GREENE COUNTY
New Greensboro City Manager Jarvis Sims presented a proposal to the city council Monday for a city-sponsored Georgia Youth Program.
Many municipalities have similar councils and youth mentoring programs, and this would be among the first efforts of the city to establish an ongoing program. Youth councils have been proven to be instrumental for area youth in engaging in city-focused programs, operations, and civic education.
According to the proposal shared with Lake Oconee News, the new Youth Council will help empower participants selected from area high schools to allow them to voice their opinions, ideas, and concerns about the community. It will also provide participation in local civic governance and responsibility while recognizing the importance of public service.
The recruitment process will involve selecting students in grades 9 through 12 who have expressed an interest in civic engagement and in working with city council members. The monthly meetings will convene to discuss, provide input and address issues concerning Greensboro youth.
Council members will be responsible for representing the views of participants and engaging in projects or initiatives identified. The city will review and approve a stipend for participants.
Tommy Lee, assistant police chief for Greensboro, reviewed crime statistics from the first five months of calendar year 2022. Those numbers project a significant downward trend and account for the following: Crimes against property, down 42 percent; crimes against society, down 28 percent; and crimes against a person, down 36 percent. The police department is expected to receive eight new vehicles within two weeks for patrol.
Of note are initial thoughts presented for a whisky distillery at the old Shell station at 208 East Broad. Investor Lorenze Tremonti of Atlanta approached the council with a plan to build a whiskey distillery at the old gas station and make it an entertainment spot to include specialty drinks, blends, and possibly liquor sales.
Council requested more time to review existing ordinances that dictate what can presently be done or amended.