Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students provides opportunities

ALBANY — The Dougherty County Commission received an update on the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students on Monday during the board’s first meeting in three weeks.

Dougherty County School System public information officers J.D. Sumner and Sonya Spillers presented an update on GCAPS. The program, designed to address the need for increased civic involvement and awareness among Georgia’s youths, has included interactions with those in the court system and public safety agencies.

One of the places that GCAPS students have learned how taxpayer dollars are being invested is the The Dougherty County Jail. Jalen Johnson, a Dougherty Comprehensive High School graduate who once participated in GCAPS and has political ambitions, spoke with this year’s group.

A trip was also made to Boston Harbor, and to a Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential event in Atlanta.

“Our students walk away knowing they have power as young people,” Sumner said.

The school system is four years into the program, and preparations are beginning for the next class. Johnson was used as an example to show that the students in the program are not to be underestimated.

“If you follow (Johnson’s) story, it is incredible,” Spillers said. “This program is the reason he is where he is.”

Dougherty County Administrator Michael McCoy said the county’s proposed budget includes an internship component for GCAPS.

Also at the meeting, the commission approved unanimously:

♦ A recommendation to ratify the application for a work source grant and accept the award in the amount of $59,646. The grant is a partnership between the county, the city of Albany and Albany Technical College to provide career and technical education to military personnel and their spouses who are transitioning out of service. Dougherty will be required to provide a match in the amount of $15,000;

♦ A resolution providing for the acceptance and execution of a contract for a security camera system for the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office from Micro Technology Consultants Inc. in Warner Robins in the amount of $141,142.27 subject to the execution by McCoy;

♦ A resolution providing for the acceptance and execution of the contract from Reeves Construction Inc. of Albany in the amount of $796,050.80 for this year’s resurfacing project to perform street resurfacing on seven miles of road. Funding is available in SPLOST VII and this year’s local maintenance and improvement grant;

♦ A resolution providing for the acceptance and execution of a contract in the amount of $416,587 from L.E. Schwatz & Son Inc. of Macon to perform roof repairs in 12 locations to repair Hurricane Michael damage throughout the county. Funding is available in the risk management fund;

♦ Purchase of one four-ton asphalt recycler and hot box trailer for Public Works to replace a 40-year-old piece of equipment from Sourcewell contract vendor Reynolds Warren Equipment Co. in Morrow in the amount of $39,995. Funding is available in SPLOST VII;

♦ Purchase of one 2019 F-150 four-door SSV pickup for the sheriff’s office from Sunbelt Ford Town in Albany in the amount of $26,728.45. Funding is available in SPLOST VII;

♦ Purchase of one 2019 E-350 15-passenger van with a work detail security package for the jail from Sunbelt Ford Town for a total expenditure of $35,114.61. Funding is available in SPLOST VII; and

The transfer of $259,625.91 from the fund balance of the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund to the Special Services District Fund for the purpose of paying invoices from Ceres Environmental Services and Tetra Tech. The commission also approved payment one invoice from Ceres in the amount of $166,510.52 for storm debris removal and disposal, and one invoice from Tetra Tech in the amount of $93,115.39 for debris monitoring expenses.

Staff Photo: Jennifer ParksFile Photo

Jennifer Parks