WASHBURN - Several members of the community were recognized for services offered as in-kind contributions, while others were recognized for their ongoing dedication to the community center project at the Northside Community Action Group (NCAG) meeting at Washburn School, Thursday.

NCAG members Pamela Fass and Faye Satterfield were recognized for their diligence and interest in the project and were voted in as the newest additions

to the NCAG board of directors, bringing the new number of members to nine.

NCAG Board member Drafus Davidson sought out more contributions of needed materials, commending area businesses that have committed to making contributions.

Carolyn Yont volunteered time to paint the community center. Rick Brewer volunteered his masonry skills and time. Dwight Johnson offered to contribute the service of installing any siding necessary. Two bathroom urinals were also contributed.

R.B. Clair, a retired park planner/architect and park manager and resident of Washburn, came forward last month and said he'd donate his services as a park planner. He said after getting the go-ahead, he’d been working with Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Elkins, and brought preliminary plans for the park to the previous meeting for review. Clair made a presentation at this meeting of his final park plan proposal, which was well received and earned unanimous approval by the board.

In his presentation, Clair said that although the bulk of the work is done now, he was late getting on board and that, due to the enthusiasm and active participation of the NCAG and their partners, he was just playing “catch-up.” “I found out right away these guys are ready to build this thing yesterday,” Claire said. Consequently, Claire says he has put in well over a hundred hours into the project already, a contribution that adds a substantial dollar value toward the $75,000 goal of requisite matching funds.

Clair said that his job was to make a few adjustments to the plan proposed by Hodge Associates of Morristown. “Their plan was already exceptional,” he said. The NCAG encountered a problem with the space surrounding the community center area that Clair was able to remedy by moving the building farther up the hillside, resituating the direction it faced, and adjusting the grade. He said his final detailed proposal of the areas surrounding the community center were merely a suggestion of how the park could look. If the NCAG and Grainger County Parks & Recreation chose to commit to that look, it would require time, manpower, and money to landscape the property then funds and manpower for maintaining the property in the future. “One of the reasons I wanted to get involved with this project is because this group has a really good attitude about being self-reliant and getting involved,” said Clair. He elaborated that if they went with the suggested landscaping, he speculated that those qualities will be crucial due to budgetary concerns at the county level, funds for continuing maintenance would most likely not be available. A simplified grading plan was also provided.

Members of the board once again thanked the community for a large turnout and continued involvement and added that they hoped to see some county commissioners at the next meeting. In other action, the board decided to remain under the umbrella of Parks and Recreation for tax and insurance purposes, however, approved a set of bylaws submitted by Toney Jones. They also discussed a groundbreaking ceremony and approved two fundraising suggestions that include a yard sale as well as hiring the services of Tennessee Valley Barn Dance for an event to be held in early August. Short-term, the NCAG board said they would be holding a dinner fundraiser at Shines Country Cookin’ on March 17 from 8 until 11 p.m. The next meeting is planned for Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m.