By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Members of the state legislative delegation visited Hokes Bluff High School and Hokes Bluff City Hall to view two recent projects made possible through grants from the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council.
Council Executive Director Eddie May said the two grants paid a portion of the cost for construction of an outdoor classroom at Hokes Bluff High School, and a pavillion between the Hokes Bluff pool and athletic fields. While the grants are given through the council, May said it is state legislators who obtain the funding that makes the grants possible.
“If you didn’t do what you do, we couldn’t do what we do,” May told delegation members who attended the presentations at the school and at city hall.
House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-District 28 said it’s great to see tax dollars coming back home for projects that will benefit the people of Hokes Bluff.
“That’s the job people send us to Montgomery to do, to bring money back home for our community.”
Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-District 29, praised the outdoor classroom.
“This is something everybody can use,” Nordgren said. “It’s out in the fresh air, and it will break the monotony for students and teachers.”
“I’m a great supporter of Hokes Bluff,” Sen. Phil Williams, R-District 10, said. “I think this is going to be a great addition to the school.”
“The kids have really enjoyed it and so have the teachers,” Hokes Bluff High School Principal Scott Calhoun said. He said the school originally tried to get a grant from Lowe’s to fund the outdoor classroom, but did not get it.
Calhoun said the classroom has been used for class meetings and to give students an outdoor break area.
The City of Hokes Bluff received a $5,000 grant to add the new pavillion to the facilities offered at the city’s recreation complex. The total cost of the project was around $10,000.
May said most of the projects that receive grants from Coosa Valley RC&D only cover a part of the cost of projects.
Typically, he said, a school or community will match every one dollar from the council with $10 in actual funds, or in in-kind services and material.
Hokes Bluff City Council member John Moore said the pavillion is getting a lot of use, given it’s location between the ball fields and the pool.