Greetings to the Citizens of Grantville: My name is Ruby E. Hines and I am a candidate for City Council Post #2. I am married to J D Hines who owns and operates J D Hines Garage. We are thankful parents of four daughters and two grandchildren. I have resided in the City limits of Grantville for over sixty years, and JD has lived here all of his life. I am a 1961 graduate of Central High School, which is now known as the Central Educational Center (CEC). I am also a 1976 graduate of Meadows Business College in LaGrange, Ga (now closed) I retired from the Coweta County School System with forty-three years of service as a secretary--bookkeeper, 2006. Presently, I am a second-year online student at the Kings University in Van Nuys, California, where I am pursuing a degree in Christian Ministry. As a citizen of this great city, I have been a charter member of the City of Grantville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board since its inception in 1998. By the grace of God and the cooperation of former Mayor, City Council and Advisory Board members, I, along with the advisory board, wrote and received over $20,000 in grant funds for the purchasing of play structures, swings, tables, bicycle racks, benches and grills for Post Street, Griffin Street, and Colley Street Parks. In addition, we were given permission from our former governing body to have a summer camp for all children. This camp began on the baseball field near Colley Street, and eventually, the city was able to secure the Grantville Brown School gym for camp, indoor basketball, baton, aerobics, zumba, karate and soccer for seven weeks each summer. Attendance was so great that children had to attend summer camp on alternate days. Educational field trips, swimming, and guest speakers all played a part in a well-rounded camp for all children, and free lunches were provided by CAFI. In addition, Coweta Forestry personnel and advisory board members planted shrubbery and flowers in both parks. During the winter, children participated in Christmas with Santa and received numerous toys from neighboring donors. Our Stellar moment came in 2010 with the naming of the Griffin Street Recreation Center in honor of two former city councilmen: Willie L. Clements Sr, and John A. Malcolm, I, along with the advisory board, wrote and received a grant in the amount of $5,000 from EMC in honor of Willie L. Clements, board member. We were able to secure tables, chairs, microwaves, five computers, and a refrigerator for the center. Presently, I am still serving on the City of Grantville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and in 2012, the board was asked to write a three-to-five year recreation plan for the city. This plan was written presented, and adopted by the governing body on October 2012. I am also a member of the Grantville Kiwanis Club, where I serve as President. The Kiwanis Club is a global organization designed to help each child and community one at a time. We sponsor over forty K-Kids at Glanton Elementary, provide ice cream parties, distribute bring-up-your-grades certificates, serve as judges for Red Ribbon Week, and plant shrubbery and flowers at the Post office. We planted additional flowers and shubbery at the post office on Monday, October 27, 2014. These are just a few things that I am involved in as a citizen of Grantville. In 2013, the governing body of our city instructed the skaters to meet with the advisory board and to work out plans for a skate park. The skaters met with the advisory board and share their thoughts and dreams concerning a skate park. Councilwoman Selma Coty assisted the advisory board and the skaters in securing companies who designed and built skate parks. After much searching, the skaters decided on American Ramp, who designs and builds skate parks all over the United States. A webinar was set up between the skaters and the company, and a design and location (Griffin Street) was selected. Representatives from American Ramp made three visits to Grantville. On the first visit, the representative met with the Mayor and City Council and answered all questions. On the second visit, the representative met with the Mayor, Johnny Williams the city manager, Allen Smith, and me. Again, all questions were answered. On the third visit, the vice president of marketing met with the Mayor and the City Council, and, again all questions were answered. The cost of this park was under $100.000; however, one city councilman chose another company, and in order for the children to have a skate park in 2013, two of the council members went along thinking the skate park would be a reality in 2013. This company price was $75,000 to $100.000. However, on January 2014, the Mayor announced that the company that was chosen only designed skateparks. He felt, along with the two other council members, that not enough preparation had gone into the project, so they voted to cancel the skate park. Please note that the advisory board and I were eyewitnesses to all of the above. Needless to say, our children are still skating wherever they can find a place to skate. I, along with the advisory board, believe we should have recreation programs designed to benefit all from one to 112. Everyone does not enjoy doing the same thing, so we need a multipurpose building that will incorporate different departments for all ages. Moreover, we believe recreation should be spread over the city, not in one defined area. The city should be inviting from all different entrance areas. Sidewalks should connect, and walkers should not have to walk on the grass to prevent being hit by a car. In 2012, Doug Jewell, Mary Elder, Selma Coty and I met with the Superintendent of Coweta County Schools concerning the possibility of Grantville Brown School being donated to the City of Grantville should there come a time when the county would no longer need it. We had a fruitful meeting with the Superintendent with the understanding that no guarantees could be made at that time. Presently, the building is being occupied by RESA. For example, in the city of Newnan, the Howard Warner School was occupied by school administration for years. However, the building has now been given to the city, and it will become a recreation site for that side of town. Citizens of Grantville, I know you love Grantville; if not, you would have moved. When you elect me, I will continue to be a woman of character. Special interest groups do not interest me because everyone is important. I will ask for citizen group meetings and include all stakeholders. I will make sure SPLOST funds are spent fairly so that all citizens may benefit. I will encourage my colleagues to revaluate the City Charter for updates, deletions, and improvements. Utilities, Finance and Personnel, utmost concern. Since we are not all knowing, we need each other to help bring this town together once again. (Thank you for taking the time to read what I have written.) When you elect me as your councilperson, you will elect a woman who will be a VOICE FOR THE CITIZENS OF GRANTVILLE. I AM YOUR CANDIDATE, AND I WILL LET THE FRUIT DO THE TALKING. Blessings, Ruby E.Hines Post #2
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:39:17 +0000
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