Georgia's Cities Jan/Feb 2023

January/February 2023

Volume 1 • No. 22

Editorial and Advertising Offices: 201 Pryor Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404.688.0472

Fax: 678.686.6289

E-mail: gacities@gacities.com

CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Larry Hanson

GRAPHIC ARTIST

Lindsay Podrid

ADVERTISING SALES

Lynne Norton

EDITORIAL BOARD

Emily Davenport

Alan Dickerson

Cindy Eidson

Dana Goodall

Latisha Gray

Gwin Hall

Aileen Harris

Chris Higdon

Kay Love

Chris Obenschain

Rusi Patel

Noah Roenitz

Kristian Serrano

Becky Taylor

Brian Wallace

GMA OFFICERS

President: Tifton Mayor Julie Smith

First Vice President: Perry Mayor Randall Walker

Second Vice President: Madison Mayor Fred Perriman

Third Vice President: College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom

Immediate Past President: Union City Mayor Vince Williams

Georgia Municipal Association Headquarters

Fayetteville City Hall

Milton Public Safety Complex

+ The Embrace Program: A Year in Review

+ Reflecting on 10 Years of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership

+ 16 Cities of Ethics Recognized at Cities United Summit

+ Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative

+ Consultant Q&A: Sherri Bailey, Districts 5 and 7

+ The Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate Program: Helping Leader-led, Live, Work and Play Communities

+ And Our Next Reader Is…The Mayor + Training: 2023 Training Schedule

Housing Development Policies Expected to Take Center Stage This Legislative Session

BY NOAH ROENITZ

In recent years, the vocal support of city officials has assisted the GMA Governmental Relations Team in defeating or weakening preemptive legislation in the housing space at the state capitol.

IN 2019, WE FOUGHT AGAINST DESIGN standard preemption legislation which would have acted to prohibit cities from establishing residential “building design elements” for single- and two-family dwellings. In 2022, we fought against “build-to-rent” legislation, which would have prohibited local governments from addressing newly developed corporate rental subdivisions through any regulation, restriction, or condition that is not the same as that for other single-family residential areas. These legislative victories, though, are short-lived, as the turnover of the state’s legislative body, a new biennial session with a clean slate, new chamber leadership, and a growing consensus of significant housing shortages, means preemptions are still on the table. That is why a predominant

issue of concern for Georgia’s cities in this legislative session will be housing policy preemption bills.

The COVID-19 pandemic set off a housing market feeding frenzy across the U.S. beginning in 2020 and continuing through the present day, and Georgia bore the brunt of the blow. Stark increases in demand fueled by historically low interest rates, changing lifestyles, domestic immigration to the Peach State and significant economic development wins shed light on years of Georgia’s inadequate scale of development, stemming back to the 2008 mortgage crisis. That event caused an unprecedented drop in housing construction, leading to an inventory shortage we are still seeing the effects of today.

What supply is on the market is subject to purchase by out-of-state investors and hedge funds which work to create regional ownership monopolies and artificial inflationary pressures on the sale and rental markets. It is projected that the current housing inventory in major Georgia cities is 40 to 57% below the 2019 supply, and the business, political and economic development community is starting to take note.

In the final days of the 2022 legislative session, a House Study Committee on the Regulation, Affordability and Access to Housing was commissioned. The House Study Committee met four times in September and October 2022 and released its final report in early December. GMA and ACCG independently testified before this study committee for more than two hours. The final report notes that, in the opinion of the study committee, city and county governments are hindering housing development by overly restricting the regulation of construction and the development of housing units. The report cites examples of such regulations, including requiring larger minimum square footage requirements for single-family construction, stricter construction and design requirements and larger minimum lot sizes. The opinion of the study committee is that these types of regulations affect the costs and negatively impact the housing shortage. In short, the study committee drew ire with local government levied design standards, a perceived apprehension to more dense development, and build-tolease restrictions throughout the state.

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, Gov. Brain Kemp, just a day before being inaugurated into his second term, suggested the General Assembly would evaluate the state’s lack of affordable housing. Kemp declared himself a “local control governor,” but cited restrictive (local) housing policies as hampering the state’s economic engine. With the median price of a new home in Georgia clocking in at more than $320,000 and rental

prices increasing statewide, businesses are beginning to evaluate if relocating to Georgia might mean being unable to house an adequate workforce.

Ensuring we can develop the necessary housing to complement the growth of our state is paramount. Still, it is also imperative to recognize the unique and distinctive nature of housing across our state. Our state’s 537 cities represent a wide variety of demographics, socioeconomic classes, economic development levels and industry types, with each of these differences acting as distinct qualifiers to the type and scale of housing products that are needed. Importantly, each community also determines the development standards and policies that make it distinctive and unique, and we know that no two communities are precisely alike. The solutions to our state’s housing shortages are being developed in city council chambers across the state through citizen input, zoning updates, blight redevelopment and public-private partnerships.

In this legislative session, your GMA Governmental Relations Team will advocate for additional tools for local governments to leverage for the development and maintenance of housing stock, as well as calling for state support for the development of workforce housing statewide. At the same time, we must ensure that preemptive legislation that takes away citizen input does not pass. Given that the session has just begun, we ask that you now engage your city’s legislative delegation on housing, enumerate the public process and planning your city engages in, and that your standards and regulations reflect what your local constituents demand and expect. Associations such as ours must work to find solutions to the housing issues facing our state. We look to be a partner to other groups that want answers and to the General Assembly, which may attempt to answer some of the issues our cities face.

“Ensuring we can develop the necessary housing to complement the growth of our state is paramount.”

Heavy Impact: Legislators to Debate Truck Weight Limits and Safety

BY DEMETRIS CAUSER

THIS YEAR, THEY ARE BACK, AND THEY ARE NOT alone. With additional legislative support, other industries, including mining, agricultural business and poultry have joined the effort. While perennial, the issue will not be peripheral. In 2023, truck weight legislation will be front and center.

Currently, state law allows timber trucks to carry up to 80,000 lbs of cargo, with a 5% variance. In recent years, the timber industry asked for increases that would permit loads ranging from 90,000 to 100,000 lbs. Unfortunately, increased loads carry a heavy impact for municipalities. Data from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) revealed that such increases will cause roadways to deteriorate more rapidly. Furthermore, the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated that heavier trucks are harder to stop, thus creating an increased risk for accidents. As for municipalities, these findings are unsettling.

Georgia’s cities oppose truck weight increases for three reasons. First, there are significant risks posed to municipal infrastructure. GDOT has studied the issue extensively, and they have found that heavier trucks damage roads at a faster rate. In one city, for example, when drivers engage the brakes on heavier trucks, the asphalt is pushed forward. This creates a space which displaces the asphalt and necessitates immediate repair — often with local taxpayer funds. Failure to do so allows rainwater to fill the space created by the heavy trucks, which creates a hydroplaning risk for other drivers.

The issue also touches public safety. Not only are heavier trucks harder to stop, but they carry greater

casualty risks. Whether the cause is mechanical failure or a distracted driver, truck accidents will place a strain on municipal resources that respond to the scene and attend to those involved. Ultimately, this risk is not only about the resources expended, but rather, the lives of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Third, economic development could be stymied in rural parts of the state—especially affecting small businesses. Small business owners would be hesitant to open business in parts of the state where the roads are significantly damaged. Such conditions would make it difficult to transport goods and would inflict heavier maintenance and repair costs on owners. Additionally, damaged roads could be a deterrent for consumers who must decide whether traversing over displaced asphalt to spend money in a small town shop outweighs the associated costs. Inevitably, such costs would weigh into a business owner’s decision to invest in rural communities of the state.

In a survey conducted by GMA, more than 70% of municipalities believe that heavier trucks would be a detriment to municipal roadways and pedestrian safety, while simultaneously, placing additional burdens on local taxpayers.

The impacts of truck weight increases are too great for municipalities alone to bear. In opposing such proposals, municipal officials are serving the interests of their communities, which elected them to preserve local taxpayer investments, public safety and quality of life. We hope these legitimate concerns will reverberate during the 2023 legislative session.

Over the last decade, the timber industry has tried to increase weight limits for timber trucks.

Get to Know New Faces in the Legislature With a Hometown Connection

MORE THAN 20% OF MEMBERS ARE NEW TO the legislature, and House and Senate district lines were redrawn before the 2022 elections. Whether due to turnover or redistricting, many cities now have new people representing them under the Gold Dome. This makes establishing relationships between cities and their legislators more important than ever.

GMA can help facilitate these relationships through the Hometown Connection program. GMA’s Governmental Relations Team works with local governments to plan Hometown Connection events where legislators, local officials and community members can have a dialogue about what challenges and opportunities a city faces.

Many legislators do not have experience serving in local government, and these personal interactions with local officials can shed crucial light on how

legislation under consideration would affect Georgia’s cities. While GMA has one of the best lobbying teams in the state, there is no better advocate for local governments than those who have dedicated their time and effort to serving them. When legislators can see the impact of an issue, rather than simply thinking in the abstract, they can make the best choices for their constituents.

This year, in contrast to the recent past, the House of Representatives and Senate have already approved a full calendar for the legislative session. This will help make scheduling a Hometown Connection during session easier, as legislators know when they must be at the Capitol and when they can be back in their districts. Crucial dates to keep in mind are Crossover Day, which is March 6, and Sine Die – the last day of the session – on March 30.

The GMA Governmental Relations Team is eager to help cities plan Hometown Connection events and is dedicated to having at least one member of the team present for each event.

When the General Assembly gaveled into session Jan. 9, the body looked a little different than it did last year.

Meet the Team

SINCE THE LAST SESSION ENDED, GMA’S GOVERNMENTAL relations team has seen some changes, with multiple new faces eager to keep the priorities of Georgia’s cities front and center. This team is excited to work closely with local government leaders and state legislators to ensure what makes it to the governor’s desk benefits cities’ interests. Let’s meet them!

