City Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the worked efficiently, presenting a proclamation to a local shelter and unanimously passing the consent agenda at their Thursday evening meeting with enough time left to enjoy .

Mayor Tommy Allegood presented local safe house Shepherd's Rest Ministries with a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On hand to receive the proclamation were Executive Director Dr. Kathryn Melton, Administrative Assistant Judy Talley, Board Member Traci Elias, Samantha Folsom, Board Chair Stacey Folsom, Harley Folsom, Chris Folsom and Board Member Noelle Maloney.

“We appreciate the partnership with Acworth and the ,” Melton said. “We appreciate that Acworth does this proclamation every October and recognizes that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”

Shepherd's Rest offers a full array of services to women and children who have been displaced from their homes because of domestic violence, which is the leading cause of injury among women. The program began in Paulding County in 1997 and offers individuals the chance to go back to school or receive job training. The goal of the organization is the self-sufficiency of its residents.

“We want to empower [our residents] to be self-sufficient so they don't have to depend on the system or anyone else to move forward with their goals,” said Dr. Melton.

After presenting the proclamation, the Mayor and Board passed the consent agenda. Notable items from the agenda include:

• Absentee ballot staff have been appointed for the absentee and advance voting period which runs from Oct. 17 to Nov. 4 for the
• Singleton Real Estate will perform appraisals on eight parcels on Senator Russel Avenue for $8,000.
• The city will purchase a 34-foot panel tree with C-9 LED bulbs and a six-foot star from Holiday Designs for $20,000 to replace the old tree, which cannot be repaired. 
• will be the site of the 2011 “Dickens of a Christmas, Y'all” festivities. The event is being hosted by the Acworth Downtown Development Authority and the Historic Downtown Acworth Merchants Group. The event will be on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• A $7,500 purchase order has been issued for the School Street project, which augments the original funding. These new monies accommodate updated and revised right of way planes, redesign and concept drawings and a survey.
• 0.3 acres of 4765 Hillside Dr. have been rezoned from R-2 (single family residential) to OIT (office institution transitional)

The remainder of the agenda can be found here.