Finding a central location where day laborers can meet was one of several topics taken up by the Hinesville City Council during a planning workshop earlier this month.
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas said the city hasn’t yet moved forward on the proposal since a proper location has yet to be determined. Thomas said the city will work with Hinesville Downtown Development Authority Director Vicki Davis in putting a committee together to find a suitable location where day laborers can gather. The mayor said the city would then work with a private property owner to secure a location.
Hinesville City Council Member (District 1) Charles Frasier raised the issue for discussion during the planning workshop. Frasier said if the city had a central location where day laborers could meet at a specified time it would keep laborers from wandering around town looking for work.
“You would have people there every single day,” he said, referring to the amount of construction going on in Liberty County despite the economic downturn.
Thomas said day laborers in Savannah usually meet at one of the downtown squares designated as a day laborer meeting place.
“Some days you’ll go there and see 30-50 people, sometimes there’s just five,” he said.
Council members agreed a location near the downtown area that is easily accessible for workers and easy for large work vehicles to “get in and out” would be best.
“We may want to make it close to the bus line,” Thomas said. The city’s bus system will be operational this fall.
Frasier said he has seen day laborers meet regularly at a local gas station. He suggested police could routinely patrol the area around a central day laborer location.
The mayor replied Savannah does not seem to have a problem with their day laborer location, adding tourists often walk by the square where workers meet.
The council also discussed the possibility of having a city magazine published to promote Hinesville. Thomas said the City of Richmond Hill has its own magazine titled Richmond Hill Reflections.
City officials reviewed some preliminary costs and decided they will look closely at the upcoming budget to see if such a project is feasible. One estimate for producing a 48-page magazine ran about $57,817 in initial costs. Advertising would help offset the cost, Thomas said.
“Once we get enough ads, it won’t cost the city anything to get its story out,” he said.
Frasier said he liked the city magazine idea but was concerned about the overall cost.
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas said the city hasn’t yet moved forward on the proposal since a proper location has yet to be determined. Thomas said the city will work with Hinesville Downtown Development Authority Director Vicki Davis in putting a committee together to find a suitable location where day laborers can gather. The mayor said the city would then work with a private property owner to secure a location.
Hinesville City Council Member (District 1) Charles Frasier raised the issue for discussion during the planning workshop. Frasier said if the city had a central location where day laborers could meet at a specified time it would keep laborers from wandering around town looking for work.
“You would have people there every single day,” he said, referring to the amount of construction going on in Liberty County despite the economic downturn.
Thomas said day laborers in Savannah usually meet at one of the downtown squares designated as a day laborer meeting place.
“Some days you’ll go there and see 30-50 people, sometimes there’s just five,” he said.
Council members agreed a location near the downtown area that is easily accessible for workers and easy for large work vehicles to “get in and out” would be best.
“We may want to make it close to the bus line,” Thomas said. The city’s bus system will be operational this fall.
Frasier said he has seen day laborers meet regularly at a local gas station. He suggested police could routinely patrol the area around a central day laborer location.
The mayor replied Savannah does not seem to have a problem with their day laborer location, adding tourists often walk by the square where workers meet.
The council also discussed the possibility of having a city magazine published to promote Hinesville. Thomas said the City of Richmond Hill has its own magazine titled Richmond Hill Reflections.
City officials reviewed some preliminary costs and decided they will look closely at the upcoming budget to see if such a project is feasible. One estimate for producing a 48-page magazine ran about $57,817 in initial costs. Advertising would help offset the cost, Thomas said.
“Once we get enough ads, it won’t cost the city anything to get its story out,” he said.
Frasier said he liked the city magazine idea but was concerned about the overall cost.