Greg Beck starts Community Action Alliance

Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck
photo Greg Beck

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For more information, call Charline Kilpatrick at 698-5433.

A Hamilton County commissioner has chosen nearly two dozen constituents as the core of a community alliance to provide input about spending commission discretionary funds, zoning issues and studies that should be done in the district.

"That gets the community involved with the County Commission seat," said District 5 Commissioner Greg Beck.

Beck said the United Community Action Alliance is nonpartisan and nonprofit. Its core group of about 21 people represents all 34,0000 people in 13 neighborhood groups in District 5.

"It's not just another group," Beck said. "It's probably going to end up one of the most influential groups around because of the connection with the county government, the direct, hands-on involvement with their county commissioner."

The alliance is the first combined neighborhood organization started by a commissioner to gain public input, Beck said.

The group takes pressure off Beck, said United Community Action Alliance President Charline Kilpatrick.

Instead of people going to him for money, they may come to the association. The association will have someone investigate how funding a project would benefit the community. An agreement will be put in writing and the group will decide whether to recommend it.

The commissioner still holds final say, but will listen to the body before casting a vote on matters.

The group meets at 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Heritage Center, next to Aaron's furniture store at 5659 Brainerd Road. Beck and Kilpatrick set the agenda for each meeting.

The group, founded this year, swore in its first officers this month.

Beck selected the first members to get the group started. Other people interested may contact Kilpatrick.

Other officers include vice president Christopher King, secretary Paula Walker, corresponding secretary Amelia Williams and sergeant-at-arms Gloria McClendon.

The group will give input for community and economic development, reducing crime and analytic study.

Beck said there's already a request for a study documenting health issues in District 5 compared to health concerns in other areas. The Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department released studies stating that District 5 residents have higher rates of diabetes and obesity than other neighborhoods.

Residents also have higher rates of lung cancer, Beck said. If that's true, residents want to know why and what can be done to prevent it.

District 5 includes Eastdale, Washington Hills, North Brainerd, East Chattanooga and Summit.

The alliance also formed a committee that will investigate programs for which people seek funding. Residents will consider the programs' helpfulness to the community before recommending to Beck whether it should receive funding from Beck's discretionary funds.

Participants like United Community Action Alliance treasurer Riley Walker visit and assess the needs of schools in the district so that those needs may be addressed as funding is available.

Other residents seek education opportunities for District 5 and still another committee focuses obtaining jobs.

"We have opportunity to express our opinion," Kilpatrick said. "And help Beck make decisions as to how to vote."

Staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.

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