— The director of a Limestone County nonprofit agency all but begged Limestone County Commissioners Wednesday for at least a year’s rent and utilities so it can continue helping people find housing, transportation, health care, food and jobs.

Sarah Chadwell, director of the Athens-Limestone County Family Resource Center, asked the four commissioners and county commission chairman to agree to renew the four-year lease and pay utilities at the center located at 406 S. Jefferson St. in Athens.  “We desperately need your support,” Chadwell said.

The county had a four-year lease on the building owned by Jimmy Greenhaw that expired this year. Chadwell said if the commission could renew the 4-year lease, perhaps it could commit to at least a year’s rent and utilities so the agency could make other funding arrangements.

“We are asking for you to make a decision so we can go forward,” Chadwell said. “We have gotten so much done in the past five years.”

In the past, the county has given the agency $20,000 plus $12,000 rent and $4,800 to $7,200 in utilities each year. The city of Athens gives the agency $20,000 for salaries and operating expenses. The agency also received $25,000 annually from the money the Tennessee Valley Authority pays the county instead of paying taxes. They use the TVA money for salaries and operating expenses as well.

The FRC’s space is open to visiting agencies, including LAUNCH, Careerlink, Vocational Rehab, Crisis Services, Childcare Management, and Kids and Kin.

Chadwell asked that the commission, at the very least, tell her one way or the other if any amount of rent and utilities would be forthcoming so she could inform employees and take action on various grants if the answer is no.

Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee made it fairly clear in an a April meeting that he does not approve of giving rent and utilities money to one nonprofit agency and not to others. However, the commission has never voted in any way on the funding for the agency.

Menefee and the bulk of the commission balked at this request. Commissioner Gerald Barksdale said it would be difficult to vote now on Chadwell’s request because other agencies would then want the commission to vote on their budget requests. Finally, Commissioner Bill Daws pressed the commission to vote on the FRC request at the coming commission meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Clinton Street Courthouse Annex. The commission agreed to do so. 

In support of the FRC, Department of Human Resources Director Caroline Page told the commission the agency is an asset to the county because it can offer services that the DHR can no longer provide due to staff cuts. DHR has lost nine staff members in the past two years due to state budget cuts. She said the FRC never duplicates services offered to adults and families. In addition, she said the FRC works to prevent child abuse by helping adults and families find stability, whereas DHR responds to child abuse after it has occurred.

Others, including a school counselor and a minister, spoke of the valuable assistance provided by the FRC. Chadwell also provided the commission with letters of strong support for the FRC from officials at other county or state agencies serving Limestone County. There were letters from DHR Director Caroline Page, United Way Director Kaye McFarlen, Juli Rogers of the DHR, Salvation Army Case Manager Valerie McAbee, Maria Taylor, Alabama Department of Public Health Social Worker Joan Cox, Decatur Career Center Specialist David Bowen, Limestone County LAUNCH Program Coordinator April Clement as well as letters of appreciation from people whom the FRC helped find stability during their times of need. It is atypical for officials of so many agencies to step forward to support funding for another agency.

Barksdale said after the meeting he believes the FRC does an outstanding job but noted that the state starts these programs then “dumps” them on the counties to fund.

Family Resource Centers were established in about 60 counties in Alabama when former Gov. Bob Riley was in office. The agency collaborates with other social service agencies and churches to provide resources to families who lose their homes, jobs or simply can’t afford to pay their utility bills.

Barksdale also said he had some reservations about paying rent for one nonprofit and not others. However, he said he would not be opposed to funding the rent and utilities for another year in hopes the FRC could obtain other funding. (Greenhaw is willing to let the commission pay month to month).

Menefee suggested during the work session that Chadwell try to get the local legislative delegation to share a bit more of the TVA in-lieu-of-tax monies with FRC for rent and utilities.

Chadwell said she had talked to the delegation before but would do so again.

Barksdale said after the meeting he did not understand why the delegation should have control over a portion of the TVA funds, since the money is paid to Limestone and other counties that draw power from TVA. The delegation gives money from its portion of the TVA funds to fire departments and other agencies and groups as it sees a need.