Letter to the Editor

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Wales weighs in on park

Dear Editor:

This is in response to Mr. Kelly Range, regarding his letter to the editor published in the Jan. 18, 2020, edition of The News Courier. Below is an explanation on why I voted “no” on approving the money for this park at this particular point in time. It has been my intention to replace Jimmy Gill Park as it was before removal and still is.

Regarding the Jan. 13, 2020, City Council meeting agenda item “L,” resolution to transfer $600,000 of funds from the alcohol fund to the capital projects fund for expenses related to the relocation of Jimmy Gill Park, it was my understanding the $300,000 Toyota Boshoku provided would be the cost of moving this park. This was from a meeting with the mayor approximately four to five months ago.

The playground equipment and the shade canopy would be taken down and moved to this new site to be reinstalled at the new locations. Now we know this is not going to happen. I have no idea what may have happened to the shaded pavilion or most of the playground equipment.

The agenda was submitted by the mayor’s secretary on Jan. 9. The agenda was retrieved from my mailbox on Jan. 10. City Hall was closed Saturday, Jan. 11, and Sunday, Jan. 12. Due to the council meeting on Jan. 13, there weren’t enough line-item details to make a detailed decision on the overall cost of the project, as well as the time needed to analyze the content to call for a vote and have it passed.

In fact, it was requested by council members not to include item “L” on the agenda until the park’s request for a very large dollar amount could be analyzed and completely justified before the vote would be taken.

Line-items as referenced, suggested and requested by Mr. Range did not and do not exist at a level of detail required to authorize the expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Any city project regardless of its nature or size must be fully analyzed, justified and have enough backup detail to ensure the projection of taxpayer dollars, regardless of which district it is spent in.

Once again, considering the resolution request of this magnitude and the amount of taxpayer dollars to be spent without adequate analysis, detail and a thorough justification, we — myself and Councilman Harper — chose to delay or to vote “no” until we have mandatory questions answered. Now that I have seen a line-item request and dollar amount, I will be in favor of approving this park.

As to Mr. Range’s personal comments, I don’t believe they were necessary regarding any council member. Plus, I don’t believe they were necessary, considering his request regarding the resolution will happen without his demand.

Our City Council members are continually professional, very responsive and extremely ethical, and these qualities are resented by each councilman to and for the citizens of Athens regardless of the district represented.

Sincerely,

Harold Wales

Athens City Council

Thanks for the help

Dear Editor:

I am writing to thank Athens residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Because of the generosity of donors in Athens and across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collected more than 8.9 million shoebox gifts in 2019. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2019, the ministry is now sending 10,569,405 shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Through shoeboxes—packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—Athens volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 178 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories since 1993.

It’s not too late for people to make a difference. Though drop-off locations serving Athens are closed until November 16 – 23, 2020, information about year-round volunteer opportunities can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 770-777-9342.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in this global project—many who do so year after year. These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.

Sincerely,

Dana Williams

Operation Christmas Child