Harlem incumbents would appreciate support in City Council elections

Editor:

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I'm running for re-election to Harlem City Council, of which I have proudly been a part of for the past eight years. The teamwork with other members of council has been great, and has made Harlem a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

There have been many positive things going on in Harlem over the past 8 years. Harlem has transformed into a progressive bedroom community and a gem in Columbia County. We have received approximately $2.7 million in grant money which, along with SPLOST Funds, have been used to complete such projects as the Mary Sanders Community Center, the Senior Citizens Center, the theatre faade project, an addition to Harlem City Hall, and a sewer rehab project. The city park behind the Harlem Woman's Club was improved and renamed the Glenn Phillips Memorial Park, adding a nice quiet place for citizens to enjoy. The Harlem downtown streetscape was completed providing improved access to Harlem's downtown area with the addition of vehicle parking and handicap accessible sidewalks. Through a generous donation from a Harlem resident we completed an addition to the Harlem Library. The new IGA store and the Dollar General building are a direct result of Harlem officials working with the builders to produce an end product that all Harlem citizens can be proud of.

Future projects include working with different groups and citizen volunteers to renovate the inside of the old Columbia Theatre and a new Harlem Public Safety building that will house police, fire, emergency dispatch and communications, municipal court, judges chambers, and offices, replacing the existing building which was built in 1961.

Harlem is a growing city with a unique focus on community. I enjoy serving the citizens of Harlem and would like to continue doing so. I would appreciate your support. Please vote Tuesday for John Thigpen and Rudolph Dixon for Harlem City Council.

John A. Thigpen

Harlem