Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. JULY 15. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A
PUMP ACTION SHOTGUNS $22095NEW!
Clear, Pure Water. The way it should be.
Gennett Drive bridge will be out
for several more months
By Angela Reinhardt
Staff Writer
(aw
Division, dissent result in continued
Nelson park stalemate
By Larry Cavender
Contributing Writer
Doris Hampton, who lives nearby, was opposed to the
Pickens Street Park improvements. Hampton said regard
ing the security, "If you beautify it, come back later and see
how ugly it will be."
"You're not thinking about
the kids, you're thinking
about yourselves; you're the
ones acting like kids." This
was only one of several
taunts hurled at the Nelson
City Council by citizens at
their meeting Monday.
Emotions continue to run
high in the community on
whether or not to proceed
with plans to improve a small
park located on Pickens
Street. Both sides were vocal
in expressing their opinions
on what would appear to be a
rather benign matter.
During the public com
ment portion of the meeting,
only one person had re
quested an opportunity to
make comments, John
Ahlberg, rector of Ahlberg
Academy. Ahlberg spoke of
the success of his private
Christian school in their first
year and thanked the commu
nity for their support. He also
urged the council to work to
gether with park plans.
Later in the meeting,
when a vote was taken once
more on whether to move
ahead with the new park
plans, the vote was the same
as in previous meetings, three
to two against, with council
members Susan Johnston and
James Queen voting in the af
firmative, while David
Hamby, Nathan Hamby, and
Martha Tipton voted against.
Debate immediately
erupted between the council
members after the vote.
Mayor Sylvia Green, who
prior to the vote had read two
letters from residents sup
porting the park plan, chided
those who voted in opposi
tion. One of the letter writers
was 17 years old. The mayor
stated she gets dozens of
phone calls a week on the
issue, and so far, only two
have been opposed to the
project.
Council member David
Hamby, who has become the
most vocal opponent of the
plan, said he still maintains
that the city needs to repair
"what we have" before con
structing something else. One
of his concerns was the safety
of the children playing in the
existing parks and he brought
photos of the parks' disrepair.
He added, "If the people don't
like the way I vote, then they
can elect someone else."
Council member Johnston
argued, "People want this
park. I think the city can sup
port both." She and Mayor
Green have become the most
vocal proponents of the new
park.
One of the residents in at
tendance asked the council to
reopen the public comments
portion of the meeting which
they did.
What followed was a
flurry of opinion from an
overflow crowd that once
again spilled beyond the
doors of the chamber and
into the lobby. More than 20
people stood to express their
opinions, the majority of
which voiced opposition to
the park plans.
Doris Hampton, a long
time resident of Nelson who
lives near the Pickens Street
Park, was vehemently op
posed to the improvements.
Having been witness to some
of the past undesirable activ
ities in the park, Hampton
was concerned with security
in the area. She said, "If you
beautify it, come back later
and you will see how ugly it
will be."
Hampton's daughter
added that today's teenagers
don't care about parks.
Another longtime resi
dent, Emily Hampton, was
concerned about how the
new park might affect the Pil
grim Baptist Church which is
located immediately across
from the proposed park. She
was also upset that so many
residents were not even made
aware of the plans.
Another opponent was
troubled about the noise that
might emanate from the half
basketball court and speaking
of his elderly father who lives
nearby, said, "He doesn't
want to hear damned basket
balls bouncing all through the
night." Another resident
asked why is the council so
desperate to get this done and
added, very few kids use the
present park.
On the other side of the ar
gument, one resident who
moved to the town last year
and whose house is adjacent
to the new park said, "I'd like
to see the improvements.
Let's get it done." Another
citizen speaking of those who
voted against the proposal
stated, "These guys are will
ing to get it done but in a dif
ferent order. They said they'd
give you what you want."
Disappointment is evi
dent on the face of council
member Susan Johnston as
she looks out over the crowd,
many of whom expressed
opposition to the Pickens
Street Park plans.
