CCDC grants, donations approved at April 14 meeting

The CCDC usually donates $1,000 a month to groups and organizations in Clarke County. Up until their April meeting they had only donated $500 in 2021. Two donation requests came in. One was from the Friends of the Depot, the other from the Clarke County Hospital Foundation, each for $500. The Friends of the Depot are needing funds for maintenance and the Hospital Foundation is needing funds to buy flowers for their annual flower fundraiser the first weekend of May. A third request came from Kate Emanuel, President of the Clarke Area Arts Council for $1,000 to help with restoration of the Warrior Osceola statue west on Highway 34 out front of American State Bank.

“We don’t like changing our precedent but the fact is we haven’t given the money away this year,” said CCDC Board Director Bill Trickey. “The board will either approve it or they won’t so I put in a request for three community donation requests to come out of our operating fund.”

The process to repair the Warrior Osceola statue began a little over a year ago and the price is several thousand dollars for the whole project. Emanuel found a 501(c)(3) company based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota to take on the restoration. The company requires $2,700 to come down and evaluate the statue and give an estimate for the full restoration.

“It’s one of those projects that if we want to keep it we have to keep it restored,” said Kevin Emanuel, CCDC board member and husband of Kate.

Kevin abstained from voting on the donation to the CAAC.

All three donations were approved by the board.

A pillars grant request came before the board from Mike Sitzman, Cross Ministries Director for $8,904, a matching grant that will help get concrete poured between the buildings in the rear of the property.

The grant committee approved the grant.