Jim Thornton, Director of Governmental Relations

Jim joined GMA as a staff member in November 2022, but he has been a member of the GMA family for years. Before joining GMA, Jim was the mayor of LaGrange, Georgia for nine years, following time as a city councilmember. He served as GMA’s president from August 2021 until June 2022, and served on GMA’s board as immediate past president from June 2022 until resigning as mayor to join GMA. As a longtime GMA board member, Jim has chaired the Member Services Advisory Council, Federal Policy Council and Legislative Policy Council. He also served as co-chair of the Equity and Inclusion Commission and was instrumental in the deveopment of GMA’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives. Jim is also an attorney, having worked at his own law firm for more than 20 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from LaGrange College and his law degree from Emory University. Jim’s unique combination of professional experiences makes him ideal to represent the interests of Georgia’s cities, as he can speak to legislators with authority as a former public official and longtime attorney. Contact Jim at jthornton@ gacities.com.

DeMetris Causer, Governmental Relations Associate

This is DeMetris’ second session with GMA. His areas of expertise include public safety and transportation, issues key to GMA’s work and top of mind for many of Georgia’s cities. A proud son of Waycross and self-described “country lawyer,” DeMetris earned his bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and his law degree from Louisiana State University, and he was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November 2021. Before joining GMA, he worked with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority, also known as Build Baton Rouge. DeMetris believes he has a “heart inclined to serve,” and seeks to do so in his work with GMA. Contact DeMetris at dcauser@ gacities.com.

Noah Roenitz, Governmental Relations Associate

This is Noah’s second legislative session with GMA. He joined the association in November 2021 as a legislative outreach associate and moved into his current role during summer 2022. His areas of expertise include environmental and natural resources policy. Before joining GMA, Noah worked for the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission as an economic resilience coordinator, helping local governments with COVID-19 recovery planning. Prior to that, Noah served as a senior political fellow at Common Cause in Washington, D.C., working as a project coordinator with the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone, and as a legislative aide to GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group, a contract lobbying firm. Noah earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. Contact Noah at nroenitz@gacities.com.

Every day of the legislative session, one of Georgia’s best lobbying teams is under the Gold Dome advocating for Georgia’s cities.

Leona Rittenhouse, Government Relations Associate

Leona joined GMA in late 2022 and is in the heart of her first legislative session as an advocate for Georgia’s cities. Her areas of expertise include revenue and finance. She previously served in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), where she worked as a fiscal policy analyst for four years. There, she focused on the Department of Public Health, State Board of Workers Comp, and Community Health Attached Agencies. Prior to her time at OPB, she did government relations work for the Georgia Cable Association and held internships at Troutman Sanders and Massey, Watson, Bowers and Hembree, which is now known as Impact Public Affairs. Leona earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and her masters of public policy from the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. She is a native of Smyrna and lives in Mableton, which will soon be Georgia’s newest city. Contact Leona at lrittenhouse@gacities.com.

Kendall Daniels, Legislative Outreach Associate

Kendall first joined GMA in August 2022 as an association advancement intern, and just a few months later was made a full-time member of the team. She is a recent graduate of Georgia State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in public policy. As GMA’s legislative outreach associate, Kendall oversees the weekly Gold Dome Update and Friday Focus calls, keeping members up-to-date on what’s happening at the capitol and how it may affect Georgia’s cities. Contact Kendall at kdaniels@gacities.com.

Rusi Patel, General Counsel

While Rusi leads GMA’s legal department, he regularly supports governmental relations staff, testifies under the Gold Dome and works with legislators and state agencies on issues concerning Georgia’s cities. He has been GMA’s general counsel since 2019, when he was promoted from the previous position of senior associate general counsel. Before his time at GMA, Rusi served as assistant city attorney and city solicitor in Brunswick, Georgia. A Double Dawg, Rusi received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Rusi can be reached at rpatel@gacites.com.

Ryan Bowersox, Assistant General Counsel

Ryan first joined GMA in late 2020 as a governmental relations associate. In August, he was promoted to the role of assistant general counsel. While he is no longer officially part of the governmental relations team, he is still actively involved in GMA’s advocacy work and continues to work on behalf of Georgia’s cities under the Gold Dome. Before joining GMA, Ryan worked in the Georgia State Senate Research Office, where he was a senior policy analyst staffing the Senate Finance and Banking and Financial Institutions committees. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of the Wake Forest Moot Court and an editor of the Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law. Reach Ryan at rbowersox@gacities.com.

How to Get Involved in GMA’s Advocacy During the Session

BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE LOBBYISTS FOR GEORGIA’S CITIES ARE elected officials and city staff. Each session, cities face the threat of preemption from the state legislature. It is important for each local official to reach out to their state legislators and inform them on the ways they are leading in their communities and how legislators can support.

THE GOLD DOME UPDATE: Subscribe to receive our newsletter in your inbox every Friday during the session.

LEGISLATIVE TRACKING PAGE: This tool, which can be found in the Georgia Advocacy section of GMA’s website (www.gacities.com/What-We-Do/ Advocacy/Georgia-Advocacy/Legislative-Session.aspx), will keep you up to date on all bills we’re following which could impact municipalities.

JOIN OUR FRIDAY FOCUS CALLS: Every Friday morning during session, starting on January 27th, the Governmental Relations staff will host an all-membership Zoom call which we’ll use to do a deep dive into particularly relevant and timely policy issues and legislation. These are meant to be an educational resource to empower our collective advocacy.

SIGN UP FOR MOBILE-TEXT-ALERTS: Visit mobile-text-alerts.com/ GMA to subscribe to general Legislative Text Alerts from our team at the Capitol, as well as text alerts for more narrowly defined issues we’ll add as they arise.

SOCIALS: Follow and engage with our official social media accounts, where you’ll find regular updates and interactive posts. Facebook and LinkedIn: Georgia Municipal Association

Twitter: @GaCities

#GaCities #CitiesUnited #GaPol

GMA Wants to Hear from You

GMA’s Governmental Relations team is listed below. Please direct all questions and comments on legislation during the session to members of this team. When you search for a bill through the Legislative Tracking page, the point-person for that policy area will be indicated along with their contact information.

JIM THORNTON, Director of Governmental Relations jthornton@gacities.com

cell: (470) 604-7667

RYAN BOWERSOX, Assistant General Counsel rbowersox@gacites.com

cell: (404) 640-6590

DEMETRIS CAUSER, Governmental Relations Associate dcauser@gacities.com

cell: (470) 656-3242

NOAH ROENITZ, Governmental Relations Associate nroenitz@gacities.com

cell: (470) 734-7182

LEONA RITTENHOUSE, Governmental Relations Associate lrittenhouse@gacities.com

cell: (470) 586-3091

KENDALL DANIELS, Governmental Outreach Specialist kdaniels@gacities.com

cell: (470) 270-7329

GMA staff works hard to make sure that Georgia’s cities are well represented at the Capitol.

Community Wellbeing Requires a Generous Spirit

BY JULIE SMITH, GMA PRESIDENT

Another Cities United Summit has come and gone.

TOGETHER, WE CELEBRATED

Georgia’s cities and were provided opportunities for continued learning and dialogue on the issues and challenges we face. More importantly, being together allowed us to get to know one another better and strengthen our friendships. If you didn’t attend this year, I hope you will consider doing so in 2024.

As I reflect on those four days in Atlanta and the stories that were shared of the work that city officials are doing in their communities, what became clear to me about your public service is your generosity. Derived from the Latin word “generosus,” which means “noble birth,” generosity is defined today as an admirable quality or trait that includes actions that enhance the wellbeing of others.

During this year’s summit, three new programs and initiatives were announced for cities to consider participating in: Excellence in Policing; Certified City of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging; and Embrace Civility. All three of these have the potential to strengthen the civic fabric of our communities. And all three have the potential to enhance the wellbeing of others.

The Embrace Civility initiative, which is the easiest for cities to participate in, provides a logical entry point for the other two. It was created because public life and engagement in our nation has become too coarse. To participate, cities are required to pass a civility resolution and pledge that supports the need for respectful

public engagement with one another. For it to have any meaning, however, requires something more.

Simply believing that civility is needed in the public square is not enough. It requires us to cultivate and support a generous attitude backed-up by words and actions that support the cause, and to give the best of ourselves by “listening past one’s preconceptions and teaching others to do the same.” It also needs from us a generous spirit by “staying present even with those with whom we have deep-rooted and fierce disagreement.”

As GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson said when announcing the initiative, when we as city officials model and practice civility, we set the expectation that public discourse and debate can be both respectful and productive, which in turn leads to better engagement and outcomes for city residents.

I truly believe that what we’ve been doing in our communities has always been done for the wellbeing of others. From addressing homelessness to tackling the root causes of poverty to working to address rising crime and gang activity, the work we do has always come from a place of generosity.

I encourage you to continue that generous spirit by having your city support the Embrace Civility initiative along with the Certified City of DEI&B and Excellence in Policing programs. Let’s continue to build our communities upon the foundation of us giving generously of our time, talents and willingness to share the best of ourselves in the service of enhancing the wellbeing of others.

Legislative Advocacy is at the Heart of GMA’s Mission

BY LARRY HANSON, CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THIS YEAR’S SESSION WILL certainly be an interesting one with new leaders in the House and Senate, and approximately 60 new members in the General Assembly.

As you will read in this edition, GMA has a new face leading our Governmental Relations team, but Jim Thornton is no stranger to GMA’s member cities, having served previously as both Mayor of LaGrange and President of GMA. With hundreds of bills and resolutions sure to be dropped, we have the makings of a busy and active session. That is where GMA is here to support you.

