Page 2B July 10, 201
Reporter
By' Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
Apparently people in Forsyth
want to slow down cars driving
through their neighborhoods.
City manager Janice Hall said on
July I there has been an increase
in requests for speed bumps, and
council member Melvin Law-
rence said he has gotten several
calls asking for the city to install
speed breakers.
"It's kind of gotten out of hand.
We need some guidelines" said
Lawrence. "They can't do it
everywhere."
Hall said Blount Street is one
place where speed bumps have
been requested. She said she
is not sure how well the speed
bumps the city has installed in
the last few months are working
at slowing down traffic; some
people have told her that drivers
are going even faster after they
get over the bumps.
There is considerable expense
for the city to install speed break-
ers, and there is more expense
for the city to take up the speed
bumps when neighbors decide
they don't like them and ask that
they be removed.
In other Council news:
Council adopted guidelines
for making proclamations at its
July i meeting. Hall said the city
needed an administrative policy
to regulate who and what the city
prodaimed.
"We have to get a handle on all
we're being asked" said Hall. "We
have to make sure it's connected
with the city"
"It shouldn't be just recom-
mended every year" said Mayor
Eric Wilson. lot of cities have
more formal procedures than we
do."
The new guidelines define a
proclamation as a document
that dedicates a day in Forsyth
to honor a special event, cause
or purpose, typically recognizing
an event, significant achieve-
ments by a community member
or increasing public awareness
of a worthy cause. Proclamations
will not be issued for anything
with political controversy or for a
family or class reunion; retire-
ment; pastor, church or wedding
anniversary; birthday; recre-
ational event; conference; any
deceased individual; any orga-
nizations without locally based
chapters; or for non-residents of
Forsyth. Letters of welcome or
congratulations may be present-
ed instead of proclamations.
The Mayor's Office will deter-
mine the type of document and
may deny any request.
"It needs to be something
monumental" said council mem-
ber Greg Goolsby.
Hall said Forsyth increased
its spending on fireworks for
July 3 this year from $6,000 to
$10,000 to provide a 15-minute
longer show. The city's Indepen-
dence Day celebration were held
at Monroe County Recreation
Department with fireworks
beginning after dark, about 9:30
p.m. Activities began at 5 p.m.
with vendors, inflatables and
pony rides.
The groundbreaking for
Forsyth Dog Parks at the city's
Country Club Park will be on
Friday, July 12. A ceremony hon-
oring Glover Stuart at the Ameri-
can Legion Hall is tentatively
planned for Monday, Aug. 5.
There are two vacancies
on the Forsyth Convention &
Visitors Bureau board of direc-
tors, one for a representative of
the hotel industry and one for a
representative of the restaurant
industry. Council member John
Howard, who is on the CVB
board, said Navid Kapadia is
willing to serve on the board as
the hotel representative. He has
been working in the hospitality
industry for 10 years and man-
ages hotels in Forsyth.
Council member Chris
Hewer asked Hall for an update
on building the new city hall.
Hall said the architects are still
working on asbestos abatement
before the old building can be
torn down to dear the site for the
new city hall. She said the major
source of asbestos is the silver
paint on the building. She said
she will try to get an update on
July 3.
Hewett asked for an update on
the development on the site of
the demolished Regency Hotel
(near Exit 187). Hall said the
developer is submitting plans
and is coming to the city's First
Step meeting with city depart-
ment heads soon. She said the
developer has decided not to in-
dude a car wash because another,
company wants part of the parcel
to develop. ::
Hall said there were some is-
sues as the developer took out '
the gas pumps because it left a
huge hole and a lot of rain at the
time made the hole larger.
In other business, Hewett said
the city's street department is
doing a.good job cutting grass,
but there are some areas, such asI
where the culverts come togethe/
on Frontage Road, that don't I
lookgood. Hewer asked if the q
street department can find a way
to make these spots look better.
At some places the problem is
caused by the area crossing pri-
vate property, but Hewett thinks :!
property owners would be glad
to cooperate to make it look bet-'
ten He asked if the city can put
a privacy fence where the city's
inventory and dumpster are to "
improve aesthetics. Hall said the '
city is putting gravel in that area
for employee parking.
i
Continued from Page 1 B
who have worked to get to this point.
Habitat homeowners help build their own
homes alongside volunteers and pay an af-
fordable mortgage. Eligible applicants must
meet income requirements, have the ability to
repay an affordable mortgage, be able to show
need for housing, and be willing to partner
in building their home by working alongside
volunteers. Home buyer education, financial
education, home maintenance education,
and community service/involvement are all
required in the new homeowner's partnership
with Habitat.
Habitat for Humanity is a global non-profit
housing organization whose vision is a world
where everyone has a decent place to live.
Habitat works toward that vision by building
strength, stability and self-reliance in partner-
ship with families in need of decent and afford-
able housing.
Those interested in being the next Habitat
homeowners can get applications by call-
ing 478-994-6411 or downloading them at
https://sites.google.com/view/mchih/home.
Applications and supporting documents will
be accepted at six orientations (in Forsyth,
High Falls, Juliette, Bolingbroke/Smarr and
Culloden/RusseUviUe). Exact times and loca-
tions will be announced.
Monroe County Habitat for Humanity is
pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for
the achievement of equal housing opportunity
throughout the nation. It encourages and sup-
ports an affricative advertising and marketing
program in which there are no barriers to ob-
taining housing because of race, color, religion,
sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
As work begins on the homes, Habitat will
welcome those who would like to contribute
labor, materials or financial resources to make
the applicant's dreams of homeownership come
true. Those with experience and expertise in
construction are encouraged to share their
time and knowledge.
Pictured are the most recent Monroe County Habitat for Humanity homeowners; ,
both were selected as partners in 2014. Ashley Cochran and her family, far right, 2
closed on their home in May 2015. LaTosha Moore and her family, right, closed on ,
their home in October 2016.
g
Hos
9
- Sidney Speir of Forsyth
I was reminded of the vital role Monroe County Hospital plays in
our community when I arrived at the emergency room having a
major heart attack. Everyone there from the ladies at the desk to
all the personnel on duty did everything necessary to help. Thanks to
Dr. Daryl Remick's accurate diagnosis and speedy action, I was
quickly transported by ambulance to Navicent Health. Had it not
been for the onroe County Hospital and its competent staff and for
the highly qualified ambulance crew, I would not be here to write
this. I appeal to all Monroe Countians to do everything in their
power to keep our hospital open and thriving. We would be
devastated if we didn't have it.
- Sidney Speir
Forsyth, GA
~r::.:~ .: ~
88 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029
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