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Hinesville receives favorable audit
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The city received a favorable audit for its submitted comprehensive annual financial report from spending last fiscal year.
Chris Lightle of Karp, Roning & Tindol CPA presented the review July 3 during the city council meeting.
"We have encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing our audit," Lightle read from the report said.
During the meeting, assistant city manager Kenneth Howard also provided mayor and council with recommendations for public service agency funding.
The city received $296,335 from the Housing and Urban Development Entitlement program and 15 percent of those funds were set aside for public service agencies.
Three local public service agencies applied for the award and of those, the review board recommended granting Atlantic Area Court-Appointed Special Advocates and Senior Citizens, Inc. $15,000 each.
The council decided to accept the recommendation from the review board and approved the nonprofit organizations of the suggested amount.
Court-Appointed Special Advocates is made up of volunteers who "speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts," according to its mission statement.
Senior Citizens, Inc. provides a local "Meals on Wheels" program, which delivers hot, nutritionally balanced meals to senior citizens.
They also are afforded the added amenity of the pleasant company from the deliverers.
Sandy Griffin, director of marketing for Senior Citizens, Inc., spoke for the agency, saying it was "thrilled about receiving the grant."
"We expect to be able to provide for 11,000 individuals in the Liberty County area," she said.
The funds would allow for 740 hours to be contributed toward the local adult day care center operational three days a week.
The grant's third applicant, Kirk Healing Center, was denied the funds mainly due to its status as a first-year establishment.
"We feel that agency ... does not have the capacity, at this point in time, to administer a grant of this magnitude," Howard explained.
The organization provides assistance to battered women.
Mayor Jim Thomas, who is part of the center's board, called the center's purpose a "very worthwhile project."
"It reaches people we don't reach otherwise in the city," Thomas said. "Hopefully next year we can have it to the point where they can qualify."
Howard assured the city will "continue to work with them."
The remaining HUD Entitlement funds will go toward the Azalea street redevelopment project, as "a continuing effort to redevelop phase two," Howard told the council.
Redevelopment will include public facilities, water and sewer installation and other infrastructure, but would not be used for housing construction, as stipulated in federal regulations.

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Community gets a rare snow day
Snow Day 1

City of Hinesville and Liberty County offices are closed today, and the Liberty County School System is undergoing a day of virtual learning after a winter storm hit southeast Georgia.

Coastal Georgia was inundated with one of the biggest snowfalls in recorded history as forecasters called for 4-6 inches of snow to fall Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Initial reports Wednesday morning indicate at least 2 inches fell on Hinesville.

Sean Hafer and his family took advantage of the quiet roads and still Wednesday morning to enjoy the snow at Bradwell Park. He’s lived in Hinesville for almost 12 years and recalled the snow storm of 2018. But that snow was “not this deep,” he said. “It’s been a while.

“I don’t think many people went to work today,” Hafer said. “You think people would be out in it having fun, but I guess they’re scared to drive in it. It’s fun when you don’t get it around here.”

Hafer said he was curious to see how much snow was going to fall.

“They did well on this,” he said of the meteorologists. “They were accurate. They earned their pay on this one.”

The City of Hinesville declared a state of emergency Tuesday in advance of the storm and residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel due to potential severe weather conditions. Melting snow and ice can refreeze overnight, making roads dangerous.

Liberty County offices will remain closed until Friday. Liberty County School System students are having virtual learning Thursday.

Near-record lows tonight could lead to hazardous road conditions through tonight and Thursday morning, especially on secondary roads due to refreezing of melted snow and sleet and black ice with freezing of water puddle.

While daytime highs will be more temperate, overnight lows for the next few days are expected to remain well below freezing. The City of Hinesville encourages residents to drip their faucets overnight, insulate exposed pipes and to let warm air circulate around pipes by opening cabinet doors under sinks, especially those near exterior walls.

Some travel issues could persist Thursday night, with the potential for any remaining snow or slush to refreeze, especially on secondary roads.

The city also is reporting no power outages and all traffic lights are operational. Since most businesses are closed, traffic is minimal and residents are urged not to travel unless necessary.

 

 

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