Several items discussed at the Town Hall Public Forum

Stephens County Board of Commissioners Chair Michelle Ivester held another successful Town Hall Public Forum, on Saturday.

A group of Stephens County residents, came out for clarification and to express concerns regarding recent and forthcoming county topics.

Ivester told WNEG News after the forum, that the turnout was great.

“I think this went really well today, we had a good many citizens come out, and we had some really valid points,” Ivester said. “We talked about making sure the website was updated on things that we do throughout the county, and that I do in the town halls, I give an update every time on what we’re doing, and so we can start updating our website with that. We had some questions about the senior center and maybe doing a night or two each week where seniors can go out and workout after they get off work. We had a suggestion to move the town halls to different areas every time, and I think that’s a great idea. I love the thought of moving it throughout the county.”

One of the concerns addressed was public transit and how transportation is a contributing factor to the work force shortage throughout the county.

Ivester continued to add that she will begin addressing industries to begin providing transportation for employees who are without transportation.

“We also talked about industries and the employees, and if employees need a ride to work how they can go about getting that,” Ivester said. “So that will be something that we can definitely talk to the development authority about; and maybe get something going. We talked about maybe having a mobile book club and having the library stay open later a couple nights a week. So, it went really well. I was pleased with the outcome.”

Ivester announced at the beginning of 2018, as an initiative for the county commissioners to receive additional input from the public, that she would begin holding public forums.

Each public forum is made available to any resident who are unable to attend any regular scheduled county meetings.

The next Town Hall Public Forum will be scheduled for one Saturday in November.