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About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2016)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 New Boys & Girls Club The new Commerce clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County, located on Ridgeway Street, is connected by sidewalk to Veterans Memorial Park and is just across Ridgeway Street from the former clubhouse. The new $1.5 million facility was dedicated last Thursday. Community development Boys & Girls Club facility dedicated Enjoying refreshments Attendees of Thursday’s dedication ceremony at the new Commerce Boys & Girls Club building check out the refreshments. With more than 100 peo ple on hand, representatives from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County and the city of Commerce celebrated the dedication of the new Com merce clubhouse, located at 45 Ridgeway Street, last Thurs day afternoon. The initial work on the club house began in 2014 when Commerce applied for and was awarded a $500,000 com munity development block grant for the facility. The club then purchased 5.19 acres on Ridgeway Street and began a $1.5 million capital campaign to build the facility. Designed by 2WR Architec ture, Interiors and Planning, the 7,000-square-foot building will allow the club to serve up to 225 children, nearly triple the capacity of the metal build ing across the street that for merly housed the club. That building, a former recreation facility was donated for use in 2006 by the city. The new clubhouse fea tures a computer learning cen ter, an arts and crafts room and game room for the young er members, as well as a teen area that includes a meeting space, a fitness room and an activity room. “The city of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club formed a dynamic partnership that galvanized the support of this community to construct this new facility” said Mayor Clark Hill. “The club continues to grow because of the tremen dous support of this communi ty and its volunteers. This new club’s impact will certainly be felt by the club members who have watched their new home rise across the street, but it will have a continuing impact on the lives of our young people as it serves future generations. Hill reminded the group of the vision of former Com merce Presbyterian Church pastor Tom Lewis, who first broached the subject and lob bied for creating a Boys & Girls Club in Jackson County. “Watching it unfold has been really amazing,” Hill told the gathering. The mayor pointed out that about a year ago he met with Mitch Chapman, who chaired the building committee, direc tor Jim Shaw and then city manager Pete Pyrzenski, the result of which was a Com merce application —ultimately successful — for CDBG funds. “Never once was there any wavering by the city council,” Hill advised. Ward 1 city councilman Archie Chaney told the group, “Today we are honoring one of God’s greatest gifts — our children.” Commerce superintendent of schools Joy Tolbert told the board that the city school sys tem “could not be any more excited about the Boys & Girls Club in Commerce.” She gave particular praise to the club’s Stacey Ramsey who she said constantly reminds club mem bers of the importance of their education and is in constant contact with members’ teach ers in regard to the members’ progress in school. The club’s chief profession al officer, Michael Williams, expressed gratitude to parents, members, directors and oth ers “who had the vision to see two clubs, not one.” “In the last five years, we have done something truly wonderful,” Williams said. “We were in double-wide trail ers and a butler building.” Williams also pointed out the generosity of donors, including one local compa ny which he said wanted to remain anonymous, that gave almost $1 million to facilitate the construction of the Jeffer son and Commerce clubhous es. Capital campaign chair Jack McKinney also addressed the community support. “The majority of the finan cial support that built this club came from right here in this community” he said. “Peo ple have stepped up in big ways and small ways to make sure the dream of this facility became a reality and that our children be able to learn, play and grow in a safe, healthy place. This club is a place that our members and the com munity can be proud of.” Sponsors of particular facil ity spaces include Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, game room; Commerce Presby terian Church, lobby; David and Lisa Lathem, arts and crafts room, Centurion Auto transport, the kitchen; Amyn Meghani, the multi-complex field; and Huber Engineered Woods, the First Baptist Church of Commerce, Archie Chaney and BM&K Construc tion, the playground. In a special presentation, the board surprised Williams by naming the learning center for him in recognition of his more than 30 years of ser vice to the Boys & Girls Club organization and his eight years as the local club’s chief