Ashnbri
03-30-2007, 01:51 PM
Chuck Campbell would love to see a skate park in Jacksonville. One filled with ramps, maybe a half-pipe – a place where he and his friends can go to practice and hone their skateboarding skills. Skate Calhoun County shares his dream, so when they asked skaters from Calhoun County to help them raise money to build a park in Jacksonville, Campbell literally gave his all.
“I gave them the money that I had and then I went around here and just started asking people,” said Campbell of the money he helped to raise during one of Skate Calhoun County’s raffle fundraisers.
Through the efforts of Campbell and others like him, Skate Calhoun County has raised $13,000 – far short of the $40-$50,000 they need to purchase equipment for the park.
Last year, the city of Jacksonville promised the group that if they could raise enough money for the equipment, the city would furnish land for the park. In Monday’s city council meeting, the agreement was altered.
After an outcry from the skating community over the amount of money the city was spending on two buildings for the new soccer complex, the council decided to help the skaters out a little more. In a 5-1 vote, the council declared they would supply $45,000 toward the construction of a skate park if Skate Calhoun County and its supporters could supply $20,000.
On February 6, the finance committee met to determine priorities on how that money should be spent. Those priorities were remodel city hall, remodel the old recreation center on Ladiga and provide lighting for the soccer field.
“We had talked about refurbishing the old rec building across the street with the idea of moving the courtroom and council chambers over to that building and maybe have a meeting room over there,” said Mayor Johnny Smith. “That would free up space in this building.”
While the finance committee is able to make recommendations to the council, it is ultimately up to the council as a whole to determine how the money is spent.
“The finance committee does not make final decisions, they only make recommendations and then the council votes on what they want to actually do,” said Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Charles Notar.
At the March 12 council meeting, they opted to spend more than half the money from the refinancing on the soccer complex
During Monday night’s council meeting, the council approved the contracts for the soccer lighting as well as the both buildings. The mayor abstained from voting.
“I don’t feel like I can vote for that,” said Smith. “On the other hand, since we had a bid, we need a contract, but as you are aware I was opposed from accepting that bid.”
http://www.jaxnews.com/news/2007/jn-localnews-0328-jbacchus-7c28l2629.htm
“I gave them the money that I had and then I went around here and just started asking people,” said Campbell of the money he helped to raise during one of Skate Calhoun County’s raffle fundraisers.
Through the efforts of Campbell and others like him, Skate Calhoun County has raised $13,000 – far short of the $40-$50,000 they need to purchase equipment for the park.
Last year, the city of Jacksonville promised the group that if they could raise enough money for the equipment, the city would furnish land for the park. In Monday’s city council meeting, the agreement was altered.
After an outcry from the skating community over the amount of money the city was spending on two buildings for the new soccer complex, the council decided to help the skaters out a little more. In a 5-1 vote, the council declared they would supply $45,000 toward the construction of a skate park if Skate Calhoun County and its supporters could supply $20,000.
On February 6, the finance committee met to determine priorities on how that money should be spent. Those priorities were remodel city hall, remodel the old recreation center on Ladiga and provide lighting for the soccer field.
“We had talked about refurbishing the old rec building across the street with the idea of moving the courtroom and council chambers over to that building and maybe have a meeting room over there,” said Mayor Johnny Smith. “That would free up space in this building.”
While the finance committee is able to make recommendations to the council, it is ultimately up to the council as a whole to determine how the money is spent.
“The finance committee does not make final decisions, they only make recommendations and then the council votes on what they want to actually do,” said Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Charles Notar.
At the March 12 council meeting, they opted to spend more than half the money from the refinancing on the soccer complex
During Monday night’s council meeting, the council approved the contracts for the soccer lighting as well as the both buildings. The mayor abstained from voting.
“I don’t feel like I can vote for that,” said Smith. “On the other hand, since we had a bid, we need a contract, but as you are aware I was opposed from accepting that bid.”
http://www.jaxnews.com/news/2007/jn-localnews-0328-jbacchus-7c28l2629.htm