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Politics & Government

Senior Center Expansion Moves Forward

A public hearing was held on Tuesday regarding a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant that will add to Woodie Fite in Douglasville.

The one person who spoke during a public hearing about a grant to expand the  said he welcomes the addition as both a resident and the executive director of the Douglas County Housing Authority.

“It is well-used, well-liked,” Kenneth Brewer told the Board of Commissioners during Tuesday morning's legislative meeting.

Brewer said his tenants use the facility daily.

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“We highly commend the county commission for getting this grant,” he said.

The public hearing was held to fulfill a requirement for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant that the county received from the Department of Community Affairs. The board  in September.

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Seventy of the grants were awarded statewide, and Douglas was one of only two that received funding for a senior center. There were 147 applicants for the federal funds.

“These are very competitive grants, and we are very tickled to receive one,” Commission Chairman Tom Worthan said. “(This is) a much-needed project, and we look forward to going through this process and beginning construction. We all are excited.”

County officials are planning to build a second building behind the current one, with a breezeway connecting the two. The new building will be 5,030 square feet, and county officials said it will enable more senior citizens to participate in activities and events, such as holiday dinners.

The Woodie Fite Senior Center opened in 2005 and has more than 4,000 members. County officials said they expect to send out construction bids for the expansion soon, and the work is slated to be completed by next fall.

In other business, the board:

  • Approved an agreement with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta for $28,500 in funding for the Home-Delivered Meals program
  • Voted to grant an easement to the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer authority for access at the Dog River Library
  • Voted to accept funds from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s forfeiture account to purchase a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • Voted to apply for a Georgia Department of Natural Resources trail grant to build new bathrooms and construct a trail head at the Clinton Nature Preserve
  • Approved proclamations for Farm-City Week Nov. 18-24 and Parent Involvement Day on Nov. 17
  • Approved a resolution promoting the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce’s “buy local” initiative
  • Approved a resolution to partner with the Georgia Department of Revenue in an effort to ensure proper payment of sales tax
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