Three years after the city of Franklin Springs was ravaged by a tornado, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue helped city officials dedicate new Public Safety and City Hall buildings on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 5.

Gov. Perdue addressed a crowd of approximately 150 local officials and community residents before joining Mayor Brian James in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new buildings. Sen. Nancy Schaefer and Rep. Alan Powell were also honored guests of the city.

During his speech, Gov. Perdue complimented the new state-of-the art facilities and cited them as the perfect example of what can be accomplished when a community pulls together in time of crisis.

“You rebuilt with a real Team Georgia spirit," the governor applauds. "With the help of FEMA, GEMA, DOT, DCA, and, most of all, the folks right here – your leadership here and the citizens here in Franklin Springs – you rebuilt better than ever."

For the city of just less than a thousand people, the ceremony was a significant event. The official opening of the new municipal buildings brings the residents closure after the serious damage wrought by the tornado sparked by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

“This was a historic day of celebration for Franklin Springs,” Mayor James says. “I am so pleased with the staff, city council, Emmanuel College, LifeSprings Resources, and all the friends in the community who helped make this happen.

“Having Gov. Perdue come to town was a real highlight for us all. Most of all I am thankful to God for his continual faithfulness and strength that guided us through a very difficult situation” Mayor James says.

After the ribbon-cutting, Gov. Perdue took time out for a quick press conference with students and faculty from the Communication Department at Emmanuel College, whose campus adjoins the new Franklin Springs municipal complex.

He encouraged students at the private Christian liberal arts college to, above all else, remain authentic as they prepare to leave campus and go on to impact their state, their country, and potentially even the world.

“Know yourself. Be sound on the inside,” the governor advises. “You will never be able to have influence and persuasion over anyone else if you are not confident in yourself and your relationship with God. Know who you are in such a way that you can go and be an ambassador to other people, and they will want what you have.” 

Franklin Springs is located on U.S. Highway 29 about 30 miles north Athens. The city is home to Emmanuel College.

Written by Communication Senior Sara Ray