Our Governmental Relations team has been hard at work for months preparing for the session. Their work takes place year-round and includes attending and monitoring study committee meetings, scheduling individual meetings with legislators and working to build and strengthen relationships to make us more effective and successful. They are ready to advocate for all 537 cities and support key pieces of legislation that will benefit cities and work to stall, mitigate or defeat bills that are harmful or negatively impact cities.

We know that housing will be a big issue this year and we will be working to bring forth ideas to encourage and incentivize investment in housing in cities, while working against special interest bills that are heavily weighted to pre-emption and one-size fits all laws. We know that uniqueness is what makes our cities and state a great place to live, work and play, and that residents and taxpayers in each city deserve the right to have influence over building and design standards, zoning laws and other regulations that ensure a city reflects the will of the residents who call it home. We also

recognize that Georgia’s successful economic development efforts require us to look at innovative ways to be sure that housing is available for the many jobs that have been and are being created. We must come together as local, state, housing, economic development, and other agency partners to right size the solutions to housing without causing harm to the unique sense of place that attract companies and workers to our cities.

To be successful, we must also rely upon strong member engagement. It is the relationships you build and maintain all year, your weekly interaction with your delegation members, and your willingness to show up when needed at the capitol to make a key stand on a bill that often determines the outcome. Success occurs when we all pull together, and to be successful this session, we need the help and support of all members. The Gold Dome Update and new Friday Focus calls are your source of information on key legislative bills. Emails, calls, and texts to delegation members are important and necessary to educate them on the nuances of bills and how they affect your city and all cities.

Your visits to the capitol are key to our success. Your delegation members want to hear from you and are influenced by your voice and your position. Let our team help prepare you with talking points and attend with you as needed on your visits to the capitol. Please come and park here at your GMA headquarters in our comfortable parking deck and grab a cup of coffee before you head over. A successful team is one that works together to achieve success without concern about credit, but instead about results.

Thanks for all you do in service to your cities and to GMA. Together we are CITIES UNITED.

The Georgia General Assembly is back in session as of January 9th.

Visionary City Awards 2023

BY AMANDA COYNE AND CHRIS OBENSCHAIN

THE VISIONARY CITY AWARDS, PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP

with Georgia Trend magazine, are given to nine cities each year who undertake initiatives and projects that create positive change in Georgia’s cities and for those who call them home. Three awards each are given in the small (population under 5,000), medium (population 5,000 to 24,999) and large (population 25,000 and over) categories. The winners are honored each year at the Cities United Summit.

“The Visionary City Awards are an important annual acknowledgement of the innovative and inspiring work done by cities that helps lead our state forward,” GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson said.

THE 2023 VISIONARY CITY AWARD WINNERS ARE:

SMALL CITIES

Sparks: The city of Sparks managed to improve its literacy rates, promote local business and increase community engagement, all without spending a dime of public money. Those kinds of results may seem impossible, but Sparks made it happen with the Mobile Library Service.

Using resources from the Sparks Public Library and the city’s family services department, the Mobile Library Service began. Holding the mobile library events at Sparks City Hall, the city provided a wide range of books for all ages, reading levels and areas of interest. The Mobile

Every year, cities across Georgia go to work to improve their communities. More than 20 years ago, GMA decided to do something to recognize this hard work.

Library also brings resources including printing, faxing and WiFi to many low-income residents who would otherwise not have access.

Many of Sparks’ essential workers, including police officers and firefighters, are able to introduce themselves to residents through the program. These employees regularly participate in interactive reading events and educational sessions.

As the popularity of the Mobile Library Service has grown, local businesses have gotten in on the fun. Many offer food and other goods to attendees during the events, adding another boost to Sparks’ local economy.

Tybee Island: The City of Tybee Island may be home to just over 3,000 residents, but it is visited by more than 6.5 million tourists each year. However, after a busy weekend, the city’s beaches often resemble a graveyard of discarded cigarette butts, water bottles and fishing lines.

Tybee’s coastline is home to endangered sea turtles and nesting shore birds, and the animals can ingest or become ensnared in these harmful castoffs. Litter buildup can also block storm drains, exacerbating coastal flooding and endangering lives and property. With limited staff resources available to tackle the problem, the City of Tybee Island had to leverage community connections, grant funding and public outreach to develop its “Keep Tybee Tidy” initiative.

The success of “Keep Tybee Tidy” stems from a collaboration between The City of Tybee Island and the grassroots, non-profit organization, Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers. Between the city’s support and the organization’s own fundraising, volunteers from across the U.S. have been galvanized to help clean Tybee’s beaches. The organization hosts beach clean ups with individuals and large groups, including everyone from out-of-town conference attendees to local churches. City

staff and city council members frequently participate and help promote these events as well.

So far, there have been more than 400 clean ups featuring 12,000 volunteers. Over 400,000 cigarette butts have been gathered, and nearly 250,000 items have been recycled.

Watkinsville: Located in northeast Georgia, Watkinsville is a small town with a big heart. The city has maintained a long-term partnership with the non-profit Extra Special People, Inc., one of the state’s top care providers for children and adults with disabilities. But for many years, the organization was forced to bus their clientele to ADA-accessible recreational areas outside the city, as there was nothing in Watkinsville that could accommodate them.

To remedy the situation, Watkinsville, working with Extra Special People and guided by community feedback and support, developed a plan to create the Miracle League Ball Field and the ADA-accessible Playground of Possibilities. Both were designed to remove the barriers that have kept disabled residents from active participation in similar facilities, while also allowing children of all abilities to play together in a safe, inclusive and accessible space.

The new facilities opened in June 2022 and are located on what was essentially unused space: a pine forest, an old ball field and a wooden playground that was in desperate need of renovation. The city also saw an opportunity to extend an ADA-accessible, five-foot-wide path into the adjacent Harris Shoals Park, allowing those with strollers, wheelchairs, walkers or physical handicaps to safely and easily access and enjoy all areas of the 17-acre park. In addition, these facilities will continue to provide universally accessible opportunities for recreation and fellowship to those with disabilities and the community at large.

Sparks: Mobile Library Service Tybee Island: Keep Tybee Tidy

Watkinsville: Miracle League Ball Field

MEDIUM

Toccoa: Just like in The Tortoise and the Hare, sometimes slow and steady wins the race. Such is the case for Lake Toccoa Recreational Park, located in the northeastern Georgia city of Toccoa. In the late 1960s, the bones for the idea of what would eventually become the Lake Toccoa Recreational Park were formed with the establishment of Community Facilities and Comprehensive Plans. However, property ownership concerns and longstanding lease agreements prevented development on the project for decades. In fact, it wasn’t until 2018 –50 years later – that substantial work could begin.

Today, the Lake Toccoa Recreational Park provides a fully ADAaccessible walking trail, a boathouse with paddle boats, two pavilions, fishing landings, a restaurant and more. The park regularly sees walkers, kayakers, paddle boaters, fishers and families enjoying the facilities, thereby serving the goals originally envisioned by the city over 50 years ago.

Camilla: How do you prepare a community’s youth for a successful future? The city of Camilla, located in Southwest Georgia, created The Camilla Youth Initiative, a multi-tiered program that provides students with skills and knowledge they can use in the real world. Students of every demographic and socio-economic status are encouraged to participate in the program, which is designed to help not only the students themselves, but the city and overall community, as well.

The Camilla Youth Initiative consists of three tiers:

The first tier involves the city’s student internship program. Students are assigned to different Camilla City Departments, such as electrical, water, public works, human resources, the city manager’s office or city clerk’s office. There, they learn marketable skills as well as develop an understanding and appreciation of how their city works.

The second tier is focused on Camila’s Youth Council program, which is designed to get youth more involved in their community. High school students establish their own city youth council, where they analyze and address real issues impacting and occurring in Camilla, and then provide feedback and recommendations to the city council.

The third tier is the Camilla Youth Employment Program. This program is designed for 14- to 19-year-old Camilla residents interested in working with local non-profits, where they gain skills, knowledge, and a passion to serve.

To make all this possible, the city of Camilla partnered with multiple organizations, including the Mitchell County School System and several nonprofits.

Norcross: Norcross established the “Bee City USA” Committee to engage with the city’s diverse community and create pollinator-friendly demonstration sites, park landscapes, school gardens and more. The efforts were to earn the designation of “Bee City USA,” which recognizes cities that take steps to protect the crucial pollinators.

Norcross’s committee provided multi-lingual education materials to create an inviting and inclusive volunteer environment. Bee City USA participants and supporters come from a wide variety of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Local volunteers participate in the planning, planting and maintenance of projects throughout the city and in residential areas, from backyard gardens to the city hall’s front lawn.

With each new pollinator-friendly landscape, Norcross becomes better equipped to support bees and other pollinators, while also promoting the expansion of sustainable landscaping that reduces reliance on pesticides and finite resources. Additionally, the program has increased participation in city initiatives across all demographic sectors, ensuring that municipal decisions are driven by the needs and concerns of the whole community.

Toccoa: Lake Toccoa Recreational Park Camilla: Youth Initiative

Norcross: Bee City USA

LARGE

Valdosta: Valdosta has a tradition of regularly engaging with the community and hosting impressive, well-attended events. From the city’s annual Christmas parade and Juneteeth celebrations to smaller events like brown bag lunch concerts and farmer and maker’s markets, it’s clear Valdosta knows how to throw a party. But events were typically confined to the Historic Lowndes County Courthouse grounds, which limited the size and scope of these community gatherings. So, after a proposed development project fell through for a parcel of land directly across the street from Valdosta City Hall, city leaders decided to create a community-focused space that could be used for events and would bring more people to the downtown area.

The space is now home to Unity Park, which features an amphitheater that includes a large, covered stage, event lighting and backstage areas. There’s also an extensive greenspace for seating, a large splash pad, family-friendly restrooms, a water station and enough space to comfortably host Valdosta’s renowned festivities. It’s also the perfect spot for residents to relax, with plenty of space for children to play. It can be utilized for anything from festivals and concerts to community movie nights and pop-up farmers’ markets.

