Laurens County backs off plan for new senior citizens center

The Laurens County Board of Commissioners reversed course Tuesday and approved plans to renovate the existing senior citizens center in East Dublin, rather than build a new one at Southern Pines.

The commission voted, as planned, to seek a grant of up to $1 million – but for renovations rather than construction, as had been previously discussed. Several commissioners said they were swayed by overwhelming opposition via text, phone calls and a public hearing held Tuesday morning.

About two dozen people showed up for the hearing, a legal requirement for the grant application.

“Not one person showed up in favor of moving it or building a new one,” said Commissioner Gerad Mathis, who took office in January, months after the commission’s initial vote “to commit to and design” a new senior center.

Mathis said he has “tried to keep an open mind” about the issue but added, “I feel like this is the way to go.”

Commission Chairwoman Brenda Chain, who has pushed for a new senior center, was blindsided by the vote, noting that Commissioners Jimmy Rogers and Trae Kemp had voiced support for a new facility at Southern Pines.

“I am very disappointed. That building being renovated, and still in East Dublin, does not serve the majority of the senior citizens of Laurens County,” Chain said before adjourning the meeting.

Kemp said he initially viewed moving the senior center to Southern Pines “as a more accessible area” for residents of his large district in southern Laurens.

“Nonetheless, I’m serving the people of Laurens County,” Kemp said. “I’ve had a number of citizens call me, wanting it not to be moved to Southern Pines, and none of the people who had said they wanted it at Southern Pines were willing to come here and speak at the public hearing today.”

Tuesday’s agenda included three separate items related to building a new senior center, with the first being a legal requirement to amend the county joint comprehensive plan to include a new senior center. However, Commissioner Kevin Tanner, who represents East Dublin, immediately moved to renovate the existing building instead, sparking a lengthy debate with Chain.

“It works great where it’s at. It just needs renovating,” Tanner said.

Chain said she’s heard from many constituents who want a new senior center at a new location. She urged the board to build at Southern Pines so that senior center would be in the county and “not be in a relationship with any city.” 

“People in Dublin see it as East Dublin’s. We shouldn’t be fixing up a senior center for East Dublin,” she said. “It should be for the whole citizens of Laurens County … they’re not going to East Dublin. 

“We’ll have the opportunity to serve even more people.”

Commissioner Rogers said he changed his position receiving “call after call, text after text” from residents against building at Southern Pines.

“My decision is to leave it where it’s at,” he said.

The commissioners voted 4-1 to update the comprehensive plan to include renovations of the senior center, and not new construction. Chain cast the dissenting vote.

The commission then voted by that same count to apply for the grant and to approve a contract for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission to prepare the grant application, but for renovations instead of construction of a new center.

The county agreed to pay 6 percent fee to the RDC, but only if the grant application is successful. The application is for Community Development Block Grant of up to $1 million.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners improved a request from the sheriff’s office to replace handguns and holsters for deputies on road patrol, traffic and K-9 units. The new Glock handguns have shorter barrels and will place less wear and tear on holsters worn by deputies who spend a lot of time in their cars, Chief Deputy Stan Wright told the board.

Replacing the worn holsters alone would cost about $6,200, while also replacing to the handguns pushed the cost to about $18,000.