The county commission approved a measure allowing the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to use the vacant Cherry Hill Community Center for visitation between parents and children.
“We discussed last month the situation of children in the care of the Department of Children’s Services,” Commissioner Johnathon Norris said in bringing the matter before the commission. “They don’t have a very good place to meet with their families, and many times they are forced to meet in small corners of the DCS office or a local restaurant. It doesn’t allow for quality time for them to visit with their parents. It was brought to my attention recently that there are up to 80 children from DeKalb County who need these services.”
Norris recommended a room in the county complex for DCS.
“The room that formerly housed our judicial commissioners is an empty room in the back of the county complex with access in and out of the building without using main hallways or the public entrance,” Norris said. “It would make a great place to help provide for these children. This, of course, would be at no expense to the county. The county only role would be to offer a helping hand to these kids who need these services by providing the room that would allow the opportunity for quality time with their parents or guardians. That’s what I have, and if anybody else wants to speak to it they are certainly welcome.
Commissioner Joe Johnson said that he did not think the room was fit for the purpose.
“I’ve been over to look at that room, and it doesn’t have a ceiling in it,” Johnson shared. “The air ducts are knocked down. It’s never had an electrical inspection. It would have to be finished to do that. It’s going to cost $10-12,000 to put a ceiling in it, finish the duct work, and get bit inspected. I’m for the kids having a place to meet 100 percent, but I think we need to look at some alternatives. I can come up with one. Everybody might not agree with it, but we’ve got the Cherry Hill Community Center. It’s just sitting there, and we’re trying to get a release from the state (to sell the property), but whether we get it released or not, why can’t we use it?”
“At the time we put the judicial commissioners over there we were pressed to find a place for them,” Mayor Tim Stribling interjected. “I understand what you’re saying as far as the children go, but without a ceiling, without electricity, it has a bathroom, but there’s no ceiling in it. It’s what the commission wants to do, but it’s an unfinished room, and they need to be aware of that.
They’re aware,” Norris replied. “They’ve been there, and again, they don’t want to incur any cost to the county. They’re fine with the room the way it is right now for their purposes. They just need a room. I’m fortunate, as a lot of us are, not to have been in that situation, but these kids can’t help it. It’s not something we have to do, but I think it’s something that we should do. Especially if there’s no cost to us. Joe says there’s a lot of stuff we have to do, and if that’s the case, then I guess we’ll have to look into something different. That being said, I would still like to make the motion that we allow the Department of Children’s Services to use the vacant room with a private entrance to the rear of the county complex for the purpose of visits between parents, guardians and children.”
“The only problem I have is, I know there were some complaints from the judicial commissioners about the unfinished room,” Stribling said.
“I understand,” Norris retorted, “but the judicial commissioners were put there. They didn’t want to be there. DCS wants to be there.”
Commissioner Jerry Adcock seconded the motion, and after some further discussion, Commissioner Joe Johnson made a motion to amend Norris’ motion to allow DCS to use the Cherry Hill Community Center for visitation instead.
“The thing about the community center, it’s not in a centrally located area,” Commissioner Jerry Adcock said.
It’s in DeKalb County,” Johnson replied.
“It’s in DeKalb County, but it’s not centrally located. It really would, especially in the winter, could create a hazard for people to travel,” said Adcock.
Commissioner Jimmy Midgett seconded Johnson’s motion, and the measure to allow DCS to use the Cherry Hill Community Center passed by a vote of 10-4, with Mason Carter, Kevin Robinson, Joe Johnson, Betty Atnip, Larry Summers, Bradley Hendrix, Julie Young, Jeff Barnes, Jimmy Midgett and Wayne Cantrell voting in favor of the motion, and Jack Barton, Anita Puckett, Johnathon Norris and Jerry Adcock voting against.
The commission then held another vote, apparently to approve the original motion as amended, which passed 13-1, with Norris casting the only dissenting vote.
