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Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon County, Georgia
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Update: 2002 31 Jan
The following is in from Linday Holliday:
Hi,
Last Sunday the Macon Telegraph on page 10A listed completion of the Fall Line Freeway as 1 of its 10 top "Community Goals" for the year 2002.
That "goal" is highlighted in RED in the article below.
I am sending this out to some of You - "Fringe groups [who] have dominated debate on the issue far too long."
- Lindsay
______________________________________________
Posted on Sun, Jan. 27, 2002 p10A
http://www.macon.com/mld/telegraph/2002/01/27/news/opinion/2580282.htm
Community goals for the year 2002
Nothing is more important to a community than an engaged and informed citizenry. Over the years, no area of the state has a better record of citizen involvement and dedication than the community represented by Macon and Bibb County. The most effective voices for civic change are those willing to step forward, look out at the needs and become involved.
Throughout its history, The Macon Telegraph has been honored to do its part in facilitating public give and take on issues in the communities it serves. Each year, in one form or another, the newspaper's editorial board compiles a list of goals based on its observations of community wants and needs. The list is by no means exhaustive. Others may well have additional key issues to add to the list.
Last year we compiled a list of seven areas of concentration for 2001. For 2002, we have developed a list of ten broad areas of public policy that we feel important to future development.
Last spring, we published our list for 2001. A brief update is appropriate.
High on our list was unification of city and state government. Unfortunately, momentum for unification was lost with the election of the city's first black mayor, C. Jack Ellis. Ellis felt, along with many African Americans in Macon/Bibb, that any move toward unity of the city and county would diminish their opportunity to elect a top official.
That is a shame, because unification is what's best for the overall prosperity of Macon and Bibb County. Only the most naove would discount the impact of race, but unification is best no matter who happens to occupy the mayor's seat. The findings of a bi-racial commission in 1998 remain valid. We continue to have unnecessary and sometimes even dangerous duplication of effort, particularly in law enforcement and firefighting.
Improved race relations was next on the list. During the year, we have applauded accomplishments great and small in the area of improved race relations. Sadly, we continue to see issues divided sharply along racial lines in almost every aspect of public life from the education of our children to land use.
Schools and education last year focused on implementation of a $300 million facilities plan. The same issues linger. There have been setbacks in terms of the need to trim some projects. However, with the renewed emphasis on education at the state level, equalizing educational opportunities around the state remains a high priority.
Downtown development has taken great, visible strides this past year. Some dreams have been realized and others are on their way toward completion. But the bottom
line, a thoroughly renovated and exciting downtown area, remains a major goal.
Substandard housing used to be a much greater problem than it is today, but we still have much to accomplish. We applaud the government-private sector efforts toward making the downtown area a vibrant place to live.
Improvement of government services, so critical in terms of water and sewage treatment last year, remains an area of concern.
Law enforcement will never quite bring itself up to par without a consolidated effort. The attitude of our community's top law enforcers, while no doubt sincere, hasn't been helpful. The sheriff, for example, says he has no problem with consolidating police work as long as he's in charge.
While having an elected sheriff as the top law enforcer has its advantages, many of the state's more progressive urban city-county areas hire top professionals to run day-to-day law enforcement. In order for this to work, however, citizens must have the utmost confidence in the performance of the top elected official and chief.
Here are our goals for 2002:
AREA ECONOMY
Georgia is in a recession. The signs are everywhere. Still, the state as a whole is in better condition than many of its southeastern neighbors. The state has been fortunate to have elected governors whose priorities are conservative.
Gov. Roy Barnes is no exception. His largely disorganized opponents are reduced to grasping at straws in attacking his budgetary priorities. He is forceful when proposing such ambitious programs as education reform. Yet, he did not hesitate to step forward when cuts were necessary.
He kept critics at bay by standing by his promise to continue property tax relief in the form of an increased homestead exemption. When first passed by the Georgia Legislature, the measure was intended to eventually cover the entire value of a modest dwelling. He has resisted the temptation to go after the easy money of an expanded state gambling industry. The Lottery is bad enough at taking from the poor and giving to the rich as it is.
Ask anyone what the single largest and most important economic engine in Middle Georgia is, and one gets a single answer: Robins Air Force Base. It strikes every county in our area with tremendous impact, providing highly skilled and well-paying jobs to tens of thousands of military and civilian employees.
The list of beneficiaries of activity at the base is enormous. The enormity of a shutdown or even a major cutback cannot be overestimated. Thus, while surrounding counties may find themselves rivals in seeking other industry, they stick together in support of the base. Thus, we would like to see even more cooperation among Middle Georgia communities toward attracting new business.
SOCIAL ISSUES
This is a new and expanded category of concern for 2002: in addition to last year's race relations goal, this takes into consideration the broader implications of how we relate to one another and how these social issues affect our community.
For example, this category encompasses our treatment of children, particularly those who have become wards of the community, as through the Department of Family and Human Services. It also addresses spousal abuse, and ways to address the difficult problems this presents.
