Officials Assess Economic Impact of SPLOST, TAD
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FRIDAY May 25, 2018 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 75 CENTS Officials assess economic impact of SPLOST, TAD BY JAMES SWIFT nancing capital improvement proj- [email protected] ects such as roads, parks and recre- ation. Earlier this week Bartow County “These are projects that we have voters approved two ballot items to get done for the betterment of the with major implications for the community,” he said. “It’s not just local economy. By a 5,182-3,229 people from Bartow County and margin, Bartow residents voted to the City of Cartersville that are reauthorize the Special-Purpose right here on Main Street shopping, Local-Option Sales Tax purchasing groceries and buying (SPLOST); they also approved a cars ... these are people coming in measure allowing the county to off the interstate and supporting our create tax allocation districts community, and the SPLOST proj- (TADs), 4,590 votes to 3,564. JAMES SWIFT/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS ect allows other people outside of The City of Cartersville is exploring new locations for tax “The SPLOST is a renewal of allocation districts. Councilman Jayce Stepp said he supports a Bartow County to help fund some the sales tax, which at 1 percent, TAD designation along the east and south sides of Erwin Street. of the things that we get to reap the generates countywide about $20 benefits and rewards of.” million a year, so we anticipate that on track to do 5 or 6 percent this Cartersville City Councilman That, he said, was much prefer- will continue to grow as the econ- year so far — projecting that out, it Jayce Stepp said the SPLOST re- able to the alternative — increasing JAMES SWIFT/DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS omy grows,” said Bartow County might be $135 to $150, $160 mil- newal relieves municipal govern- property taxes. Cartersville City Councilman Jayce Stepp said the city is already Administrator Peter Olson. “It went lion of revenue over the six-year ments of some big fiscal burdens, considering new locations that could be designated as tax up about 7 percent last year and it’s period of that SPLOST.” specifically when it comes to fi- SEE IMPACT, PAGE 7A allocation districts, or TADs. Adairsville Boys/Girls The Next Chapter Club site prep begins BY NEIL B. MCGAHEE [email protected] Three years after the city of Adairsville bought a 2.1 acre tract on North Main Street, site prepa- ration has begun for a new Boys and Girls Club facility. The former S&H Supermarket at 104 N. Main St. was purchased by the city for $199,000 with an eye on developing the property RANDY PARKER/DTN for the club. After swearing him in Boys and Girls Club Executive Thursday as Bartow Director Gordon Gilley said the County’s new school city received a $500,000 Commu- superintendent, Probate Court Judge nity Development Block grant in Barry Greene, right, 2016 to help fund the project and congratulates Dr. Phillip in-kind services have been lined Page, who comes to up to help maintain the new Bartow County from the building, but additional services Cobb County School System. Dr. Page will are needed to accomplish every- officially begin his new thing before to the start of con- duties on June 1, taking struction. over from Dr. John The Adairsville club will fea- Harper, who will retire ture a design similar to the on May 31. Cartersville facility, and will en- compass about 4,500 square feet. “It’s going to be durable, func- tional and aesthetically pleasing,” Gilley said. “‘Durability’ being the key word. It will be gang- busters compared to our current facility.” The club is currently located in a former Georgia Power building on King Street. The first phase of the project includes construction of a club- house and a multi-purpose ath- letic field, with a gymnasium planned for future expansion. Adairsville mayor Ken Carson said he hopes discussions be- tween the city, the Georgia De- partment of Transportation and GHC’s NOW program has first graduate CSX Railroad will result in im- proved safety conditions at the BY DONNA HARRIS the program.” ily stories we have shared, old and young King Street crossing, a heavily- [email protected] GHC launched the accelerated two- alike.” used rail corridor situated be- year degree program — crafted specifi- After taking classes at another institu- tween the new school and the Michael Copeland is living proof that cally for working adult learners who tion, Copeland said he “got serious about Boys and Girls Club site. it’s never too late to earn a college de- want to earn a business-focused Associ- a business degree” and began devoting If the city and club approve the gree. ate of Science degree but need