The Sept. 5 Putnam County Board of Commissioners meeting focused on a proposed afterschool and summer enrichment program, as well as several land use and infrastructure issues.
Commissioners Tom McElhenney (District 1), Richard Garrett (Dist. 2), Stephen Hersey (Dist. 3), and Chairman Bill Sharp attended the meeting, with District 4 Commissioner Jeff Wooten absent. County Manager Paul Van Haute and County Attorney Adam Nelson were also present.
Beyond the Bell Executive Director Sandra Dean appeared at the request of Commissioner Garrett to present details about a $105,000 state grant application aimed at funding afterschool and summer programming for Putnam County students. Beyond the Bell is a nonprofit with more than two decades of experience in youth services and currently operates in 27 Georgia counties.
The proposal would establish programming at the county-owned and- operated Jimmy Davis Park (JDP), where children would receive academic support and life skills training, Dean said. Retired educators and qualified staff would lead classes, while outdoor activities would also be offered.
Dean said she anticipates serving more than 50 students, with transportation support under discussion with the school system. She explained that Putnam County was chosen due to existing opioid education initiatives her organization operates locally, the high proportion of children on free and reduced lunch programs, and a lack of similar state-funded programs in the area.
Dean added that she and her staff are familiar with the layout of the downtown Eatonton park and are confident it could handle the scope of what she’s envisioning.
“We thought that area and the building itself would be ideal for the program,” she said. “And also, we would do a lot of things outside, so it has the land outside that the children can do programs there, too.”
Beyond the Bell expects to learn the outcome of its grant application late this month, she added.
Commissioners appeared encouraged but suggested logistics for facility use would have to be finalized with the county recreation department. They also questioned how building access, rental fees, cleaning, and contract terms will be negotiated if the grant is awarded.
Eatonton City Councilmember Janie Reid also spoke to the commissioners about Dean and her work with Beyond the Bell, as well as potential benefits to Eatonton and Putnam County citizens and their children.
“I just wanted to go on record. I want each of you to know that Ms. Dean has a history, a profound, strong, unquestionable history of working on behalf of communities, getting grants, and doing what’s right in those grants,” Reid stated. “And there are no conversations, no doubts whatsoever from the funders on those grants. I’ve known her for a long time, and I’ll be very honest with you, we are fortunate to have her in the community working on behalf of our youth and working on behalf of our community.”
In an unrelated coincidence, Eatonton resident Patricia Bailey submitted her resignation from the Jimmy Davis Park Policy Council.
Bailey, a retired educator, said she had been committed to improving the park but no longer felt the council was operating in a productive or positive environment. She cited extensive past service on boards and committees but noted her experience with the JDP Policy Council, chaired by Reid, had been unusually discouraging.
“I have served on numerous boards, and I’ve been a part of a lot of things, and this is by far has been one that I have not had a happy experience with,” Bailey said.
“I don’t like to be combative; I don’t like to be pointed out; and I will not be, because this is a volunteer position and I feel like that’s what has happened,” she added.
Sharp acknowledged her resignation and thanked her for her service.
The board also heard resident Bill Vargo advocate for a rezoning request to allow a new gas station at the intersection of Old Phoenix and New Phoenix roads. He argued that rapid growth in the lake community has increased demand for fueling stations, with many existing stations being overcrowded and difficult to access for vehicles pulling trailers or boats.
The commission also advanced the process of abandoning two county roads: Joe Wooten Road and Wooten Road. Both votes represented the fifth step in a six-step legal process required for road abandonment, and both were unanimously approved to proceed. Final approval will be considered at a yet-to-be-determined date.