We must also assign a higher priority to the problems of the homeless in our community and the problems of those who, without private or public assistance, would go hungry.
Improving racial relations, one of the most perplexing and difficult to address, continues as an issue of major importance. A relatively new factor is that the community must recognize how it is changing, particularly as the Hispanic population continues to increase.
As we noted last year, improvements in race relations will have to start with mutual respect, inclusion and communication. And it is important to recognize that disparities in education and economics may play as great a role here as the color of one's skin. We can hope that with diligence and perseverance, improvements in racial relations will lead to expanded economic opportunity for all segments of our community.
LEADERSHIP
The term "leadership" is somewhat nebulous. What makes a good leader? In "Leadership is an Art," Max DePree says, "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say 'thank you.' In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor."
A leader must be, DePree says, "responsible for momentum" produced by, "a well-thought-out strategy to achieve that vision and from carefully conceived and communicated directions and plans that enable everyone to participateÉ" DePree is chairman and CEO of the furniture maker Herman Miller Inc, named one of the 10 best-managed and most innovative companies.
Our area has lacked leadership, and it is apparent by any vital statistic, from teen pregnancy to educational attainment to efficiency in government and business development. In the Bibb County Fantus report commissioned by Georgia Power, leadership was one of the main ingredients found lacking. There is no shared vision, and all too often reality is defined around the word "me."
DePree points out that leadership shows not in the "head" (the leader) but in the "tone of the body" (the followers). "Are they reaching their potential?" he asks.
On most counts it would have to be judged that our "body" is dysfunctional. While our area is full of potential Ð three interstates, excess water capacity, rail, and close proximity to Atlanta Ð the leadership necessary to harness that potential and make it a reality for growth of the body has yet to emerge.
EDUCATION
Education remains a top priority for the county. The Bibb County public schools have made improvements over the past year, yet the real challenges lie ahead. The most pressing is the implementation of Gov. Roy Barnes' A+ Education plan, which brings an end to social promotion starting in 2003. If the system does not prepare now, there could be thousands of students retained at a tremendous human and financial cost. The A+ Education plan has to be addressed in every facet of school system operation from facilities to instruction.
The system is juggling many balls in the air at the same time and will be judged rightly or wrongly on how well it coordinates them all. It must have the freedom to make small mistakes without public castigation. Many of the changes about to take place have not been attempted by previous school administrations because of their complexity. The community cannot leave the responsibility to the system and turn a deaf ear or unleash a fiery tongue.
Citizens of the county have never turned away a request for money as evidenced by the passage of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to finance the facilities plan, but the system needs more than money. It needs commitment Ð something that has only received lip service in the past.
The coming months will be difficult as full-scale redistricting starts to take hold, the first effort of its kind in 30 years. New schools will be opened and outmoded schools will be closed. There will be enough to make everyone unhappy. However, the choices are few. Our area is judged by our public education system; if the community does not help make the tough decisions now, it may never get another opportunity.
ARTS AND RECREATION
An important measure of a community's worth is the degree to which opportunities for recreational activities are available. A community with a wide variety of recreational
outlets will be a more pleasant place to live, and, from a business point of view, will be more appealing to industry looking for a place to call home.
Likewise, a diverse offering of artistic outlets - theater, museums, music and films - goes hand in hand with recreation, providing residents and visitors alike with opportunities to grow mentally as well as to enjoy a respite from the humdrum of daily life. Macon has a good beginning in each of these areas; however, one drawback is that an excellent recreation plan has been on the back burner for some time; when it is implemented - and this should be a city priority - it will make Macon an even better place to live.
In the arts arena, Macon is likewise blessed with an excellent local symphony, two local theater groups, various museums and an arts film theater. This is a good beginning, but it is in these areas that we need to continue to grow. The measure of a healthy community is in part reflected in the effort it expends on the arts. And it is this effort that permits a community to stand out over others.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Nothing ranks higher in the minds of taxpayers than public safety. We must be able to feel secure in our homes and neighborhoods. No initiative in the effort to fight criminal activity is more important than any other.
We are heartened to find that many neighborhood leaders are giving Macon Police Chief Rodney Monroe good marks in terms of outreach. However, it's not easy to get a good grasp on his performance. For good or not, Monroe has clearly turned out to be one of the most self-effacing police chiefs this town has ever had.
It's not necessary to have a flamboyant police chief. Goodness knows Macon has had its share of high-profile chiefs. However, Monroe might take a greater share of the public spotlight in an effort to give the rank and file the credit they deserve.
Working with youth was a strong point in his favor when he was recruited from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. He continues to focus on youthful offenders and neighborhood enforcement. But the Macon department's problems continue with regard to recruitment and retention of good, highly trained and motivated officers.
Monroe's counterpart in the county is Sheriff Jerry Modena. Since his election, Modena has also taken on a relatively low profile.
One major problem in the past has been a very poor relationship between the offices of sheriff and police chief. It's good not to see these men publicly at odds. But we do not hear often enough of exciting, new and innovative law enforcement initiatives and clear signs of active cooperation.
