U.S. Census to hire hundreds in Wilkes Co. with testing set Saturday, city council hears

In its regular November meeting Monday night, the Washington City Council passed a resolution to apply for an energy-efficient-home grant, and heard a report that testing starts soon for hundreds of temporary census jobs in the area.

Washington Mayor Willie Burns and City Councilmen Pamela Eaton, Ed Pope Jr., Nathaniel Cullars, Maceo Mahoney, and Ames Barnett met with City Attorney Barry Fleming, City Administrator Mike Eskew, and City Clerk Debbie Danner. Rev. G.L. Avery was not present.

As proposed by Main Street Director David Jenkins at Monday night's meeting, the council approved a resolution for the city to apply for a GEFA energy grant program. The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority would make up to $300,000 available to improve the energy efficiency of homes for low and mid-income people.

The council also passed a resolution to apply for a HUD counseling grant to help low- and mid-income families to become more creditworthy and qualify for mortgages.

Carl Cox of the U.S. Census Bureau's new Athens regional office announced that testing for census jobs would start in Wilkes County on Saturday, November 14, at 11 a.m. at the Mary Willis Library; again on Tuesday, November 17, at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, November 19, at 10 a.m. All testing will be at the library's meeting room.

Cox told the Council that a good census count is essential to getting the most funding from state and federal sources. "City governments can gain thousands in possible government funds for every resident you find for the census, so it's important that everybody be counted. To make that count, we're hiring 1,000 to 1,500 temporary part-time and fulltime employees in seven counties, and this week in Wilkes County we're testing people who want to be considered for employment."

Tourism Director Ashley Barnett reported that the Wilkes County Complete Count Committee, which is the local effort to help ensure the most accurate census possible, is meeting Thursday, November 19, at 4 p.m., in the courthouse and that volunteers are needed to help. She reviewed plans for upcoming Christmas events, including the "snow" that is guaranteed to fall. "This is really going to put us on the map," she said. "They're talking about this all over Georgia."

Chamber of Commerce president Allan Soto told the council that Sorelle's, a new business on East Robert Toombs Avenue is holding a grand opening Thursday, November 19, at 1 p.m. The Chamber's Board of Directors is holding a Chamber Retreat November 18, a Chamber After-Hours event on The Square Friday night, December 6, and the Chamber's annual banquet is set on either December 10 or 17, depending on a caterer's confirmation, Soto said.

The council also heard Washington Police Chief Mike Davis' report that two new officers had been trained and are on patrol, and that the department's big annual toy drive is underway and going well.

Councilman Eaton reminded those present that they are invited to shop downtown during the annual Candlelight Shopping event put on by the Downtown Development Authority, which meets November 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Farmers State Bank.

Linda Echols, a Wilkes County advocate for the developmentally disabled, told council members of a public forum for families affected by behavioral health problems, developmental disabilities, and addictive disease is set for Tuesday, November 10, at 5 p.m. at the Mary Willis Library in Washington. "This will be an opportunity to discuss issues that affect us and our families concerning the services that are available for behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disease with the regional planning board," Echols said. "It's important to come out and speak up about our needs."