Sunday Edition August 25, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER $1.50 Attorneys, developers big U.S. Rep. Loudermilk spenders in Bartow elections says no BY JAMES SWIFT committee contains many incomplete — and in [email protected] some cases, completely missing — records. recession The 2016 election cycle fi lings, for instance, It isn’t terribly diffi cult to get one’s hands on includes virtually no information on individual campaign contribution data for state- and feder- campaign donors, nor the size of their fi nancial fears amidst al-level offi cials — all one has to do is log onto contributions. Along those same lines, the website the internet and peruse the spread sheets posted on doesn’t even list two-day business reports — which trade websites such as the one for Georgia’s Government are required to report contributions and loans great- Transparency and Campaign Finance Commis- er than $1,000 — for the committee after 2012. sion (GTCFC). Furthermore, the GTCFC website doesn’t even negotiations But getting the numbers on municipal-level have publicly accessible records for other coun- campaign contributions is much more onerous. ty- and city-level elected offi cials, such as council BY JAMES SWIFT JAMES SWIFT/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS Detailed documents on Bartow County elected offi cials’ cam- For example, the aforementioned GTCFC website members, sheriffs, tax commissioners or school [email protected] paign contributions aren’t available on Georgia’s ethics web- doesn’t have any data on the Committee to Elect board members. site — but they are available in hard copy at the local elections Matt Santini from after 2013, while the electron- Some fi nancial analysts are offi ce. ic records for the Steve Taylor for Commissioner SEE CONTRIBUTIONS, PAGE 6A forecasting doom and gloom for the 2020 market. But don’t count United States Rep. Barry Louder- milk, a Republican from Cassville who represents Georgia’s 11th Adairsville congressional district on Capitol Hill, among those with a pessi- considering mistic attitude about the election year economy. NEVER TOO LATE “There’s been a lot of talk about application the inverted rate curve, but that is just one of the many factors that for Rural is looked at,” Loudermilk said at a Bartow County Republican Party Zone tax event held Saturday in Carters- ville. “We’re in a different day and age, too, when the stock market, credits interest rates, they’re very volatile … a lot of that is because we start- BY JAMES SWIFT ed using interest rates as a way to [email protected] avert a recession.” To safeguard the economy from Adairsville Community Develop- another downturn, Loudermilk ment Director Richard Osborne said said he advocated the raising of the City is contemplating applying interest rates. for a “Rural Zone” designation from “When’s the last time you made the Georgia Department of Com- any money on a savings account munity Affairs (DCA) in 2020. or a C.D.?” he said. “We’ve looked at a variety of Meanwhile, Loudermilk said things as part of creating the down- other market indicators — such town master plan, and whatever as job growth, average wages and gets implemented in the next year consumer confi dence — suggest or two, the bottom line is it needs the roaring economy will continue to be both meaningful and realis- to make positive strides in 2020. tic, and something that will work In fact, Loudermilk said his for Adairsville,” Osborne said at confi dence in the current econ- the Adairsville Downtown Devel- omy is so high, he doesn’t think opment Authority (DDA) meeting there will be recession in the Unit- held Thursday evening. “One of the ed States for at least another two things that was mentioned was the years. Rural Zone program — which is a “When you look at Standard State program that does not require and Poor’s and you look at some an investment of Adairsville tax- of the stock market indicators, a payer money.” lot of these are Fortune 500 com- The designation, Osborne said, panies, who not only have a U.S. would most likely apply only to RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS presence, but they have a global Popular Woodland Middle School custodian Herbert Perkinson, 81, serves as an inspiration and role model for stu- the City’s downtown district. If ap- dents after earning his GED over the summer. presence,” he said. “So when they proved by the DCA next year, the start looking at a recession in Eu- Rural Zone designation would take rope, or a slowdown in the econo- effect Jan. 1, 2021. my, that affects their stock prices. Over a fi