Granite Shoals continues budget work as Know Your Neighbor kicks off block parties
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Members of the Granite Shoals City Council left one of their meetings Thursday, Aug. 10, to attend the very first Know Your Neighbor block party.
Know Your Neighbor is a program being conducted by the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance, with the support of Chick-fil-A and Lowe's. The small gatherings, with lots of fun for the kids, are designed to create cohesion in the city's neighborhoods.
With just one neighborhood involved each time, children have the bouncy castle all to themselves, and adults have time to keep an eye on them, while enjoying hot sandwiches, courtesy of Chick-fil-A.
As promised, a picnic table, painted bright turquoise appeared, compliments of Lowe's. One will stay as a neighborhood gathering place after each party as part of the national front yard revival campaign, The Turquoise Table.
An added attraction to the kick off party was free shopping. When the Black Pearl went out of business on Phillips Ranch Road earlier this year, owners donated the entire remain stock to be distributed without charge.
“It was an incredible start to pulling our city together,” said the Rev. Randy Taylor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Granite Shoals. “There wasn't an exact count, but all 100 Chick-fil-A sandwiches were gone. We recognized people from the three-block area from all our churches, I think. But there were new people, too. They all got to meet members of the council and the fire and police departments.”
One goal, in addition to introducing neighbors, is to introduce citizens to its leaders and first responders at a social event, as members of their broader neighborhood.
“These small parties will take place randomly all over town,” Taylor said. “When all is said and done we hope the love will spread and we will have a better town.”
Council meetings
Although the council meets again to discuss the budget and tax rate this Thursday, Aug. 17, members made a commitment at the Aug. 10 meeting: They will not exceed not to exceed a rate $0.563.130 per $100,000 property value. That is slightly lower that the effective rate, or the rate that would yield the same ad valorem income as the current rate.
Also at the meeting, the council took formal action to call officially for a Nov. 7 election to confirm citizen authorization to issue $3 million in road bonds for repair of Valley View Lane, Prairie Creek Road and Phillips Ranch Road.
The decision was made long ago to go back to voters to make sure they support the bonds. The Aug. 10 vote was the formality of calling the election.
Another town hall meeting will be held before the election. Regarding the budget and tax rate, public hearings will be held on those proposed Thursday night at 6 p.m. meetings on Aug. 24 and Aug. 31. Final adoption is set for Sept. 7.
