Cedartown commission approves annual transportation contract and more
By SEAN WILLIAMS SJ Correspondent
The latest installment of Cedartown's Commission meetings meant approval of the city's transit, updates on grant applications, approval of the upcoming fall revival, an the approval of the county's Boys and Girls Club property lease and more.
The commission approved the renewal of the city's Georgia Department of Transportation contract and secured public transit within the city for another year.
It's an annual requirement for the city in order to keep their limited transportation service running, and annually updates are made to the language of the contract to reflect changes in state and federal regulations.
"The contract is for $29,830 which is basically the same, within a few dollars, as last year's contract,” said City Manager Bill Fann. “We are the only entity in Polk County - for the last several years - that operates a transit program. It's very helpful in particular to our senior citizens.”
Cedartown has just the one transit bus, with a cost of $2 per passenger for a one- way trip. The transit bus functions on a demand response system, with route deviation, as long as time permits.
Cedar town' s bus is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m ., and requires a 24- hour advance notice.
Children 5 and under must ride in a car seat, and passengers must be at least 17 years old to ride without a parent. For transportation needs, call 770-748-4074.
The program is used a lot by those over 65 without any other way of getting around, and remains at least one way the city can help with the prob- lem of figuring out how to get seniors around Cedartown without problems.
"A lot of other municipalities don't have what we have here,” said Commissioner Matt Foster before approving the contract. “Let's take care of our seniors.”
During his Manager's Report, Fann reported Cedartown has "submitted an application for the 2018 Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $ 750,000 for continued sewer line replacement in and around the good year village.”
It's an ongoing project that finally got underway earlier this summer to replace old sewer lines in the village off West Avenue in order halt past backup and flooding issues.
Fann said t he city should know whether or not they were accepted in
September.
"We're confident we put up a really good package. Ours would stand up to anybodies, so hopefully, the grant will help finish up the project," Fann said.
Also included in the Aug. 14 meeting was the approval of Corey Smith's request to use Main Street Park for Fall Revival spanning Monday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 8.
"This is the sixth year," said Smith. "It doesn't feel like its been that long, but the Lord has blessed us, and we've been able to see some great things come from this revival."
Each service begins at 7 p. m., and citizens are welcome to stop by and hear selections from the Bible preached at the park.
The revivals are intended to reinstate interest and passion for a spiritual renewal in the community, Smith said.
During the meeting, Bishop Joseph Sewell thanked the commissioners for “the things you have done, how you have contributed, how you have worked with us" in improvementsw made at Turner Street Park.
"I thank God for you guys and for the police department as we take on the endeavor to restore the park," Sewell said.
He is involved with the Turner Street Recreation Committee, and has worked with the commissioners to have various enhancements made to the park such as restrooms and outdoor lights.
Earlier in the summer, the park served as a camp where young people got to learn, play, eat, and gain life experience. Sewell made sure to mention and thank the "10 to 12 churches that tied in with us. The churches and community tied in with Turner Street Recreation to help, it wasn't just the committee.”
Sewell went on to say that “a young man asked me, 'why do you be at the park, and nobody using the park?' This was my reflection: You never see a person tearing up a house that's lived in, but you see a person tearing down an abandoned house that nobody lived in.”
The annual Boys and Girls club property lease was re-approved for another year by the commission.
"The lease is almost exactly word for word as the last several years," said Fann. "They haven't requested any changes."
The Polk Boys and Girls club is located at 321 E Queen Street, Cedartown where it has remained since construction in 2003.