Earlier, council member
Nathan Hamby had told the
crowd he would vote for the
new park plans, but only if
the existing parks' disrepair
was rectified.
"When we moved here,
we had nothing," said
Matthew Hutcheson, a vet
eran who moved to Nelson a
few years ago. He com
mended the council on trying
to make improvements to the
community.
The debate was mostly
civil, but at times, the argu
ments devolved to the point
of confrontation with resi
dents arguing with each
other. The attending city at
torney, in several cases, was
compelled to serve as referee
and instructed those in atten
dance to please stand when
speaking and direct all com
ments to the council itself.
Ironically, agreement had
been found and progress was
made shortly before the Pick
ens Street Park vote was
taken. In a previous vote, the
council agreed to tackle some
of the existing parks' disre
pair. The council voted to de
vote $2,500 to begin plans to
repair or replace the retaining
wall located at the Nelson
City Park's full basketball
court.
COMPACT 9MM
HELLCAT
9mm
3’Bairel
13+1 Capacity
S499J5
American Legion installs officers
areinhardt@piekensprogress.com
The bridge on Gennett
Drive that washed out earlier
this year will remain closed
at least until fall, with the
project expected to be bid out
at that time.
The bridge was damaged
from flooding this past
March. According to Jasper
City Manager Brandon Dou
glas, the city received
$141,000 in emergency
GDOT funding for the proj
ect and immediately hired a
GDOT pre-qualified engi
neer to assist with design and
construction drawings.
“I have been advised that
the project should be ready
for bid in September and it is
unknown how those bids will
come in; however, prelimi
nary numbers/estimates of
cost may arrive at nearly
A road closed sign keeps motorists from reaching the bridge that washed out off Gennett
Drive in March. Repairs are not expected for a few more months.
$240,000,” Douglas told the
Progress.
At the July city council
meeting, Douglas said the
city is required to adhere to
certain protocols as part of
stipulations of receiving the
GDOT funding. As part of to secure more funding from
those requirements, he noted
that repairs must begin by the
end of the year.
“We are moving as
quickly as we can,” he said.
The city is also attempting
Georgia Emergency Manage
ment Agency and Federal
Emergency Management
Agency for the project.
Do you know what’s in your water?
We do. And we can make it
safe and clean for you.
WATER
DIAGNOSIS
CALL 888-604-8043
Our quality and service
are 100%guaraiiteed.
Just ask our customers.
$49.99
American Legion Post 149 installed the elected officers for 2021 on July 10. (Standing
left to right) - Homer S. Sewell III, Junior Vice Commander; Ray Smith, Senior Vice
Commander; Rick Rice, Commander; Larry Brown, Finance Officer. Not pictured, Steve
Harrington, Judge Advocate.
Appointed positions not pictured are: Terry "Surge" Bishop, Adjutant; Don Wisdom,
Chaplain; John Johnson, Service Officer; Bob Reitz, Sergeant at Arms; Suellen Reitz,
Public Affairs.
www.metrowaterfilter.com 888-604-8043
Refer a friend or family member and get $75 when they purchase a new system.
lEXPIOOING TARGETS!!
includes:
lOlbsofTannarite
Explodes when
Shetat2000FPS
^ SIV
Jaspt
\ A / ^ I
Br
waim
Nov
Hirir
art
V
■g
Positions
Starting Pav
Stocking Overnight
$14.50
Stocking 2pm-11 pm
$13.00
Personal Shopper
$13.00
Cashier
$11.00
Janitorial
$11.00
Sales Associates
$11.00
ADDlvatwalmart.com
ii /
Text "jobs" to 240240
Counseling
Individual, Couples and Family Therapy
with Adults, Teens and Children
Robin W. Dunn M.S.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Over 30 years experience helping people live better
770-548-1966 • 505 Cove Rd. • Suite 3 • Jasper
www.robinwdunnlpc.com