The future of law enforcement should center on closeness. It's not enough merely that department heads be polite to each other. The public should see clear steps being taken to eliminate duplication of services and a proliferation of joint efforts.
UNIFICATION
Not much has been heard on the unification front because nothing much has happened to forward the initiative to combine the governments of Bibb County and the city of Macon. However, the telling inefficiencies continue to exist. It was a wise move to delay the process until after the 2000 census results were released.
Unification is as much a political process as it is one seeking to engineer the greatest efficiency from government. However, the census results were released long ago and still not a peep have we heard about them . Bibb County, with a population of around 149,000, has 21 elected representatives. But representation is only a minor part of the unification puzzle. It doesn't matter how many representatives an area has as long as their work is beneficial to the area's citizens.
That cannot be said of Bibb County and the City of Macon. Too many times our government entities are not on the same page and it has cost the area dearly.
The item that may reopen the unification debate is the coming sales tax negotiation between city and county. How will the money be divided? At present, the city receives 81 percent of all sales taxes collected in Bibb County. Under the present formula, that split should shift in the county's direction because of the city's decline in population.
But the city cannot afford to receive one less dollar than it gets.
County Commission Chairman Tommy Olmstead could use the negotiations to help fulfill his campaign promise regarding unification. When unification, then called consolidation, was first discussed in the 1920s, it was clear there were advantages to having one government instead of two. In these trying times of declining revenues and the need for expanded services, those advantages are only amplified. Progress on this goal should not be delayed another year.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
Downtown development remains one of the main focus areas for Macon. A vital, energetic downtown is key to the community's good health.
Over the past few years, the city, spurred by NewTown Macon, has focused on downtown development. Yet, Macon's downtown is still in a state of transition. There are pluses: the museums, new restaurants, the Charles H. Jones Gateway Park and the Grand Opera House. There are minuses: restaurants have closed (most recently, the Cherry Corner), recent fires in the downtown, caused by arson, have destroyed historic buildings, and Luther Williams Field is a shambles.
NewTown Macon has focused on fund-raising and planning. By the spring of this year, the organization is hoping to reach its fund-raising goals. That will depend on the city and county keeping their commitments and following through on issuing bonds.
A herd of consultants has paraded through Macon over the past few years and have written a library of reports. Now it's time for action. We've been planning and planning to build the downtown dream. We've read reports and heard from consultants. We've seen architectural drawings, schematics and map upon map.
In 2002, it's time to start turning those dreams into reality.
TRANSPORTATION
The top transportation priority for Macon and its immediate vicinity continues to be the Fall Line Freeway. The overall project will provide a vital link across the state from east to west. The freeway issue should be the centerpiece of any Macon-Bibb legislative race.
Not only is the highway corridor important to the economic development of Macon, but it promises to help bring the "other" Georgia into the modern age. Yet the project has been stalled by objections that should long ago have been worked out.
It would help to have a champion as dedicated and influential as the late Frank Pinkston. There are others in state government who could take up the fight, but they have yet to emerge.
During his tenure at the helm of the State Department of Transportation board, Pinkston managed to make the freeway the No. 1 statewide road project. Others more worried about metro Atlanta's growth rate have taken over the agenda. But that does not diminish the need for this link across the state.
We believe that given the right kind of leadership, the precise compromise route through Macon can be worked out. Fringe groups have dominated debate on the issue far too long.
The next highest priority is completion of the massive local road improvement projects. Neighborhoods had been largely left out of the discussion, slowing down progress. But transportation officials have acknowledged their mistakes.
On the horizon are alternatives to roads. Macon should be the hub of a new rail initiative. Roads and rail lines are also key economic elements linking Georgia ports to manufacturing and distribution centers in south and central Georgia.
THE ENVIRONMENT
An area that has become a critical concern is what we must do to ensure that the environment in Macon and Middle Georgia continues to support a healthy, expanding community, both now and in our children's future.
We must develop new procedures to protect our endangered air and water supplies. Macon has long depended upon the Ocmulgee River for what has seemed to be an unending supply of potable water. But maintaining the quality of this water is becoming more difficult. Upstream pollution, from industry waste and fertilizer runoff, is just one factor that could reduce the availability of this important commodity.
The construction of a large reservoir in Jones County was an important step, but that alone does not ensure that we will always have an adequate supply of fresh water. We must take positive steps to make certain that this supply will be available in the long term.
Equally perplexing is what we must do to keep our air clean and safe to breathe. As the number of fossil-fuel powered vehicles either in or traveling through Macon increases, and long-time sources of pollution such as coal-powered electric plants continue to litter the atmosphere with particulate waste, the likelihood exists that we could soon be saddled with highly restrictive state and federal air-pollution regulations.
Adding urgency to this is the fact that pollution originating in and around Atlanta hovers over us like a blanket, pushing our air even further into the danger zone.
These 10 items mark out the job facing the community. Let's roll.
* * * * * * *
Let's roll out the Fringe!!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lindsay D. Holliday, DMD
http://www.hollidaydental.com
Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law.
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