mark handler
SAWHORSE
Disabled-Friendly: City Leaders Plan To Revamp Augusta's Municipal Building
http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/jan/13/disabled-friendly-city-leaders-plan-revamp-augusta-ar-1339083/
Augusta, GA --
City leaders will spend $18 million to make Augusta’s municipal building disabled-friendly.
Mayor Copenhaver says work at the municipal building will start after the new judicial center is complete in March.
And if you’re disabled, paying your water bills or your taxes at the municipal building will be one step easier.
Tim Hollobaugh has used a wheelchair for the past 7 years. He uses it cross the street and go down sidewalks, as long as there are no bumps on the road.
"If you have goods and services I can't get to them, I can't shop. If you make your shop accessible downtown but the curbsides are any good, I can't use those goods and services," said Tim Hollobaugh.
But his five year struggle with Augusta-Richmond County to provide easier access for the disabled has finally paid off. The first step, a renovated municipal building that will make it easier for people like Hollobaugh to use.
Right now, only the first floor has handicap access to the restrooms and to get in to the building, you have to enter through the back.
Unlike the Judicial Center that is compliant with the American Disabilities Act, Mayor Copenhaver says the challenge will be to retrofit older buildings in the city.
"It's not just an effort to make our buildings more accessible here but throughout the community as we do new projects," said Deke Copenhaver.
The mayor says they city will purchase new buses and work on road projects like Walton Way to make it easier and safer for the disabled.
"On the buses there's only 2 spots for wheelchairs so if somebody is already on the bus with a wheelchair, one of us has to wait for the next bus," said Shirley Hollobaugh.
"Getting downtown to attend events can be very dangerous and it shouldn't have to be that way,” said Tim Hollobaugh.
Mayor Copenhaver says the delay in making all buildings compliant boils down to funding. The money for the renovation will come from SPLOST funds.
http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/jan/13/disabled-friendly-city-leaders-plan-revamp-augusta-ar-1339083/
Augusta, GA --
City leaders will spend $18 million to make Augusta’s municipal building disabled-friendly.
Mayor Copenhaver says work at the municipal building will start after the new judicial center is complete in March.
And if you’re disabled, paying your water bills or your taxes at the municipal building will be one step easier.
Tim Hollobaugh has used a wheelchair for the past 7 years. He uses it cross the street and go down sidewalks, as long as there are no bumps on the road.
"If you have goods and services I can't get to them, I can't shop. If you make your shop accessible downtown but the curbsides are any good, I can't use those goods and services," said Tim Hollobaugh.
But his five year struggle with Augusta-Richmond County to provide easier access for the disabled has finally paid off. The first step, a renovated municipal building that will make it easier for people like Hollobaugh to use.
Right now, only the first floor has handicap access to the restrooms and to get in to the building, you have to enter through the back.
Unlike the Judicial Center that is compliant with the American Disabilities Act, Mayor Copenhaver says the challenge will be to retrofit older buildings in the city.
"It's not just an effort to make our buildings more accessible here but throughout the community as we do new projects," said Deke Copenhaver.
The mayor says they city will purchase new buses and work on road projects like Walton Way to make it easier and safer for the disabled.
"On the buses there's only 2 spots for wheelchairs so if somebody is already on the bus with a wheelchair, one of us has to wait for the next bus," said Shirley Hollobaugh.
"Getting downtown to attend events can be very dangerous and it shouldn't have to be that way,” said Tim Hollobaugh.
Mayor Copenhaver says the delay in making all buildings compliant boils down to funding. The money for the renovation will come from SPLOST funds.