LaGrange: When LaGrange took back maintenance and capital funding of the city’s parks in July 2021, they did so with a purpose and crafted a plan to make parks a priority. It all starts with the Thread, LaGrange’s pet-friendly, multi-purpose, multi-use trail system, where people can walk, bike or jog. The idea was to have parks spread throughout the community, and the Thread connects them and provides a beautiful, safe pathway for residents to travel from one park to the next.

There’s plenty of reason for residents to visit each park, as each offers something different. Granger Park, for example, offers a tricycle track, where LaGrange’s youngest citizens have a path made specifically for them to enjoy. Moss-Wood Park, on the other hand, has

a small amphitheater where residents can enjoy shows, community events or even host parties.

And LaGrange isn’t stopping there. The city is currently developing Ridley Lake Park, which will be on the Thread system, and will feature a lake where residents can fish, kayak and more. That same park will also offer playground equipment designed for special needs children, ensuring every citizen can enjoy the city’s Thread and park system.

The transformation of LaGrange’s parks is truly a remarkable achievement and will continue to enhance residents’ quality of life for this generation and the next.

Douglasville: Innovation can be found anywhere, and sometimes a radical transformation or dramatic physical change isn’t required to make an impact. The city of Douglasville, located a few miles west of Atlanta, won this year’s Visionary City Award by doing something simple: teaching children.

The city created a six-episode video series for kids, called “Douglasville Jr.!,” which aims to teach children about their local government. It has been incorporated into the second grade curriculum of the city’s school system and features students from diverse backgrounds and local schools.

“Douglasville Jr.!” follows a puppet who learns what local government does and what happens behind the scenes to make everything work. The city partnered with the school system to ensure the content they created aligned with the subject matters being taught. It’s become very popular, not only with the children, but also with parents, extended families and the public at large.

The city is currently planning a second season of “Douglasville Jr.!,” which will introduce additional government departments, policies and procedures. In the future, the city plans to work with local middle and high school music and band programs to help create original music for the series.

Valdosta: Unity Park LaGrange: Parks System Douglasville: Douglasville Jr.!

ARC Grants Support Transportation Projects in Metro Atlanta

In December, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) announced its allocation of $235 million in federal grant funds for metro Atlanta area projects, including multiple in Georgia’s cities.

THE PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THESE GRANTS

include a wide swath of transportation projects, focusing on issues including road and highway safety; cyclist and pedestrian accessibility; and public transit. Twenty-one cities received grants for 48 projects, and all grants required a minimum 20% local match.

“These projects will help local communities across metro Atlanta provide better, safer transportation options for their residents that improve quality of life and spark sustainable economic growth,” said John Orr, ARC’s managing director of transportation planning.

Cities received more than half of the 77 grants given through this effort. Other recipients include county governments, community improvement districts and MARTA. While not every grant was given to a city, the work from each will likely have important impacts on Georgia’s cities.

Among the city projects are “road diets” for Chamblee-Tucker Road in Tucker and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway in Atlanta. Both are intended to improve safety and walkability for pedestrians in these areas. Atlanta, which received the most grants of any city at 13, also received funding to further construction on the Atlanta Beltline’s northeast and southside trails. Across two grants, nearly $12 million was awarded for work on the Beltline.

The Village Crossroads Project on Chamblee Dunwoody Road received a grant of $6.25 million. This project will transform the stretch of Chamblee

Dunwoody Road that goes through Dunwoody Village into a more walkable and bike-friendly area. Plans include wider sidewalks, enhanced lighting, a dedicated cycle path and traffic-calming measures to reduce the speed of passing cars.

Another $1.5 million grant was awarded to Dunwoody for a project that will extend a 12-foot, shareduse path on Winters Chapel Road. The current endpoint is at the intersection of Winters Chapel Road and Charmant Place. Through this grant, the city will be able to extend the path to the intersection with Peeler Road, more than half a mile south. Part of the path crosses into neighboring Peachtree Corners, and both cities are working together to ensure safe spaces for people to exercise, travel and have fun.

“Dunwoody appreciates ARC’s continued support of bicycle and pedestrian projects that improve safety and mobility,” said Dunwoody Public Works Director Michael Smith. “Improving conditions for the most vulnerable road users has long been a point of emphasis for the city council.”

To learn about more opportunities for cities to receive grant funds, visit gacities.com and click “Grants” under the “Resources” tab.

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City Spotlight City Spotlight

Sky Valley

In scenic Rabun County, where Georgia meets North Carolina and South Carolina, you can embark on an almost limitless number of outdoor activities. In Sky Valley, one of those activities used to be downhill skiing.

Georgia hasn’t had an active ski slope since the Sky Valley Ski Area was closed in 2004 after 35 years in operation. The small mountain had five trails, one chairlift and a rope tow for its bunny slope, which was named “Pokey.” The former ski lodge now houses a church, and condos were built on the land that had previously served as ski slopes.

Sky Valley doesn’t lack opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. The city sits on Rabun Bald, the second-highest peak in Georgia – the highest, Brasstown Bald, is about an hour away in Hiawassee. Hikers can make their way to the peak of Rabun Bald and, on clear days, see for more than 100 miles. Sky Valley Country Club is home to championship golf and croquet courses.

The Embrace Program: A Year in Review

Building on the success of 2021, GMA’s Embrace program started 2022 by delivering training to the entire staff of the city of Covington.

IT CONCLUDED WITH PROVIDING TRAINING FOR the city of McDonough’s leadership team. Embrace offered more than 150 programs, reaching more than 3800 municipal officials, staff, and community members and impacting an estimated community population of over 786,000.

The program included training for the Youth Forum participants during the 2022 Cities United Summit,

the Kentucky League of Municipalities (KLC), the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, and several mayor and council retreats. Freddie Broome, GMA’s Director of Equity and Inclusion, also presented during the Newly Elected Officials Training Institute, the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs’ conference, the Black Chief Officer’s Conference (BCOC), the GMA’s Gas Section Annual Meeting, and the GMA’s annual conference.

THE EMBRACE WEBINAR HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR, WITH TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDING:

• How Veteran Unemployment Affects Our Cities and How They Can Recover

• Excellence in Policing

• Inclusive Leadership

• Upskilling 101: A Guide to Workforce Relevance

• Inclusive Economic Growth

• Having Courageous Conversations at Work

• Addressing Wealth Inequalities to Build Community Wealth.

The Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate program launched with 33 participants in November 2022. The program was created to provide municipal leaders with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to establish the foundation for sustainable, equitable, and economic prosperity by cultivating an environment that values difference, fosters relationships and nurtures a spirit of belongingness.

In 2023, the Embrace program will offer its second Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Certificate program, monthly Embrace webinars, the Effective Emotional Leader program and regional workshops about how to develop a diversity recruiting program.

In the Equity and Inclusion Commission’s final report, one of the key recommendations was to develop a certification program for cities. As a result of that recommendation and the work of the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, the new Certified City of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) program was officially launched at the Cities United Summit. The program’s purpose is to assist municipal officials in identifying and removing barriers to creating sustainable communities where people want to live, work and play.

To learn more about the Embrace program or any of GMA’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, contact Freddie Broome, Director of Equity and Inclusion, at fbroome@gacities.com, or Alexandra Campos Castillo, Program Manager, at acampos@gacities.com, or visit www.gacities.com/embrace.

EMBRACE WEBINARS 2023

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

DATE

Feb. 22

March 22

April 26

May 24

Sept. 20

Oct. 25

Nov. 8

Dec. 13

TOPIC

Embrace Civility

Leading Organizations and Communities where people want to Live, Work and Play

Excellence in Policing

Inclusive Leadership: Nurturing Inclusive Climates

Building a Successful Diversity Program

Leveraging Diversity and Inclusion Through Transformative Leadership

Emotional Intelligence is at the heart of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) Diversity Backlash

Reflecting on 10 Years of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership

Founded a decade ago in 2013, the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership works to foster vibrant downtown across Georgia through community engagement and implementation of citizen-defined visions and plans.

THE PARTNERSHIP RECOGNIZES THAT DOWNTOWNS SERVE AS the heart and soul of our communities and provide the engines that drive local economies. The mission is to provide cities with the customized planning and design assistance necessary to help ensure economically vibrant, community-focused downtowns.

The Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership grew out of a multi-year study of successful downtowns beginning in 2010. This study was an effort driven by Joe Whorton, then of the J.W. Fannin Leadership Institute at the University of Georgia. From this study, a statewide task force was created to make recommendations for the betterment of Georgia’s downtowns. Among these recommendations was the creation of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership, combining the resources of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG), GMA and the Georgia Cities Foundation with the task of

providing planning, design and technical assistance for downtowns throughout the state.

The assistance programs provided through the partnership range from smaller scale design needs – the Targeted Technical Assistance program – to a much more robust, community driven program, the Renaissance Strategic Vision and Planning Process (RSVP). The Partnership also includes student driven efforts supported by the design studio located at CVIOG. The Downtown Renaissance Fellowship and the Urban Design Studio both utilize students at the College of Environment and Design (CED) at UGA.

If your city is interested in pursuing any of the programs available through the Partnership, reach out to Chris Higdon, GMA’s community development manager, at chigdon@gacities.com or Danny Bivins, CVIOG senior public service associate, at dbivins@uga.edu.

GEORGIA DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE PROGRAMS:

• The Renaissance Strategic Vision and Planning Process (RSVP) assists cities through the creation of a community-supported vision, plan, and implementation program. Driven by a robust public input process, the RSVP is both a process and a master plan that illustrates the community’s vision for the future. Since 2013, RSVP plans have been created for 24 communities.

