With a swimming pool comes the opportunity to have swim teams and water aerobics. New schools should be constructed with auditoriums for live theater, lectures, and other forms of personal enrichment. A conference center will allow Pooler to host business and educational gatherings. Currently, our residents and travelers must leave Pooler to enjoy such venues.
- With this growth, public safety must be a top priority. Pay and benefits for police, firefighters, and first responders should be appropriate and comparable to surrounding cities. Proper training should be a top priority.
- As we have already learned, with growth comes traffic congestion. Every decision should carefully consider impacts on traffic flow and safety, including improving areas where congestion is already a problem. An immediate overall improvement would result from the addition of public transportation within the city. This service also provides transportation for residents without a vehicle.
- Industrial and commercial growth should not crowd out existing neighborhoods. Appropriate buffers should be required.
- Taxes should be kept in check. New housing developments, commercial activity, and industrial parks should provide Pooler with the additional tax revenues necessary to cover that growth; these costs should not be on the backs of residents already here.
- So that all neighborhoods are appropriately represented in the future, Pooler should be divided into three or more ‘districts,’ and terms should be staggered to maintain continuity of leadership.
Again, to accomplish much of the above, Pooler’s Charter, ordinances, and master plan must be updated. These “rules” control what we can and cannot do and were developed decades ago. They are of little value in dealing with the challenges we now face. All need serious updates as soon as possible.
We welcome your viewpoint and hope you support Dave’s candidacy for Pooler City Council. Please register HERE.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this website. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any suggestions and concerns you’d like to share with Dave.