By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
City is now eligible for historic preservation grants
Placeholder Image
Danielle Everson
Published: Dec 15, 2012, 10:41 PM

A number of homes and buildings within the city of Porterdale will soon be marked as historic now that the city is eligible to apply for historic preservation grants.

City Manager Bob Thomson said Porterdale can now apply for grants through the Historic Preservation Fund sub-grant program administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Thomson said funds that Porterdale receive from the grant program would go towards purchasing plaques and markers that highlight historic areas and buildings in the city.

"There are a lot of sites that the preservation commission would like to recognize like the Rose Hill community, the former African-American mill cottage community right off of Washington Street and then of course the gym, which is real important," Thomson said.

According to the Georgia DNR, the HPF grant program is structured to support local preservation efforts and to strengthen the Certified Local Government program statewide.

Each CLG is classified as a Category I or a Category II CLG. A Category I CLG has not completed a community-wide historic resources survey or archaeological survey. A Category II CLG has completed a community-wide historic resources survey or archaeological survey and/or updated their historic resource survey since 1997.

Grant funds received through the program are matched 60 percent federally, 40 percent locally and are awarded on a competitive basis.

Mayor Arline Chapman explained why being eligible for the grant program is important and why the city has the need for historic preservation.

"It's very important to Porterdale because we're so conscious of the historic buildings that we have here and the value of some of the history we have in this community that's unique," Chapman said.

 
Eric Russell announces candidacy for Porterdale City Council Post 1
Eric Russell
Eric Russell - photo by Special Photo
Special to The News
Updated: Aug 15, 2023, 6:12 PM
Published: Aug 15, 2023, 8:53 PM

PORTERDALE, Ga. – Eric Russell, resident of Porterdale, officially declared his candidacy for the position of Post 1 with the city council of Porterdale.  He and his wife moved to Porterdale and purchased one of the mill houses within Porterdale’s Historic District in 2022. He stated, “We loved the charm and character of not only the houses, but also the history behind what Porterdale had been, along with the possibility of what the village could become.

I retired from law enforcement after 27 years and have always felt called toward public service.  I saw running for city council as a way to continue that service in the community, albeit in a much different role.”  Russell had begun a career in law enforcement in 1988 and had served in numerous areas within the Wichita Falls Police Department in Texas, including being a Crimes Against Persons detective as well as being promoted through the ranks of the department until retiring in 2015 as the Captain over the Patrol Division.

“I had been tasked with the implementation of the in-car computer system for the department prior to retirement and am proud of having successfully helped bring that department into the modern age of policing through the use of a computerized dispatching and report writing system.”  Russell also said, “I feel I have skills within the area of long term logistical planning that can be beneficial for the village of Porterdale in order to help continue to move toward a future that will reflect growth as well as keeping the nuances of the past that were formed by having the mill here in the community.”  

Russell stated that his vision would be to promote progress, preservation and prosperity here within the village while maintaining a sound fiscal position. 

“I have talked to many people and asked a lot of questions especially given the past legacies of the village.  I have attended almost every council meeting, including the annual planning retreat in order to become aware of as much information as possible before deciding to run for a council post.  I believe that civic duty calls for dedication and the donation of personal time in order to make a difference in people’s lives.”