• The Georgia Downtown Renaissance Fellowship pairs student designers from the UGA College of Environment and Design (CED) with community partners across the state to address design challenges over the course of a 12-week summer fellowship.

Since 2013, 25 downtown fellowships have taken place in 24 cities across Georgia.

• The Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership offers targeted design assistance on a case-by-case basis for small-scale design solutions and interventions. The Partnership has provided targeted technical assistance for 39 projects in 20 downtowns.

• Since 2013, 15 cities have received assistance through dedicated studio courses conducted in partnership with the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design (CED).

COMMUNITIES SERVED ARE LISTED BELOW:

1. Americus (RSVP, 2016)

2. Bainbridge (RSVP, 2014, RSVP Update, 2019, Technical Assistance, 2020, 2021, 2022)

3. Blueridge (GCF lead strategic planning effort, technical design assistance, 2013)

4. Brunswick (RSVP, 2017)

5. Cairo (RSVP, 2013)

6. Camilla (Technical Assistance, 2013)

7. Cedartown (RSVP, 2013)

8. Chamblee (Fellowship, 2015)

9. Chatsworth (Fellowship, 2016)

10. Chickamauga (RSVP, 2016, Studio Course 2017, 2019, Technical Assistance, 2021)

11. Clarkesville (RSVP 2015, Technical Assistance, 2017)

12. College Park (Practicum Class, 2015)

13. Colquitt (Fellowship, 2021)

14. Commerce (Practicum Class, 2015)

15. Conyers (Practicum Class, 2014)

16. Cordele (RSVP, 2015, Technical Assistance, 2018, 2020, 2021)

17. Copper Basin (RSVP, 2019, Technical Assistance, 2021)*

18. Dahlonega (Fellowship, 2020)

19. Dalton (RSVP, 2019)

20. Dublin (Technical Assistance, 2015)

21. Fitzgerald (Fellowship, 2014)

22. Flowey Branch (Practicum Class, 2015)

23. Forsyth (Practicum Class, 2014)

24. Fort Oglethorpe (RSVP, 2021)

25. Gainesville (RSVP, 2016, Fellowship, 2013, 2021, Technical Assistance, 2016)

26. Glennville (Practicum Class, 2015)

27. Greensboro (Fellowship, 2019)

28. Griffin (Practicum Class, 2015)

29. Hapeville (Fellowship, 2014)

30. Hawkinsville (RSVP, 2020)

31. Hinesville (RSVP, 2019, Technical Assistance, 2022)

32. Holly Springs (Fellowship, 2017)

33. Jasper (Technical Assistance, 2022)

34. Jefferson (RSVP, 2017)

35. Jesup (RSVP, 2018, Fellowship, 2016, Technical Assistance, 2018, 2021, 2022)

36. LaFayette (RSVP, 2021)

37. Lilburn (Fellowship, 2019, Technical Assistance 2020)

38. Lookout Mountain (Studio Class, 2018, 2019)

39. Madison (Technical Assistance 2021)

40. McDonough (Fellowship, 2018)

41. McRae-Helena (Fellowship, 2018)

42. Milledgeville (Fellowship 2013, Practicum Class, 2015)

43. Milton (Practicum Class, 2015)

44. Monroe (Fellowship, 2016)

45. Newnan (Fellowship, 2014)

46. Perry (RSVP, 2014)

47. Porterdale (Fellowship, 2013)

48. Richmond Hill (Fellowship, 2020)

49. Ringgold (RSVP, 2017, Technical Assistance 2019, 2020, 2021)

50. Rossville (Studio Course, 2016, Technical Assistance, 2017)

51. Statesboro (Fellowship, 2015)

52. St. Marys (RSVP, 2016)

53. Stockbridge (RSVP, 2018)

54. Thomson (RSVP, 2020, Technical Assistance, 2020)

55. Toccoa (Fellowship, 2015)

56. Trenton (Fellowship, 2018, Technical Assistance, 2021, 2022)

57. Tyrone (Fellowship, 2017)

58. Villa Rica (RSVP, 2016)

59. Washington (Practicum Class, 2013)

60. Young Harris (Technical Assistance, 2022)

SINCE 2013, 60 CITIES ACROSS GEORGIA HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE GEORGIA DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE PARTNERSHIP.

Demorest and Sandy Springs Become Newly Certified Cities of Ethics

AFTER DEDICATED WORK TOWARDS CREATING ETHICAL LOCAL governments, 14 cities were re-certified as Cities of Ethics and two were newly certified at the Cities United Summit.

GMA created the Certified Cities of Ethics program more than 20 years ago to help strengthen public trust and confidence in municipal government.

Certification under the program is a way to recognize cities that have adopted principles and procedures that offer guidance on ethical issues, along with a mechanism to resolve complaints at the local level. The program helps remind all of us that conducting the public’s business in the most ethical manner should always be top priority.

In addition, there are currently twelve counties or organizations that are certified through the program. Those that achieve certification must submit for recertification every four years.

The cities that achieved recertification are:

• Aragon

• Blairsville

• Carl

• Cedartown

• Douglasville

• Eatonton

• Fairburn

• Fayetteville

• Hazlehurst

• Lavonia

The two newly-certified Cities of Ethics are:

• Milton

• Monroe

• Thomaston

• Thomson

Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative

AT THE CITIES UNITED SUMMIT, 11 CITIES WERE RECOGNIZED for completing the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative.

GMA and the Georgia Cities Foundation launched the Placemaking Collaborative pilot program in the summer of 2018 with three cities.

The collaborative is a two-year program that helps cities build a local placemaking team and develop a specific placemaking strategy, based on the unique assets of a community.

The program is made possible by the work of GMA alongside key partners and sponsors: Georgia Power, the Georgia Conservancy, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Electric Cities of Georgia.

The cities honored for their successful completion of this program are:

• Bainbridge, Class of 2020

• Gainesville, Class of 2020

• Greensboro, Class of 2020

• Albany, Class of 2021

• Canton, Class of 2021

• Millen, Class of 2021

• Covington, Class of 2022

• Fitzgerald, Class of 2022

• Jackson, Class of 2022

• Powder Springs, Class of 2022

• Young Harris, Class of 2022

Demorest

Sandy Springs

Thanks to our Cities United Summit sponsors

Consultant Q&A: Sherri Bailey, Districts 5 and 7

EACH CONSULTANT HAS A UNIQUE background in municipal government and a special area (or areas) of expertise. In this issue of Georgia’s Cities, we’ll learn a little more about Sherri Bailey, who serves districts 5 and 7. Cities in these districts include Covington, Athens and Augusta.

What did you do before you became a member services consultant at GMA? Before working with GMA as a Member Services Consultant, I was the city manager of Washington, Georgia, which is my hometown. I was with Washington for 12 years; I began as their finance coordinator and was the city manager for my last five years. Before working in local government, I was an accountant with Essex Manufacturing, Inc., a corporation based out of New York that had a shipping unit based in Washington.

How does your background help you serve cities in your districts? My background in local government helps because I can relate to a city’s struggles. I have been on the financial side of operating a city, and on the management side. I understand the limited resources that most cities have to work with, including

funding, staffing and equipment. The city I worked for was a MEAG (Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia) city, so I also understand that many cities operate as a business with their enterprise funds. I love working with municipalities to help them get the most from their resources while still providing a high-quality service to their residents and businesses.

What are some common financial issues that you assist cities with? The most common thing I work with municipalities on is their budget. Most cities in Georgia are small with limited staff. That means they may not have a dedicated finance director. Often, a city clerk is responsible for the financial aspects of operating the city, including creating or helping to create the annual budget. I have also worked with municipalities on closing out their books, revenue and expense forecasting, creating capital improvement plans and creating work plans to achieve the vision and mission of the city. I will help them with anything they need.

What would you recommend a city official keep in mind during the budgeting process? My number one piece of advice is to start early. If your fiscal year ends on Dec. 31, they should begin planning for

GMA has a team of member services consultants dedicated to helping Georgia’s cities solve problems and seize opportunities.

the upcoming budget in August at the latest. At this point, you can see trends in the current budget. It would be best if you had a budget calendar that you work by to keep you on track. Also, be sure to get your key stakeholders involved early on. Work with your department heads to determine their needs for the upcoming year. Work with your elected officials to reach a consensus on their priorities for the coming year and give the community opportunities to participate in the budget process. The more buy-in you have from your stakeholders, the easier it will be to get a budget approved that will benefit the community as a whole.

Do you teach any of GMA’s training classes? Which ones? Yes, I currently teach Municipal Taxation 101 and 102, Municipal Revenue Sources, Customer Service 101, Occupational Taxes & Regulatory fees, Performance Management Systems and various leadership development classes. I also help facilitate city planning retreats.

What is your favorite part of being a member services consultant? Helping my cities. I enjoyed working for Washington when I was with them. I felt like I was making a difference. I have carried that with me to all of my cities in districts 5 and 7, and any Georgia cities needing my help. I love giving them resources, guidance, and support to help them be the best they can be. Municipalities hold a vital role in our communities. They are the closest to the people and can make a massive difference in the quality of life of their residents, and I am proud to be a part of that.

THE MUNICIPAL LEADER DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: Helping Leader-led, Live, Work and Play Communities

On a crisp November morning in 2022, GMA’s training room was full of local government leaders from across Georgia for the inaugural cohort of the Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate program.

“WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR MUNICIPAL Leader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate program, since it is one of the first certificate programs developed specifically for municipal government leaders,” said GMA Director of Equity and Inclusion Freddie Broome.

Mayors, councilmembers, city managers, and department heads from cities throughout the metro Atlanta area, as well as Augusta, Albany, Columbus,

Madison, Milledgeville, Perry, Tifton and Young Harris, filled the room. All participants were eager to learn and dedicated to bettering their community’s quality of life.

Mayor Randall Walker of Perry, who also serves as GMA’s First Vice President, felt it was essential for him to participate in the inaugural program.