ve-year period, private But when you look at the mom businesses and property owners At 81, WMS custodian earns GED and pop shops here, the small and would be able to apply for State tax medium U.S. businesses, they’re incentives in a manner Osborne de- BY DONNA HARRIS goal by passing all four tests on the di- “He exemplifi es really what we say to strong and they’re continuing to scribed as “a layer cake approach” [email protected] ploma equivalency exam and becoming the students,” he said. “We practice the grow stronger.” to redevelop buildings and bring an offi cial high school graduate. Woodland Way. He loves this school Nor did Loudermilk say he had new jobs to the area. A GED isn’t something Woodland As soon as Principal Michael Blan- more than anybody else here. He cares any immediate concerns about “At the bottom is the State job Middle custodian Herbert Perkinson ever kenship knew last year that the head cus- about the cleanliness of our building. He potential “bubble bursts” on the tax credit of $2,000 per year, per thought he’d need — until his principal todian position was going to be vacant, cares about making sure that everybody’s horizon — although there is one new full-time equivalent job. So offered him a promotion that required a he said he began talking to Perkinson doing what they’re supposed to do. So I particular sector of the economy that is a maximum of $200,000 to- high school diploma. about the job “because he just kind of ex- wanted him to be the head custodian.” that does give him some anxiety. tal, or $40,000 per year,” Osborne So at 81 years young, he proved age is emplifi es what we expect out of our staff said. “Obviously, you can have one inconsequential when trying to achieve a and students.” SEE PERKINSON, PAGE 6A SEE LOUDERMILK, PAGE 2A full-time and two part-times, or something like that.” The Rural Zone designation would also include investment credits for individuals who pur- chase downtown real estate, to the United Way donates $10,000 for Townsley Drive shelter tune of 25% of the purchased prop- erty/building price, not exceeding BY MARIE NESMITH Since forming in 1996, Good Neighbor has $125,000 over the fi ve-year desig- [email protected] served more than 7,800 people. On average, nation period. its 4,600-square-foot shelter on Porter Street “The rehab credit is 30% of To help Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter that was built in 2001 assists over 600 indi- qualifi ed rehab, not to exceed a secure its Townsley Drive location, the Unit- viduals per year. total of $150,000,” Osborne said. ed Way of Bartow County donated $10,000 If the nonprofit obtains the Townsley Drive “That credit is to offset develop- Thursday. location, the new shelter will mirror the ex- ment costs associated with rehab of “Our board of directors is so thankful to isting one’s operations. an investor property.” receive this gift towards the down payment While they are housed, Good Neighbor’s Despite the name of the pro- of the purchase of 1 and 3 Townsley Drive,” guests are required to find a job within four gram, Osborne said metro Atlanta said Good Neighbor Executive Director Jes- weeks, and the shelter’s staff helps them communities are eligible for the sica Mitcham, adding the nonprofit is trying establish savings, focus on problem-solv- Rural Zone designation, just as to raise $60,000. “We are excited to soon add ing skills and chart out future housing op- long as the total City population is critically needed additional emergency shel- tions. lower than 15,000 people. ter beds in Cartersville, and this donation is “We are currently trying to resolve the fi- “There’s a lot of communities helping make that possible. nal pieces owed to the fire marshal’s office in northeast Georgia that are Ru- “… Each month Good Neighbor speaks to in order to secure their approval and close ral Zones,” he said. “A compara- 70-90 single men, 60-80 single women and on the property,” Mitcham said. “Then we RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter Executive Director Jessica ble city that has it and loves it is about 40 families with about 120 people in will have a handful of weeks needed to make Mitcham, holding the check, left, accepts a $10,000 donation Hogansville. It has a lot of simi- them who we cannot serve due to lack of some modifications to the building in order from United Way of Bartow County President Brenda More- larities to Adairsville.” space. We are excited this second shelter fa- to prepare to use it as shelter. house, holding the check, right, as UWBC board members look cility on Townsley Drive will help meet some on.