professional office. Chapman pointed out that the room was funded by Jackson EMC. (x£lS*** The first and third projects will be on the agenda for approval on Monday April 18, and can be funded by gas system reserves, while the Clayton Street project will take place in the next fiscal year and be funded through the budget. Sidewalk Project The council also appears to be ready to award a $719,840 bid on April 18 to Georgia Development Partners LLC for the sidewalk (and land scaping) running from Com merce Middle School to Lakeview Drive. The city has a $250,000 federal transpor tation enhancement grant to help with the funding and will take the rest out of its SPLOST revenue. Other Business The council also discussed (but took no action on) the following items that will be on its April 18 agenda: •the elimination of the city’s “application fee” charged when property is annexed. Wascher recommended that the fee, which is $250 for resi dential property $350 for com mercial property and $450 for industrial property be eliminat ed entirely. •renewal of the city’s ser vices contract with the Jack- son County Senior Center under which the city pays $1,500 to the center to provide transportation of city residents who attend the senior center. • the reappointment of Nicky Wilbanks, Christy John son and Tracey Newcomer to four-year terms on the Com merce Library Board. •the “due diligence” being done regarding the possible purchase of The Gov. Hard man House. The council agreed to spend $4,600 with a company that will analyze the building’s needs and “give us a real good idea of what we’ll have to do to the house if we move forward,” Wascher said. • naming members to rep resent the city on three new SPLOST review committees, with Wascher asking the coun cil to consider names he’s come up with and/or send him names. WAN TED! NEW CUSTOMERS We have money to lend. Installment loans from $238 to $1,516* SECURITY FINANCE 1816 N Broad St Commerce, GA 30529 (706) 335-3551 wwwsecurity-flnance.com 'All loans are subject to credit limitations and our underwriting policies. Actual loan proceeds may vary based upon loan terms and any ancillary products selected. Dollar amounts are rounded to the lowest whole dollar. Political forum Candidates rip absent incumbents By Cameron Whitlock “The incumbents have failed you,” was the message that echoed throughout the night at Nicholson’s political forum last week. District 9 U.S. Repre sentative Doug Collins and State Senator Johnny Isaak- son were the subject of an onslaught of verbal attacks by candidates and spectators during Tuesday’s Tea Party event. District 9 candidates Paul Broun, Roger Fitzpatrick, Mike Scupin and Bernie Fon- tain worked hard to distance themselves from Collins, who was referred to by the can didates as a “sell-out,” and “Washington insider.” “Folks, we aren’t being rep resented by Doug Collins,” said Broun. “We need some body that will go to Washing ton and fight for you, not the establishment.” “(Collins) is not honoring something he took a sworn oath to uphold - the Consti tution of the United States of America,” added Scupin. Scupin also pointed out to Collins’ personal relationship with Governor Nathan Deal and suggested that both are establishment Republicans and fail to represent their con stituency. While all four of the chal lenging candidates attacked Collins, they made few attempts to differentiate them selves from one another. All four candidates claimed to be political outsiders and strict constitutionalists, while they took similar positions on the issues of abortion, immi gration and defense. After each candidate was given five minutes to speak and introduce their platform, they were allowed to pose a question to any of the other candidates that warranted a one-minute answer. Fitzpatrick used his ques tion as an opportunity to challenge Broun on the topic of changing districts. Broun previously served as a District 10 representative, but gave up his seat in favor of running for Senate in the last elec tion. Broun, who grew up in Athens, responded by point ing out he recently moved to Clarkesville and always viewed northeast Georgia as his “backyard.” “These are the people I need to be representing,” he added. “I’m the most con servative congressman in the most conservative district.” Scupine and Fontaine also directed questions to Broun, addressing his previous time served in congress. Broun responded by claiming the role of a Washington outsider and an impediment to estab lishment Republicans. “People ask me all the time, why I never cave,” he said. The political forum closed Mary Kay Bacallao Roger Fitzpatrick Derrick Grayson Mike Scupin with an audience-submit- ted-question session. The moderator read questions submitted by members of the audience which ranged in topics. One of the most prevalent issues of the night was immig- See “Forum” on 12A ELECT Shannon Gowder Probate Judge Banks County Paid for by the candidate. ^ w