“As a leader, I’m committed to continuous education and believe it is incumbent for those of us in

leadership positions to engage in those opportunities that broaden our perspective and highlight the issues that present challenges to our workforce and communities,” Walker said.

Module one focused on inclusive leadership, with participants discussing inclusive leadership, transformational leadership, cultural intelligence, and emotional intelligence. The C.U.R.E Mindset Workshop, led by Linnea Miller, president of Long Table LLC and a Suwanee city councilmember, and Rebecca Munlyn, Leadership Consultant, Inspired Growth, LLC, was one of the day’s highlights.

Georgia City Solutions Managing Director Kay Love led the second module, which convened in December 2022. Love moderated the discussion, which focused on recognizing biases in financial policies, processes and systems; assessing the financial impact of unfair decision-making and resource allocation; and developing ways to rectify financial disparities in policies, procedures, and systems. Danny Kanso of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), Dr. Tonja Tift of the Tifton Financial Literacy Program and Harpreet Hora of Atlanta Public Schools were among the guest speakers.

The Excellence in Public Safety module was perhaps the most engaging module when observing the classroom dialogues. Albany Fire Chief Michael Persley, a member of the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, and Smyrna Fire Chief Brian Marcos co-presented the class lectures. Decatur Fire Chief Tony Washington and Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Ninetta Violante, also of Decatur, moderated educational discussions about women in the fire service. Natalie Ammons, President of the Georgia Chapter of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), and Clarence Cox collaborated with Thomson Police Chief Courtney Gale, who serves as president of the Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety, to lead a panel discussion on systemic biases in public

safety; challenges related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; and bridging the gaps to foster better relationships within communities.

Over the coming months, participants will continue to enhance their knowledge, tools and resources to create a foundation for sustainable and equitable economic prosperity for their city by studying economic and community growth, community engagement, and human resources. The cohort will conclude in May when each participant will present their capstone project.

Registration is now open for the next cohort, which is scheduled to start in October.

“The Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate program offers participants the chance to explore these issues and compels us to understand that creating a workplace and community that understands and values all, in turn, creates those places where we all want to live, work, and play” Walker said.

To learn more about the Municipal Leader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate program, contact Freddie Broome, Director of Equity and Inclusion, at fbroome@gacities.com, or Alexandra Campos Castillo, Program Manager, at acampos@gacities.com, or visit www.gacities.com/embrace.

And Our Next Reader

Is…The Mayor

BY SARA BAXTER

An innovative new program from Georgia City Solutions encourages mayors to get out into the community and read to children, promoting literacy and community engagement.

ON A RECENT SATURDAY LAST OCTOBER, Conyers Mayor Vince Evans sat in a room at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library with a group of children and read them a story. The book was called Georgia Caroline Visits City Hall, and Evans was helped by his wife, Cyndi, who did many of the female voices. After listening to the story, the children built models of city hall during an art activity coordinated by the library.

This activity is part of the statewide Mayor’s Reading Club, a new literacy program created by Georgia City Solutions (GCS), a nonprofit arm of the Georgia Municipal Association.

“We developed this program as a way to promote literacy,” said Kay Love, Managing Director of Georgia City Solutions. “It is a topic that has become very important to cities, not just from an educational

standpoint, but also an economic and workforce development standpoint.”

The program, which officially rolled out last August, began with a handful of mayors and has grown to more than 50 mayors participating from across the state. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Any program where you can get children on the right path early, I’m happy to get involved in,” said Evans. “Through reading they learn imagination, confidence and vocabulary. It’s great to start them early in seeing the importance of reading.”

When they sign up for the program, mayors receive a “starter kit” that contains a copy of Georgia Caroline Visits City Hall, a book commissioned by GCS to teach children about local government.

The first in a series of five, the book follows the main character, Georgia Caroline, and her classmates on a field trip to city hall in their fictional hometown of Happyville, Georgia. They meet the mayor, attend a city council meeting, tour city hall and learn about city services and operations. The second book in the series is scheduled to be released in March 2023, with subsequent books released throughout the rest of the year.

The starter kit also includes lesson plans for kindergarten and third grade, a Mayor’s Reading Club proclamation template, an implementa tion and resource guide and a sug gested reading list.

“This is a tremendous program,” said Monticello Mayor Gail Harrell*, who became interested in the program when she heard about it last summer. “The thought of getting out into the community and giving back really appealed to me.”

Harrell has read several times at the local elementary school in Mon ticello, as well as at the Monticello Get Ahead House, an afterschool program. She also read a “spooky story” to children at the public library around Halloween.

“Reading is your gateway to where you are going in life,” said Harrell, a voracious reader herself. “It’s a step toward succeeding in the future. Anything I can do to encourage children to pick up a book is worth doing.”

When Madison Mayor Fred Perriman heard about the Mayor’s Reading Club, he jumped on board right away, contacting the school superintendent to discuss how they could work together. Since then, he’s been a fixture at the local elementary school, reading to third graders at least once a month. He also encourages other local leaders to do the same.

“It’s a way for all of us to be engaged in our communities,” said Perriman. “I’m so glad GCS has stepped up to the plate with this. Not only does it promote reading, but it’s a great way for cities to connect with the schools.

At the end of the day, we are all partners. It makes our communities stronger.”

While some mayors are partnering with the local schools, another natural partner is the public library. GCS has the support of the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the University System of Georgia that supports Georgia’s 410 public libraries. Each library received a starter kit and many have helped facilitate reading events.

“We are thrilled that Georgia City Solutions made this a priority, and the libraries are willing to do anything they can to help,” said Julie Walker, State Librarian for the Georgia Public Library Service. “Libraries are natural gathering places and are happy to host the mayors as they read.” Many libraries – like the Nancy Guinn Library in Conyers mentioned above – have added activities on to the reading event that provide additional learning opportunities.

With encouragement and support from the mayors, the hope is that more children will take an interest in reading, which in turn promotes literacy and life-long success.

“If you are a proficient reader, there is no limit to what you can do,” said Walker. “This is crucially important work. The more people that can get involved in these efforts, the better. It benefits the entire community. Having the mayor involved stresses the importance of reading. The more they are seen prioritizing reading and literacy, the better it is for everyone.”

To learn more about the Mayor’s Reading Club Program, please visit the Georgia City Solutions website at gacitysolutions.org.

As of this writing, Gail Harrell had resigned her post as mayor of Monticello and will end her term on January 31.

2023 Training Dates for the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute

GMA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT have a robust list of training opportunities for the months ahead. Visit gacities.com and click the “Events” tab to find registration information for each training opportunity.

SCHEDULE

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Strengthening the Well-being of Children & Youth (New)

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Current Issues Class: Health In All Policies: Impactful Local Decision-Making to Ensure Healthier Communities (New)

• Economic Development*

• Making Citizen Engagement Work in Our Communities*

MARCH 1-3

Newly Elected Officials Institute

UGA Center for Continuing Education, Athens

APRIL 13-14

Spring Training Event

Classic Center, Athens

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Creating a Downtown Renaissance: Advanced DDA Training

• Effective Branding and Marketing Strategies for Municipal Governments (New)

• Navigating the Future: Thinking, Planning and Acting Strategically

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

• Municipal Courts Post Ferguson I: Promoting Justice, Protecting City Assets*

• Municipal Finance II*

• Public Problems, Democratic Decisions: The Governing Role of Mayors and Councilmembers *+

JUNE 23-27

Annual Convention

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

8:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 27

8:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

HAROLD F. HOLTZ MUNICIPAL TRAINING INSTITUTE 2023

With a new year comes a new schedule of training classes for city officials across the state. Whether it’s your first year on the job or you’re a veteran public servant, there is always something new to learn.

AUG. 16

Pre-event Training – Small Cities Conference

Oconee Fall Line Technical College, Dublin

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

• Open Records*

• Succession Planning: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce Today

AUG. 21

Georgia Downtown Conference, Canton

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Downtown Development Authority Basic Training

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Creating a Downtown Renaissance: Advanced DDA Training

SEPT. 26-29

Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute

Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island

SEPT. 28-29

Fall Training Event

Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

KEY:

* This class is on the required list for the Municipal Training Institute Certificate program.

+ This class is in the training institute’s Advanced Leadership Track and is required to earn the Certificate of Dedication.

HR Training Helps Build Strong City Teams

This spring, GMA will hold its Human Resources Administration (HRAC) program in Douglas.

THE FIVE-CLASS COURSE, OCCURRING ONCE A week from March 22 to April 19, is instructed by staff from GMA and LGRMS, as well as human resources professionals for Georgia’s cities. In addition to teaching how best to build a strong team of city employees, HRAC also expands upon previous GMA human relations training. Upon completion of the course, participants should:

• Understand all relevant employment laws.

• Understand the importance of recruiting, onboarding, and professional development in attracting and retaining the right people for the right job.

• Understand how to compensate and provide benefits to employees.

• Understand how to develop personnel policies; and

• Understand how to address employee performance and workplace culture.

Any elected or appointed city official can take the course. Still, it targets city clerks, department heads, mayors and council members who may have to address human resources administration. The courses required to earn the Human Resource Administration certificate are:

• Personnel Law

• Talent Management

• Performance Management

• Compensation & Benefits

• Personnel Policies

Participants can sign up for any or all of the five courses. However, to receive the certificate of completion, all five courses must be taken. The HR courses will be held at other locations around the state, making it convenient to pick up missed courses. Cities in GIRMA can apply for a safety grant covering half of the full course costs of $625. City clerks can use HRAC courses toward their annual continuing education unit (CEU) municipal clerk certification requirements.

Those seeking more information about HRAC and other GMA training programs can visit gacities.com.

Questions about the Douglas HRAC class can be directed to Member Services Consultant Terrell Jacobs at tjacobs@gacities.com.

