Residents press Newton County over delayed Westside youth center and SPLOST transparency
Loading...
Summary
Multiple District 3 residents told the Newton County Board of Commissioners they have waited years for a promised Westside youth center and want clearer accounting for SPLOST dollars; commissioners reiterated support but said land acquisition, procurement and scheduling issues remain.
At a Jan. 20 meeting of the Newton County Board of Commissioners, a string of residents pressed the board to explain why a Westside youth facility funded through past SPLOST allocations has not been built.
Dennis Taylor, who identified himself during the public‑comment period, questioned the county’s approach to holding SPLOST bond money and urged transparency about using Georgia Fund 1 for long‑term investment, saying voters “expect you to take that money, turn it over quickly, and do the projects in a timely manner.” Annette Austin, a Trelawney subdivision resident, told commissioners she was “very happy” to see a Southside recreation center proceed but asked, “Why is Westside still waiting to get their recreation center?”
Speakers cited awards and allocations dating to prior SPLOST cycles. One attendee said the District 3 Westside Youth Facility had been awarded $4,100,000 under the 2017 SPLOST and that a related 2023 allocation totaled $3,700,000, and asked why projects remain unfinished; those figures were presented during public comment and attributed to the speaker’s recollection of prior actions.
Commissioner Edwards told the board that when county staff could not find a viable site for a new Southside‑style facility the commission voted to invest SPLOST funds in upgrades at existing parks, including Factory Shoals Park. County Manager James Brown and project staff said work at Factory Shoals is under contract with a guaranteed maximum price of about $1,500,000 for the current construction scope and that staff will provide commissioners with diagrams and project schedules on request.
Multiple residents urged more frequent town halls and better use of the Notify Newton service to bring constituent requests into the project evaluation process. Commissioner Cooper and others said they support the youth center but cited difficulties finding land and the risk that publicizing a potential purchase can drive up land prices.
The board approved several related administrative items at the meeting: it authorized changes to consultant service dates and contract timelines so consultant work and construction schedules align for both the historic jail and Factory Shoals Park; the board also approved moving forward with SPLOST bond banking updates (discussed separately). No final new budget appropriation for a separate Westside youth facility was adopted at the meeting; commissioners said they will continue searching for land and evaluating grant opportunities.
The most recent procedural step on the previously allocated funds was approval to align consultant and construction timelines for Factory Shoals Park and the historic jail so work can proceed in the construction phase.
