Hall Co citizens weigh in on potential SPLOST VII projects

GAINESVILLE - About 50 people turned up for a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax meeting at the Hall County Government Center Thursday evening, hoping to share their opinions with law makers on projects that could benefit from SPLOST VII money.<br /> <br /> Updated voting equipment was one idea, from citizen Douglas Aiken. <br /> <br /> "I'm on the Board of Elections for the county," said Aiken. "[One idea is] putting into SPLOST the dollars to replace our antiquated election equipment that the voters have to use. They frequently fall down, go blank, fail... the votes are counted but it just reinforces to the voter that 'I can't trust this equipment.'"<br /> <br /> Expansion to retirement homes was also on the plate. Erika Walker, a Wisdom Keeper with the Vision 2030 Wisdom Project, showed up to the meeting in support of the Senior Life Center<br /> <br /> "I would like to see [the Senior Life Center] developed under the SPLOST as we move forward," said Walker. <br /> <br /> "With 10,000 people turning 65 everyday and the 85 and older population being the largest growing percentage across the county and Gainesville, Hall County becoming a retirement center with Lanier Village Estates and Deaton Creek and Cresswinds, etc., we need a better place for people to enjoy and live life to the fullest and stay active, healthy and idependent."<br /> <br /> A vote that was supposed to take place in November was pushed back to March.<br /> <br /> Another meeting about the proposed SPLOST will take place in December.<br />