Newly Elected Officials Training Set for March in Athens

Save the date: The 2023 Newly Elected Officials Institute will be held March 1-3 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel in Athens. Registration is now open.

EACH YEAR, CITIES ACROSS GEORGIA ELECT NEW officials to their local governments, and the learning curve can be steep. The Newly Elected Officials Institute will help ease that learning curve and provide the tools to lead Georgia’s cities successfully.

This special training fulfills the legal requirement that all newly elected municipal officials complete a training program specifically designed for first-time members of elected city government. The Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government are pleased to provide this required training to Georgia’s newly elected municipal officials.

The Newly Elected Officials Institute provides an opportunity for mayors and councilmembers to increase their knowledge and understanding of city government, especially as it relates to the role and responsibility of the elected official. The training provides information designed to increase the awareness of the legal, financial and ethical responsibilities of city officials. Further, the course provides six hours of credit toward the voluntary training certificate program available through the

Municipal Training Institute. Municipal elected officials that have served before and have been reelected are required to take the Newly Elected Officials Institute again if they have been out of office for more than four years or more than one term, whichever is longer.

The Newly Elected Officials Institute is not only a great opportunity to gain important skills, but to network with other newly elected officials and meet veteran public servants with wisdom to share. Attendees will leave with confidence in their new roles as city officials, and with a Rolodex full of colleagues to seek advice from and compare notes with.

Those who have not yet registered can do so on GMA’s website, gacities.com.

Next Class of Young Gamechangers Named for Columbus Cohort

GeorgiaForward recently announced the 45 young professionals from across the state that will serve as the organization’s 2023 Young Gamechangers.

THE 2023 COHORT OF YOUNG GAMECHANGERS

(YG) will be hosted by Columbus-Muscogee County. Their work will begin on April 26 and culminate with a community presentation of their findings and recommendations on Oct.19.

The Gamechangers are accomplished professionals under the age of 40 from across the state who wish to make an impact through civic engagement, economic development and community partnerships. They will develop specific, actionable recommendations for the community. Columbus leaders

have formulated four “Challenge Questions” that the 2023 cohort will be charged to answer through the six-month program. These questions center around economic development, community engagement, local entrepreneurship, and more. One-third of the class are from the Columbus-Muscogee County area, another third are from the metro Atlanta region, and the remaining fifteen are from greater Georgia. Bringing together young leaders from various regions helps to unite our state, strengthen communities, and create a talent pipeline within Georgia.

Who is on the Team

Columbus-Muscogee County

Rebecca Covington

Aaron Gierhart

Kim Golden

Kristen Holt

Martin Huff

Rachael Lambert

Haley Lyman

Ben MacMinn

Tiffany McBride

Samantha Miller Gurski

Brantley Pittman

Brooke Sullivan

Scott Sullivan

Keona Swindler

Tavari Turner

Cortney Wilson

Rebecca Zajac

Metro Atlanta

Victor Aguilar (Morrow/Clayton County)

Elizabeth Banks (Brookhaven/De Kalb County)

Christopher Bass (Douglasville/Douglas County)

Keon Berry (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Chelsea Bohannon (Decatur/DeKalb County)

Maranie Brown (Smyrna/Cobb County)

Olivia Cervi (Kennesaw/Cobb County)

Kristen Gorham (Tucker/DeKalb County)

Earnest Johnson (Atlanta/Cobb County)

Kelsie Kruskol (Lawrenceville/Gwinnett County)

Juan Mejia (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Ashley Nealy (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Patrick Rodriguez (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Justin Strickland (Peachtree City/Fayette County)

Richard Taylor (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Coty Thigpen (Woodstock/Cherokee County)

Nia Williams (Fayetteville/Fayette County)

Greater Georgia

Divisha Bradley (Cuthbert/Randolph County)

Maegan Day (Villa Rica/Carroll County)

Ashley Ginn (Ellerslie/Harris County)

Cherysh Green-Caldwell (Ashburn/Turner County)

Oscar Guzman (Cedartown/Polk County)

Adrienne Hundley (Sharpsburg/Coweta County)

Gabrielle Nelson (Port Wentworth/Chatham County)

Will Newton (Macon/Bibb County)

Abigail Strickland (Newnan/Coweta County)

Emily Sullens (Cornelia/Habersham County)

Jessica VanValkenburgh (Hamilton/Harris County)

Erica Walker (Cataula/Harris County)

DJ Waller (Eatonton/Putnam County)

“We are delighted to bring the Young Gamechanger program to Columbus after a very successful run in Dalton,” said AJ Robinson, chair of GeorgiaForward’s board of directors. “This program has proven beneficial to every locale in which it has taken place, bringing new and fresh ideas to cities and counties across the state. It is a premier leadership development opportunity which produces results on many levels.”

Previous Young Gamechangers host communities are Americus-Sumter County, Dublin-Laurens County, Douglasville-Douglas County, Augusta-Richmond County, LaGrange-Troup County,

Milledgeville-Baldwin County, Albany-Dougherty County, and Monroe-Walton County.

For information about hosting a Young Gamechangers’ Program or applying to participate in future cohorts, please contact managing director, Sadie Krawczyk by email: skrawczyk@gacities.com or 678-528-0938.

Governmental Affairs

C o l e m a n T a l l e y S t r a t e g i e s , L L C , ( C T S ) , a n a f f i l i a t e o f

C o l e m a n T a l l e y L L P , i s a G o v e r n m e n t A f f a i r s d i v i s i o n t h a t o f f e r s s e r v i c e s r e l a t e d t o s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t r e l a t i o n s , l o b b y i n g a n d r e l a t e d c o r p o r a t e s t r a t e g i e s C T S i s l e d b y J o h n C r a w f o r d , w h o h a s o v e r t w e n t y y e a r s o f g o v e r n m e n t r e l a t i o n s e x p e r i e n c e i n c l u d i n g w o r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h l o c a l a n d s t a t e o f f i c i a l s , a n d m e m b e r s o f

C o n g r e s s J o h n h e l p s c l i e n t s b u i l d e f f e c t i v e s t r a t e g i e s t h a t p o s i t i v e l y s h a p e o p i n i o n a n d d r i v e f a v o r a b l e p o l i c y d e c i s i o n s w h i l e n a v i g a t i n g t h e p u b l i c , p o l i t i c a l , r e g u l a t o r y , a n d l e g i s l a t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t s

State Govt Relations and Lobbying

Federal Govt Relations and Lobbying

Corporate Strategies

Outreach Campaigns

Tax Incentives and strategies

Political PAC Strategies

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 2 2 9 - 2 6 2 - 3 4 0 0 o r v i s i t c o l e m a n t a l l e y c o m / g o v e r n m e n t - a f f a i r s

TOWNS & THE LAW

Litigation on LOST and SDS Could Impact Future Legislation

Starting on the second Monday of every year, the Georgia General Assembly convenes for a 40-day legislative session.

THIS YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE SAW FIT TO PUSH OUT THE CALENDAR FOR THE entire legislative session during the first few days, and we know that they plan of gaveling Sine Die on March 29.

Although the time period in which the legislature meets is short, the actions they take can be drastic and impact municipal government immensely.

Legislation on Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) is always possible, but we absolutely know there is active litigation on both subjects which has the potential to shape future negotiations and future legislation on the subjects.

Relating to LOST, Lumpkin County filed suit against the city of Dahlonega after the city submitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue a LOST distribution certificate which was signed by both the county and the city.

Confused? Effectively, the county, at a public meeting, voted on specific LOST split and sent the offer to the city. The city thereafter informed the county that it was still debating and evaluating the offer, but also voted to enter mediation on LOST, as the statutory time period requiring mediation if no agreement was in place within sixty days, was approaching.

A few weeks later, the city voted to accept the county’s offer, which had not been retracted. Upon learning of such, the county commission chair notified the mayor that the offer was no longer valid, despite the county not having taken any such vote. This litigation ensued and is could potentially come before the Georgia Court of Appeals, with the county arguing that the city had rejected the offer and there was no agreement between the parties, effectively arguing that counties should be able to have unilateral authority to change their mind on the LOST split whenever they choose.

On the SDS front, there are two significant cases to be informed about. In the city of Adairsville, a property developer outside of the city limits applied to have sewer service from the city. The property was not clearly within an service area of the city and the city determined it did not have the capacity to serve the planned project on the developer’s property.

The developer filed suit, claiming that the city should be required to provide service because their ordinance spoke to the city’s availability in providing the service, and not capacity. The trial court agreed and determined that availability did not necessarily mean capacity.

The trial court also determined that the city’s sewer lines were closer to the property than the county’s and thus, the city should serve the property because it was too costly for the county to do so, even though the property was in the unincorporated area. This case is currently on appeal with the Georgia Court of Appeals and could have significant impacts on service delivery issues in the future.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, active litigation between the city of Winder and Barrow

County on SDS is awaiting a potential date before the Supreme Court of Georgia, which litigation could upend or save SDS for the future.

In this litigation, the Georgia Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, has already ruled that the city’s water fees charged to the unincorporated area amount to illegal taxation, despite the SDS statutes very specifically allowing for rate differentials between incorporated and unincorporated areas.

The Court of Appeals held that the focus of the SDS is not on the geographical location of the service but on who uses and can use the service. Effectively, the court held that it does not matter if a county and a city provide the same service in their respective jurisdictions, if city residents can use the county service when in the unincorporated area, then such service does not primarily benefit the unincorporated area.

While trying to limit this ruling to county roads, the court heavily relied on case law which implicated a whole host of other legally indistinguishable services such as parks, roads, and police. Finally, the Court of Appeals held that the list of revenue sources in statute a county was required to use to fund services for the unincorporated area was not limiting and a county was thereby allowed to utilize a much wider net of potential funding for unincorporated area services, including revenues derived from city taxpayers. If allowed to stand or upheld, such ruling would defeat the stated purpose of SDS to prevent double taxation of city residents.

