Jasper — A special town hall meeting of the Jasper City Council brought Jasper residents and citizens of Hamilton County to the courthouse annex Monday night, Aug. 22.

Councilwoman Elaine Rozier opened the meeting by explaining there was a two-fold purpose for the meeting. The first was to get opinions from local residents regarding whether or not the council should approve of a sweepstakes cafe/internet gambling business to operate within the city limits of Jasper. The second was a public hearing to get citizen input on the sale of the city park for a McDonald’s restaurant.

Rozier stated there were several ways to approach the sweepstakes cafe issue; deny it, allow it or regulate it.

“The biggest thing the council wants to know is how you feel about the sweepstakes gambling being located within the municipality,” Rozier told the audience.

At first there was complete silence and no one from the audience came forward to speak on the issue.

“I guess that answers that,” Rozier said.

Seconds later, one citizen came forward stating she didn’t understand why the issue was on the agenda because it was considered illegal and that the state of Florida and the governor were trying to close them down.

City Attorney Fred Koberlein explained that sweepstakes cafes were legal in Florida and they were regulated. Rozier then asked those opposed to the sweepstakes cafe to stand and the majority of the audience stood up.

“I guess we got the majority opinion on that,” Rozier said.

The next item on the agenda was the potential sale of the city park, which was the reason the courthouse annex auditorium was filled with local folks, many of whom came to voice their opinions.

Rozier stated the issue came up about two years ago when CVS proposed to buy the park.

“Because you decided you did not want your park sold, the council voted against it,” she said. “That is why we’re here tonight, is to get your opinion on the sale of the city park.”

City Manager Charles Williams introduced Brandon Ashkouti from Alpine South Properties, a small family firm out of Atlanta, who gave a short presentation outlining the proposal to put a McDonald’s restaurant on the property where the city park now stands at 205 East Hatley Street in downtown Jasper.

Ashkouti stated the business model was for a 3,000 foot  structure that would contain a McDonald’s restaurant that would be attached to additional retail shops. He said it would bring new people, new business, new customers from outside of Jasper and would revitalize the downtown area. He also said McDonald’s was flexible about architectural design and would choose something that would fit the character of the town.

In a slide show presentation, Ashkouti showed that a McDonald’s would bring about 1,200 transactions per day, employ about 30 people, bring in tax revenue, provide safe ingress and egress in an ample parking lot, and would make certain that all garbage containers would be well-screened from public view. He said McDonald’s is a top-notch operator and they would be making basically a 40-year commitment to the project in the form of a long term lease with his company.

Rozier opened the public hearing and asked for comments from those in attendance.

One after the next, tensions and emotions ran high as each person addressed the city council, both for and against the sale.

The complaints were many, including the fact there are many other available sites in town now sitting empty that would be better suited for a McDonald’s, rather than taking away the city park that so many residents do not want to see destroyed.

One citizen said there are less than 2,000 residents in the city of Jasper and that there were several restaurants in the city already, little mom-and-pops that are just barely making it financially. He suggested rebuilding the park instead of selling it.

Another resident said it would be a good idea to sell the park because nobody really uses it, which drew applause from many in the audience.

“I ride by that park every day and I don’t see anyone using it,” he said.

He was countered by another citizen who said she sees people using the park every day.

Others said there wasn’t enough information available about the project in order to make an informed decision.

One man stated, “We’re talking about growth. Is this going to help the county? Is this going to help young people get jobs?”

He said nothing was mentioned about the financial aspects of the project and whether or not it would advance the city.

“We need more information,” he said. “And we need to think about the future.”

County resident Cecil Davis said, “Every time my grandchildren come to visit, we go to that park. I’m sorry we’re not there when that gentleman goes by, but we utilize the park when they’re here. That’s our last outpost.”

Davis said the park is the center of town and it’s attractive. She was fearful of the traffic situation if a McDonald’s was put there.

“The final thing I want to say is, how long do you think Hardee’s is going to last if McDonald’s comes in?” Davis asked the crowd. “I don’t think this town of 2,000 can support two fast food places.”

Robert Wilkinson spoke next, reflecting at length on the historical aspects of the park and the streets surrounding it that were named after prominent folks in the city.

“I don’t think the people in the courthouse want a dumpster in front of their courthouse,” Wilkinson said.

The courthouse building is directly across the street from the city park.

Dale Ann Worthington, who had her two small children with her, said she lives across from the courthouse and next to the city park. She said she and her husband bought their home due to its proximity to the park, although, she also said the old metal playground equipment needed improvement.

Another resident stated that there was a person who had property near the interstate across from Lester’s Grill that would be perfect for a McDonald’s and they already had presented Alpine South with a package to look into.

“If there’s nothing here, people will leave,” another young Jasper resident who travels to Lake Park to work, told the board. “Jasper is dead. If you’re thinking about the future, if you want Jasper to grow, the only way Jasper’s going to grow is if you bring jobs. Yes, you’re selling the city park, but there’s two other parks that can be utilized.”

She said she would like to see Jasper be something because when people leave they are ashamed to say where they came from.

“You can be proud of your hometown, but you can’t be proud of your hometown when there’s nothing here,” she said.

Another resident reiterated that more information was needed on the issue because rumors were running wild about the park being relocated.

Lesleigh Butts, a seven year resident of Jasper said of the park, “The first thing you see when you come [to Jasper] is a welcoming, friendly green space that reflects the kind of people who live here.”

Butts said you don’t encounter that type of warmth and ambiance when the first thing you see upon entering a town is commercial property like a McDonald’s restaurant.

Butts, along with others, said that the park is used for a lot of annual events like the Blackberry Festival and Christmas festivities and it would be a loss to the community to not have the city park stay where it is.

Another citizen complained about the county commissioners not being in attendance at the meeting. According to Rozier the town owns half the park and the county owns the other half.

Ashkouti then summarized by asking the citizens of Jasper to give strong consideration to bringing McDonald’s to their town and to find a way to work together.

Only a handful of people stood up when asked by Rozier who was in favor of selling the city park.

Those opposed to the sale were, again, the majority of the audience.

Rozier closed the meeting by stating that any sale of property owned by the city with a value over $2,000 has to be advertised and must be sold at public auction, so even if they agreed to have a McDonald’s restaurant take over the city park, there would be no guarantee they would be the successful bidder. She also stated there was a $50,000 grant that was received about 10 years ago that has a stipulation that if the park is sold within 25 years, the money must be paid back.

Councilwoman Kathy Avriett spoke to the audience stating that the city of Jasper needs to grow and needs more jobs, and said a McDonald’s in town near the IGA, instead of at the present location of the park would be great. Councilman LaBarfield Bryant stated he was against selling the park.

Rozier polled the other council members and it was unanimously approved that they hold off on a decision of the sale of the park until the next regular meeting on Sept. 12.