Council weighs raises vs. library

By Jennifer L. Johnson - jennifer.johnson@onlineathens.com
Published Wednesday, September 29, 2010

WINTERVILLE - City councilmen are considering whether to provide annual raises for city employees or allocate more money to the local library, a hotly debated question that came up after they'd already adopted next year's budget.

Under the current economic conditions, the council's two-member finance committee opted not to give 4 percent raises, a perk that's not based on performance but had become customary for the past several years, Councilman Mark Farmer told colleagues at a meeting last week.

Doing away with the raises doesn't mean that city employees aren't doing a good job, according to Councilman Rob McNiff.

But some council members were angry that the changes made to the budget were not discussed earlier this month, when city leaders voted to accept the budget.

"In the 10 years that I've been on (the) City Council, we've discussed every comma and semicolon that's been changed," said Councilman Kenneth Tweedell. "I can't believe nobody brought this to our attention."

The $4,000 that would have gone to raises instead was allocated to the Winterville Library, part of the Athens Regional Library System, which is absorbing a $53,000 drop in state funding this year and anticipates another $50,000 budget cut next year.

"I'm on the (Winterville) library board of directors. I know we need money at the library," said Bob White. "But not at the expense of city employees. These people work their hearts out for the city, and we need to pay them fairly."

The council reviewed what the city already contributes to the library - including the $18,000 that's already budgeted, electricity costs and insurance - to figure out if the city should contribute more money.

Although Winterville can't legally amend the $513,757 operating budget after it has been adopted, line items and dollar amounts within the budget can be adjusted, meaning city leaders could cut library funding and reinstate the raises.

The council will revisit the issue at an agenda workshop set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Kids, officer talk about who not to talk to

Officer Jimmy Fulcher talks to kids at the Winterville Library's Stranger Danger presentation. Photograph by David Manning.

By Jennifer L. Johnson - jennifer.johnson@onlineathens.com
Published Thursday, September 23, 2010

WINTERVILLE - Nine-year-old Beatrice Carrillos and her sisters didn't come to the local library to talk to a police officer.

But when they arrived at the Winterville Library after school Tuesday, they ran into Officer Jimmy Fulcher, there to teach children age-old lessons about avoiding strangers and finding a police officer for help.

"I thought police officers were only there to arrest bad guys," said Beatrice, who came with sisters Elena, 10, and Rosie, 6, to use the computers at the library. "I didn't know that the police can help you with people you don't want to talk to."

Invited to talk by library branch manager Julie Carnes, Fulcher, a 31-year veteran officer, delivered the half-hour "Stranger Danger" presentation to a dozen preschoolers last week and to Winterville's older kids this week.

"Learning about strangers was one of my mom's biggest things," said Carnes, who organized the presentation with the Winterville Police Department a few weeks ago. "Kids should have this information and know what to do, from toddlers right on up to more mature kids."

Fulcher answered questions about his uniform and let some kids touch his badge, just so they'd know what a real one looks like.


Librarian Julie Carnes reads a book to kids about police officers before introducing Officer Fulcher at the Winterville Library. Photo by David Manning.

All the kids knew that they aren't supposed to speak to strangers, but most couldn't define one.

"If you've never seen anybody before, they're a stranger," Fulcher said. "Even your librarian was a stranger to you at one time. Yes, you know her now and know that she's here to help you, but when you first met her, she was a stranger."

Eight-year-old Hope Painter has a clever answer if a stranger asks where she lives, she said.

"I wouldn't tell him (the truth). I'd say 'Michigan,' " she said.

"Well, now, there's an idea," Fulcher said. "It would take them a really long time to get to Michigan, wouldn't it? But you don't want to tell them anything. Remember, we don't talk to strangers."

It's a lesson that Hope's mother, Deborah Painter, has taught her two daughters since they were old enough to talk. Painter brought Hope and Emma, 11, back to Winterville after seeing a flyer for the "Stranger Danger" talk at the library the day before.

"I wanted the girls to hear the presentation, just in case there's anything I missed or didn't think about before," Painter said.

Emma and Hope stay close to their mom in public, but also aren't allowed to answer the front door at home.

That's a good practice, according to Fulcher. He recommends kids tell their parent or guardian whenever someone knocks on the door, even if they know who it is.

"If they're not supposed to be there, don't open the door," Fulcher said. "If you're home alone and you get scared, call the police. We never have a problem coming to help scared boys and girls."

When police officers respond to 911 calls, they always arrive in patrol cars and wear badges, Fulcher said. It's OK to ask to see the badge before opening the door, he added.

Like adults who contemplate how they would respond in a perilous situation - like a mugging - Fulcher had the children run through their own danger scenario: A stranger tempting them with the trinket all kids want these days.

"You've got your own Silly Bandz at home and you should tell strangers that," Fulcher said. "That way you can be safe and get more Silly Bandz from your parents."

The library hasn't yet scheduled another "Stranger Danger" talk, but will if program planners find interest.

For more information about free programs at your local library, visit the website www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us.


Photo by David Manning.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, September 23, 2010

Winterville ponders next move for building

By Jennifer L. Johnson - jennifer.johnson@onlineathens.com
Published Thursday, September 16, 2010

The committee charged with restoring the Winterville High School building and turning it into a senior center will hold a workshop with city officials later this month to figure out how to proceed now that they've won a $500,000 state grant for the project.

The grant money awarded last week is roughly one-third of what it would take to complete the project, according to committee members.

In applying for the grant, city leaders agreed to spend sales tax money to extend a sanitary sewer to the school building and its adjacent 450-seat auditorium. Some officials now want to wait until November - when they will know whether voters agree to extend a 1 percent sales tax - before they accept the grant.

The city could reject the grant and not build the sewer, but even with the $500,000, Winterville still would need about $174,000 to finish the senior center in the school building.

To close that funding gap, the restoration committee may form an official nonprofit to apply for grants and solicit donations. The nonprofit foundation also could oversee community resources such as the school and auditorium, Carter-Coile Country Doctors' Museum and the Winterville Depot.

"Right now, we're looking into models of how other small communities function under umbrella nonprofit foundations to manage their civic programs," said Jo Mercer, who sits on the restoration committee. "Nothing is certain. We're simply exploring the options - and there are many."

Citizens may attend the workshop, which will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Winterville Depot.


Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, September 16, 2010