These three court cases present significant legal issues for the courts which could rewrite tax and service delivery in municipalities across the state. The potential decisions in these cases could also lead to future legislation.

Restored Beyond Its Former Beauty

ALAPAHA STRONG VOLUNTEERS HOLD RIBBON CUTTING FOR STATION DEPOT

BY VICKIE HARSEY

When people come together with a common goal, amazing things can happen. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Alapaha Strong Volunteers had the honor of cutting the ribbon on the grand re-opening of the town’s beloved depot.

WORK ON THE RESTORATION PROJECT BEGAN in November 2021 when the volunteers helped clear overgrown shrubs and vines from the 133-year-old depot and caboose. The clearing revealed the devasting truth that the historic structures were suffering. Without another thought, the first volunteers began

working to save the building. As word quickly spread, more volunteers joined the effort, and area businesses began donating funds and materials. The effort became a labor of love.

During the December ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Benjamin Davis thanked the volunteers and the

supporters for all they did to see the project through. Davis and Hayden Hancock, a member of the Berrien Chamber Board of Directors, acknowledged each volunteer with a certificate of appreciation.

“It was a promise made, and a promise kept,” Davis said, referring to his mayoral campaign and to the volunteers and supporters who had held the same vision in their hearts for the past two decades.

Among the key volunteers were George and Sandy Harper who, upon seeing the condition of the depot, broke out their tools and rolled up their sleeves; Brenda Hickey, a local artist and designer, who joined in the work and helped create the vision for the finished depot; Sylvia Roberts, retired vice-president of Bank of Alapaha, who saw the work at stage one and got busy raising the needed funds; Rudolph Smith, retired city manager of Norcross, who stepped up as project manager, laborer, and fundraiser; Alapaha Councilmember Vickie Harsey, who created a public relations and Facebook campaign for the project; and

Davis, a retired master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, who put his construction knowledge and skills to work.

“I appreciate Alapaha and its people. They always come together to work toward a common goal,” said Smith, an Alapaha native.

Throughout the year, Smith and Davis had frequently reminisced with others about watching and hearing the train rolling into town when they were boys. The memories and sentiments are shared by many who grew up here and have deep ancestral roots in this small river town. The volunteers and citizens not only share the memories but also a bond and respect across racial lines that built and maintained Alapaha.

The cooperation and dedication among the Alapaha Strong Volunteers was clear as they worked to restore the historic landmark. Their ages range from 50 to 82. They worked short weeks and short days. The skilled volunteers taught the rest how to operate saws, power washers and other construction equipment. They pulled nails and boards, scraped paint and reapplied it.

LEFT Alapaha Station Depot Ribbon Cutting Ceremon y- The Alapaha Strong Volunteers had the honor of cutting the ribbon for the grand re-opening of the Alapaha Station Depot. The facility will soon be available for event rentals. The volunteers are: L-R Front row -- Dolly Smith, Sylvia Roberts, Mattie and Johnny Davis, George Harper, Rudolph Smith, Mayor Ben Davis, Heather Brasell, Sandy Harper, Brenda and Bruce Hickey, Barbara Harper, and Hayden Hancock (of the Berrien Chamber). L - R Back row: Dana Echols, Dona Fields, Alfonzo Boone, Jeremy Roberts, Stanley Harsey, Sharon Greene, Lynda Carter, Gayle Tucker, and Norma Gaskins.

BELOW Northside in 2021. Removing rotting portion of the platform. North side in 2021 when project began.

They learned how to remove decay-ridden walls, floors and beams and replace them with good wood. All the while, an appreciative community provided lunches and building supplies for them.

“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the Alapaha Strong Team who had hands on this building,” Project Designer Brenda Hickey said. “The team was the first group that took on this renovation in November 2021 through May 2022—they’re the best bunch of hard-working people in Alapaha. It’s also been an honor working with our Project Manager Rudolph Smith from Day One and Georgia Correctional Engineer Johnny Simpson and his team that worked June through December 2022 to finish this project. Thank you all that had a hand in making this happen.”

Support came from every corner of the community, with state Rep. Penny Houston, Sheriff Ray Paulk, the

Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Berrien County Roads and Bridges Department, DuPont Pine Products LLC, Home Depot, Alapaha Public Works Manager Anthony Powell and Georgia Correctional Engineer Johnny Simpson all providing key assistance.

Now complete, the Alapaha Station Depot will be used as an event venue for weddings, reunions, birthdays, funerals and other social functions. It can be rented through the city, providing additional revenue while sharing a historic space with residents and neighbors.

Without these dedicated individuals and businesses, this project would not have happened. Financially, the task was not feasible for the city to complete alone. But, passion, dedication and a common goal to save a precious piece of history found a way to beat the odds and finish the task on a tight budget.

A Bit of Alapaha History

In 1870, as the Brunswick & Albany Railroad Company was scouting a route through the wiregrass region of South Georgia, the area’s agricultural pioneers seized the opportunity to buy the land along the proposed run and to create a market stop. By 1876, the village of Alapaha was established and quickly grew into a thriving town. By 1881, Alapaha was recorded as having yearly shipments of 1000 bales of cotton and 100,000 pounds of wood. The first depot was built in 1870 and was replaced in 1889 with the current depot. The latter, a larger facility to handle the rapidly growing wool market, became a landmark for the town where much business was done and many events were held. Alapaha’s name comes from a Seminole tribe that once lived in the area.

Restored North side of Building with new handicap ramp and steps. Restored North side with caboose Photos by Vickie Harsey, Skeeter Parker, Jeremy Roberts, and Sharon Greene

GEORGIA GEMS

LOUISVILLE, GEORGIA’S THIRD CAPITOL

IN 1786, AFTER YEARS OF GEORGIA’S CAPITOL

shuttling between Augusta and Savannah, a commission was appointed to determine a new site for the seat of state government. Part of the mandate establishing the commission required the capitol be within 20 miles of a Native American trading post known as Galphin’s Old Town, in what is now Jefferson County. The mandate also called for the capitol to be called Louisville in honor of French King Louis XVI and France’s assistance fighting against the British in the Revolutionary War.

The commission found a site at the intersection of three roads, one of which led to Augusta and one of which led to Savannah, the two previous capitols. At the intersection was a market built in 1758, which has been preserved through present day. After 10 years of delays, including the death of a contractor and a lack of funds, the new capitol – the first permanent capitol building for the state of Georgia – was complete by March 1796. It was designed in the red-brick Georgian style of architecture, but there are no known paintings or sketches of the building, which pre-dated the widespread use of photography.

Two years later, Louisville was designated the “seat of government” in a new state constitution, but the term “permanent” was omitted, allowing the legislature to change the capitol once again through legislation. After concerns of malaria in the Louisville area (which subsided long before present day) and a push

to claim more Native American land in the surrounding area, Louisville would remain the state capitol for only 10 years.

In 1804, it was official: the capitol would move to a new city at the head of the Oconee River. It would become Milledgeville, named after the governor at the time, John Milledge. Milledgeville was incorporated in 1806, and the legislature moved once more.

Now empty, the Louisville capitol building was turned into a public arsenal in 1807. Later, it would serve as a county court building, and it was eventually condemned as unsafe and demolished. Today, the Jefferson County Courthouse stands on the site where the red-brick building once was, with a marker recognizing the site of Georgia’s first capitol building.

The courthouse, built in 1904, is a special site itself. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits in the heart of the city, which was designed in the late 1700s with a grid system inspired by that of Philadelphia.

Fairs and Festivals

February 1-December 1

Second Saturday

Griffin

February 4

Atlanta Oyster Festival

Atlanta

February 10-12

Fitz Arts Fest

Fitzgerald

Fairytale Weekend

Winder

February 11

Savannah Irish Festival

Savannah

February 17

Arbor Day

Toccoa

Savannah Book Festival

Savannah

Brunswick Backyard BBQ

Brunswick

February 18

K2K Festival

Chamblee

Party Gras on the Coast

Darien

February 22

Inaugural Big Game Day Bash

Valdosta

February 25

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Atlanta

March 3-4

Rhythm & Ribs

Tifton

March 3

TGIF Presents Dublin on Athens

Winder

March 4

Roswell Beer Festival

Roswell

Atlanta Brunch Festival

Atlanta

March 9

Brunswick Georgia Tribute Festival

Brunswick

Atlanta Salsa Bachata Festival

Atlanta

March 10

Savannah Stopover Music Festival

Savannah

Atlanta Science Festival

Atlanta

March 11

Azalea After Dark

Valdosta

Mardi Gras 5K Parade & Festival

Columbus

Atlanta United Watch Party

Chamblee

March 11-12

Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival

Hagan

March 12

Forsythia Festival

Forsyth

March 16

19th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Boogie

Fitzgerald

March 17

Wild Chicken Street Dance

Fitzgerald

International Cherry Blossom Festival

Macon

March 18

Dekalb Art at the Park

Decatur

Wild Chicken Festival

Fitzgerald

Peach Place Foliage Fest 5K

Jefferson

St. Patrick’s Arts & Crafts Festival

Dublin

Knox Movie Fest

Warrenton

Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest

Suwanee

Calico Arts & Crafts Holiday Show

Moultrie

March 18-19

Calico Arts & Crafts Show

Moultrie

March 23

Georgia Food & Wine Festival

Marietta

March 25

Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival

Macon

Annual Sweet Tooth Festival

Madison

Cherry Blossom Festival

Brookhaven

March 26

Wing and Rock Festival

Canton

March 25-26

Cherry Blossom Festival

Conyers

March 31

Moultrie Automotive Swap Meet & Car Corral

Moultrie

To place a free Fairs & Festival listing contact gacities@gacities.com. Please submit listings at least eight to ten weeks ahead of publication date.