Members of Liberty County’s youth commission made a pitch to county commissioners.
Youth commission members broached the commissioners about providing more opportunities for kids and families during a recent county commission meeting.
“We have too many gas stations and car washes,” offered one youth commission member.
County commission Chairman Donald Lovette welcomed the feedback, and reminded the youth commission members that the local governing bodies have no control on the number of gas stations and car washes locating in the community.
“They come on their own. We don’t go get them,” he said. “That’s a misconception – that we go out and get them. We don’t bring them here.”
Lovette noted the two recent openings of Wawa’s in Hinesville and Flemington and the company’s research showed the community could support two locations.
“They find they can be successful, and they come,” he said.
County Commissioner Justin Frazier, who has shepherded the youth commission, also has been a longtime proponent of a family entertainment center.
“Commissioner Frazier has been working on family entertainment for quite some time,” Chairman Lovette said. “The courting goes on. They haven’t committed to come. We have tried to bring those kinds of things here. We just have been successful – yet.”
Frazier pointed to Bulloch County and its Splash in the Boro water park and how successful it’s been. Local leaders have been looking at potential public-private partnerships for a family entertainment venue.
“That project was a SPLOST project,” Frazier said, referring to the special purpose local option sales tax. “Bulloch County put it on a ballot and they voted on it. There are multiple ways to do that.”
Members of the county’s youth commission teamed with their colleagues from the City of Hinesville’s youth council for a trip to Atlanta, touring the Capitol and meeting with representatives from other youth commissions. The Fulton County youth commission has worked on legislation raising the dropout age from 16 to 17.
“It’s grown by leaps and bounds,” Hinesville Mayor Karl Riles said of the city’s youth council. “We definitely want to thank Commissioner Frazier for reaching out to us.”
Jada Cunningham, who chairs the county’s youth commission, extolled their adoption of the theme of SALE – scholarship, advocacy, leadership and empowerment.
Youth commission members held a blanket drive for the homeless in advance of the first extreme weather of winter, and in collaborating with schools and other groups came up with more than what was needed, she said.
The commission members also have volunteered for the homeless at the Manna House.
“We take pride in advocating for our community,” Cunningham said.
