Members of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners discussed a number of issues facing the county at a board retreat last week, but high on many BOC members’ list was better transportation.
Jim Dove, executive director for the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, acted as the retreat facilitator and asked each member of the BOC to name his primary concern for the county.
HEALAN AND BERRY
District 3 commissioner Bill Healan and District 4 commissioner Isaiah Berry both named infrastructure and transportation issues as their top concerns.
Healan said the county needs to explore transportation alternatives to alleviate traffic problems, particularly within the City of Winder. Alternative routes must be considered given the absence of state funding, said Healan.
Healan suggested that the county and city work together to solve the problems caused by increased population.
“We have to do something to improve the problem,” Healan said.
Berry said infrastructure, including the airport facilities, is the biggest issue facing Barrow County. Plans to upgrade and expand the Northeast Georgia Regional Airport in Winder has been the subject of much controversy in the county over the last few months.
BROWN AND PARKS
District 2 commissioner Bill Brown cited quality growth as one of his biggest concerns. Brown said the county must effectively deal with growth and related transportation, business development, education and recreational issues. Brown said he would like to see more intergovernmental cooperation as Barrow County continues to grow. He said county and city governments are cooperating more than ever and service consolidation is going well.
Brown said he would also like a coalition of citizens to explore the benefits of a unified government in the county.
District 5 commissioner Billy Parks named transportation as a top concern, but also said it is important for the county to look at certain issues with a regional or even statewide perspective. Parks said issues such as water supply and landfill locations affect more than just Barrow County.
LAMPP AND GARRISON
District 1 commissioner Jerry Lampp listed public relations and transportation as key issues. Lampp said the county must do a better job with public relations in order to alleviate misconceptions. Lampp also emphasized the importance of working with various municipalities to effectively deliver services to the citizens of Barrow County.
BOC chairman Doug Garrison said he wants the county to establish priorities and identify funds for implementing the county’s master plan. Garrison also said it is important for the board to encourage economic development, saying it would drive everything else.
“Economic development has to happen,” Garrison said. “None of us want our children or grandchildren to drive to Atlanta to work.”
