Two traffic roundabouts, at Frederica and Lawrence roads and at Frederica and Demere roads, were built, the Village alleys were cleaned, new tennis courts were built, Airport Road was improved and a new bathhouse was built at East Beach.
"I don't take credit," Keller said. "I was the front man for some, but it was the commission, as a whole, that accomplished things. It always takes four votes."
If he were to have another term, he would want to see another roundabout built at Frederica and Sea Island roads, bike trails improved, and the Gateway entrance to the idaldn and water and sewer upgrades finished.
Not all his work centered on the island, of course.
Keller was instrumental in organizing the consolidation of the city and county's water and sewer administration and serves on the board of the Joint Water and Serwer Commission, which wants to expand from five to seven members. He said he would serve on the joint commission as one of the additional members, if asked.
Keller said he's too young to sit back and plans to find work in the private sector.
"I will stay involved in the community," he said.
Keller said the incoming commission will have a harder time getting work done because it is facing declining revenue and a tough economic outlook, but he said he hopes it continues on the path set by the current team of seven.
"Contrary to popular belief, we've done a good job of managing our finances," Keller said. "Some people think we were focusing on wants vs. needs, that the roundabout, for example, was not really a need."
Keller said that the roundabout at Frederica and Demere roads had a lot of naysayers up front who now think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
The biggest thing Keller wanted to get done that hasn't been finished is the proposed tree ordinance for the island, which would include strict guidelines for how trees are to be preserved.
"I have failed there," he said, of leaving office without the ordinance in place. The tree protection rules are "really important, especially for St. Simons Island, but also for Glynn County, overall," he said.
"We've got to do a better job of protecting our natural resources."
Keller said that upon entering office, he had a goal of making 80 percent of the people happy 80 percent of the time.
"I'm not sure I got there," he said.
The Fendig name is well-known here, but the at-large commissioner made a push to bring his name and the coast to national prominence when he decided to seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States. In what could be the most memorable single act of his time in office, Fendig announced in the fall 2007 that he would seek the presidency and spent the next few months campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, flying back for every commission meeting.
