On Nov. 5, voters in Putnam County District 2 will determine whether Republican incumbent Daniel Brown or Democratic candidate Richard Garrett will represent them on the next version of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
District 2 is a racially diverse region surrounded by each of the other three county districts. It encompasses downtown Eatonton while extending eastward and southward into Districts 3 and 4, respectively.
Also currently serving on the Putnam BOC are Commission Chairman Bill Sharp, District 3 Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hersey, and District 4 Commissioner Jeff Wooten. District 1 has remained open since then-Commissioner Gary McElhenney died in May. Republicans Tom McElhenney and Jerry Swafford will face off on the Nov. 5 ballot to fill the vacant seat.
Commissioner Brown and challenger Garrett recently responded to a series of questions sent to them last week by The Eatonton Messenger. They are presented here with light edits only for spelling, grammar, or clarity.
Q: Downtown Eatonton is the heart of District 2. How can the county support efforts by the city to promote and revitalize the area?
Brown: Your county leaders support the Chamber of Commerce and Putnam Development Authority, which promote the city and county.
Our county manager (Paul Van Haute) has stated that our current relationship between our city leaders and county leaders is the best he has seen in the 15 years he’s been here. I hope we continue to work together toward the common goal of our city and county being the best place in Georgia to live.
Garrett: Downtown Eatonton has historic buildings, cornerstone assets such as The Plaza, Georgia Writers Museum, City Center Stage, and recent business gems such as Sylvia’s Coffee and Taylor Flowers.
The city, the Chamber of Commerce, Eatonton Main Street, and the PDA do good work, but we continue to struggle with empty storefronts and short-lived enterprises.
So, how can we bring more lake dollars to downtown? I think the county can step up its game. We are crying out for a downtown anchor business that will encourage others to invest, maybe something like an ice cream parlor that would bring foot traffic, support our dairies, and enhance community spirit. The county or city could even provide seed funding or perhaps run the business as a public cooperative.
Offering training there for the unemployed or underemployed might prompt a higher-end restaurant to make a bet on Eatonton. I want to see deeper cooperation between county and city on downtown development and a willingness to try new approaches.
Q: With Putnam General Hospital also in District 2, do you feel a responsibility to be an advocate for its needs? Why or why not?
Brown: All of your commissioners feel a need to advocate for our hospital. We know how important it is to Eatonton, our county, and our surrounding counties. I’ve seen God’s blessings in many ways in this county, and what I have witnessed our hospital go through will always stand out to me.
Our federal government leaders have failed hospitals, and they’re closing everywhere.
I could go on about that, but we’ll stop and say, I am pulling for our hospital to prosper. We are working to add more money to the hospital’s budget for next year.
Garrett: I am a big advocate for our hospital. My wife, Karen, suffered a burst brain aneurysm and would be dead if not for the rapid response of the EMTs at Putnam General. I participate in the Georgia HEART program, which directs a portion of my state taxes to Putnam General.
A sustained budget deficit captures much of what is right and wrong in our community, right?
Because PGH serves everyone – insured or not – and because we tolerate intergenerational poverty that drives poor eating habits and missed routine screenings, with the PGH emergency room substituting for primary care, the closure of our hospital would be a grave loss.
We do not even want to consider that possibility.
The facility is almost self-sustaining, and I support the PGH Authority’s call for the county to increase its support to cover the operating deficit. But just as importantly, the county and the city need to get serious about addressing the underlying social problems.
Q: How should housing shortages in District 2 be addressed? How can the county promote more home building or renovations?
Brown: I’ve been told a new residential development is underway across from our Ingles grocery store and that there are future plans for development across from Walmart.
We are currently pursuing grants for water and sewage systems to develop areas and provide workforce housing. Although I have not worked on abandoned and dilapidated homes, I do believe we can find the best way to address the issue and make our city a better-looking place.
Garrett: District 2 is land-rich but housing-poor. Walk many of our neighborhoods, and you will see numerous empty lots left to grass and bushes. Unfortunately, we still have many dilapidated and abandoned houses, yet we also have a shortage of affordable homes for sale or rent.
House prices and the cost of materials have soared.
So, what are the solutions? The city has secured some small renovation grants, and a blight tax has been in place for a few years. Also, Habitat for Humanity constructs a handful of new homes for low-income residents each year, but the problem remains much bigger.
Q: Jimmy Davis Park remains a hot-button issue for some. How can the park be better used and/ or incorporated into county initiatives? What are your plans for JDP?
Brown: My opponent’s wife has stated at one or more of our commissioner meetings that nothing happened at Jimmy Davis Park until they got involved three years ago.
I have been working on Jimmy Davis Park physically and through others for the last eight years.
There’s been a lot to work through, and recounting all I have witnessed and done with Jimmy Davis Park in the last eight years could possibly take up a full newspaper page.
Our county manager, public works and recreation departments, County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp, all commissioners, and the advisory committee have opened a new chapter for Jimmy Davis Park. I finally believe Jimmy Davis Park will be a beautiful park that its namesake and his descendants can be proud of.
As for going forward, the advisory committee, with help from Scott Haley and Tweedy Parham (of the Putnam County Rec. Dept.), will do an excellent job directing its path for downtown Eatonton.
Garrett: The county’s recent and long overdue investment in Jimmy Davis Park is most welcome. Now, the county needs to rebuild trust with the community. The park is mainly off-limits.
Unfortunately, gates are locked, and closed signs are posted. The county says this is to continue work on the facility, but days go by with nothing happening. People do not understand why they cannot access and use the park.
The most impactful next steps for Jimmy Davis Park include staffed afterschool activities to do homework and other enrichment activities for four days a week and regular sports practices and games held on the field.
A well-equipped JDP with activities for all ages is vital for a healthy and engaged citizenry. We need to protect the park's investment and trust the community to take care of it. A sense of ownership is critical to developing respect and security.
Q: Why has there been so much controversy about the SPLOST 10 renewal? What should voters be focused on?
Brown: The wording. Our county attorney told me that 95% of Georgia’s counties word their SPLOST referendums the way we did on the ballot. This reduces the hurdles with the legislation or having a special election if the commissioners see it would be in the best interest of the citizens to get a bond on one particular capital project.
Getting a bond for any capital project would still have to be brought before citizens. There are no backroom-in-the-dark deals here. The issue the citizens should be concerned with is that if SPLOST 10 is voted down, those capital improvements will not be completed.
We are number 11 in Georgia’s 159 counties, with the lowest millage rate in the state. Can anyone imagine what our property taxes and millage rate would be if we funded capital improvements through the general fund?
Garrett: SPLOST 10 is controversial because the county wants to borrow the anticipated sales tax funds upfront for the first time. Some voters are worried the county will borrow too much and the taxpayers will be on the hook down the road.
The other controversy is that on the November ballot, at least voters must approve the combined package, which is SPLOST renewal plus the debt, or reject the whole thing. I think voters would prefer to approve or reject SPLOST 10 and separately approve or reject the debt.
The county fueled this controversy by not explaining why SPLOST debt makes sense. A growing county with a decent economy, which sounds like Putnam, should be able to repay bonds from sales tax receipts. The SPLOST 10 controversy is a failure of communication, in my opinion. We need elected officials who are willing and able to explain to voters the pros and cons of significant issues like this.