Athens-Clarke County commissioners talked about public safety and youth development at their regular voting meeting Tuesday night.
Picking up on a discussion from an agenda-setting meeting last month, the commission voted unanimously to allocate some $2.8 million in federal pandemic relief funds to the Boys and Girls Club of Athens. Under the plan, about $1.5 million will go towards the development of a new delinquency prevention initiative. Another $1.2 million will go to expand operations at several community centers and open two new centers at Parkview and Broad Acres.
The plan begins with a $25,000 allocation up front and monthly payments of $118,750. The plan also includes an array of metrics to evaluate the program’s success.
Commissioners approved the measure unanimously. Commissioners also unanimously approved a proposal to spend some $230,000 in a partnership with the Clarke County School District for the creation of a Youth Development and Violence Prevention program.
Commissioners also approved a list of two finalist sites for a new judicial center and courthouse. Both locations are in downtown Athens – one the Federal Building on Hancock, and the other a pair of surface parking lots on Strong Steet and Jackson Street owned by the county.
Another more controversial measure, the issuing of a third round of bond financing for the Classic Center Arena was postponed.
District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby made it clear that he and at least some of his colleagues wanted more information from Classic Center officials before a vote, including a signed agreement with the master developer and an accounting of possible future funding requests.
Commissioners will revisit the issue on August 15.