the sched- his time to it in the fall of 2016. low bidder in June, Gilley said he The Kennesaw resident fulfilled a uling flexibility offered by evening, Choosing GHC’s adult accelerated de- anticipates construction could be promise to his family while also becom- online and hybrid courses — in an effort gree program was one of the best deci- completed before the end of sum- ing the first graduate of the Nights, On- to make earning a college degree faster sions Copeland said he could have ever mer. Bartow County and City of line and Weekends program when he and more convenient for working adults. made. Adairsville public works crews walked across the stage at the Georgia Copeland, who works on a global net- “The NOW program was a godsend,” are both participating in the Highlands College commencement cer- work team for a national bank, said the he said. “The program coordinator, clearing and rough grading of the emony May 12 at The Forum River Cen- NOW program allowed him to fit college Maria Wilson, is the best counselor, site. ter in Rome. classes into his already-busy schedule. cheerleader and life coach on the planet. Carson said the Boys and Girls “It is a great honor to be part of the “I have a full-time demanding job,” he Without her, I would not have been suc- NOW program, as I did not know I was said. “The program is geared for working cessful in graduating so soon.” Club project was moving almost the first graduate until late in the semes- adults like me. The funny thing is that The Buffalo, New York, native said in lockstep with the new Veterans ter,” said Copeland, who took classes on people think of working adults as older having two daughters attending the Memorial Park planned for a 14- the Cartersville campus. “The NOW students. My classes had working adults Georgia Institute of Technology acre lot north of the new Boys SPECIAL prompted him to take the first step to- and Girls Club site. Michael Copeland became the first graduate manager and my counselor, Maria Wil- of all ages in various occupations, i.e. of Georgia Highlands College’s Nights, Online son, notified me of the achievement. A steel, electricians, accounting clerks, ward fulfilling his lifelong dream. “We’ve got a lot going on,” and Weekends program after participating in lot of fellow students, faculty and staff commercial construction, jewelry man- Carson said. “It’s all real posi- the May 12 commencement ceremony. put in a lot of time and effort to support ager, etc. I will take away the many fam- SEE GHC, PAGE 6A tive.” INSIDE TODAY Rain, Obituaries . .2A Business . .6A storms VOLUME 72, NO. 17 Family Living . .3A Blotter . .7A High 82 U.S. & World . .4A Sports . .1B www.daily-tribune.com Entertainment . .5A Classified . .3B Low 67 2A Friday, May 25, 2018 • www.daily-tribune.com Local The Daily Tribune News ContactUs OBITUARIES The Daily Tribune News ter, Destiny Gossett. David was born December 8, Funeral services for Mr. Snipes Address: Avis Barnett 251 S. Tennessee St. She is survived by her chil- 1972, in Atlanta, son of Dr. John will be held on Saturday, May 26, Cartersville, GA 30120 Buchanan dren, Wallace Sanford (Melinda), Snipes and Cheryl Parmer Snipes. 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the Victory Avis Barnett Buchanan, age Sue Sanford, Sharon Wilson He was a 1991 graduate of Rock- Baptist Church with Rev. Don Hat- Mailing Address: 85, of Jasper, Georgia, passed (Don), Grady Sanford (Serena) mart High School and received his taway and Rev. Barry Snapp offi- 251 S. Tennessee St. away Wednes- and Tricia Jordan (Terry), grand- Bachelor of Music Degree in Edu- ciating. Entombment will be in the Cartersville, GA 30120 day, May 23, children; Corey Sanford (Diane), cation from Berry College. Mr. Sunset Memory Gardens of 2018, at Pruitt Phone: 770-382-4545 Dorothy Summey Justin Sanford (Heidi), Andrew Snipes had 14 years of teaching Cartersville. After 5 p.m.: 770-382-4548 Health in Wilson (Brandy), Brandon San- experience, 10 years for Mr. Snipes will lie in state at the Fax: 770-382-2711 Jasper. She was Sanford ford and Carmen Jordan, great- Cartersville City Schools, where church on Saturday beginning at born November grandchildren; Elizabeth and he taught middle school band for 3 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for visi- Alan Davis, Mrs. Dorothy “Dot” Summey Publisher 11, 1932, to Sanford, 87, of Cartersville, GA, Kennedy Sanford, sister, Frankie years and high school band for 7 tation. Nolan and May- Barnwell (Charlie) and brother- years, 1 year at Rockmart Middle Pallbearers will be: Kevin Corn- Jason Greenberg, passed away in-law, Lee Lane, special School and had been the Rockmart well, Jeremy Wheeler, Dennis Managing Editor belle Barnett in peacefully Cartersville, nephew, Rick Summey (Vivian).