Grovetown’s mayoral candidates frequently emphasized change and growth in the city in their responses during the Candidates’ Forum, Thursday night.
Deborah Fisher would often return to the topic of broadband internet access for Grovetown’s citizens as one of her highest priorities as potential mayor, alongside transportation.
“I’m planning a transportation system for the city of Grovetown,” said Fisher, noting that she has researched two federal grants for transportation. “We’re going to have a bus depot that can come through here to help people get to work, that could help some people just get out and shop during the day. It could also touch the transportation system in the city of Augusta.”
Regarding the issue of economic development in the city, Fisher emphasized attracting and nurturing small businesses, and supported partnering with Augusta Technical College’s apprenticeship programs and preserving the Neighborhood Commercial zoning along Robinson Avenue.
Ceretta Smith concurred with the notion of Grovetown collaborating with Augusta Tech, lauding the efforts of its president, Jermaine Whirl. She argued that Grovetown should play to its strengths to attract more industry, such as its proximity to Fort Gordon and growing military population.
“You’ve got to offer them something, you’ve got to give them a reason to want to come. I can name three: cyber, NSA and Fort Gordon, right at our back door,” Smith said. “We can guarantee them that they’re going to have the influx of people patronizing their businesses.”
Mayor Gary Jones underscored public safety, financial incentives, expansion and drawing industry as key to economic development in the city.
“We continue to grow, but we don’t need to grow within,” said Jones, advocating that the city consider annexation. “We need to move out a little further so that we can incorporate more land, so we don’t have all the people concentrated in the downtown area.”
Responding to a question about the issue of affordable housing, Jones indicated he would support an initiative for tiny home developments or something similar.
“I know that we need affordable housing, but the problem is getting the builders to buy into it,” he said. “So [it’s] going to require a partnership with the builders, developers and so forth to be able to create something that’s affordable.”
Smith expressed ardent concern for the issues of poverty and affordable housing in Grovetown, mentioning funds secured by Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for housing initiatives.
“When you say, ‘affordable housing,’ people tend to clam up,” said Smith. “You know, ‘I don’t want people coming into my city.’ But I’m not talking about building housing for people to come into our city, we’re talking about building houses so that we can lift up the people that are already in our city.”
Fisher posited offering builders incentives to add density to their developments and include affordable housing, making exceptions in zoning when necessary.
“We’ll have a mix of houses,” said Fisher. “It’s a good way to give incentive for the builders to build affordable housing, and it’s a way for the city to have affordable housing for people. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
The forum format repeated in the second half of the evening with the Grovetown city council candidates.
Richard Bowman, Marsha Keating and Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blair, running for his current council seat, took the stage at the Grovetown Elementary School’s auditorium and fielded questions from Brad Means, also largely discussing the city’s rapid growth.
Bowman, former chair of the Grovetown Planning Commission, spoke on the need for “smart development,” and the importance of citizens’ involvement in the direction of the city’s growth.
“As we make plans to grow the city, to change the city, we need all of the citizens to participate on the front end, not on the back end,” said Bowman. “I don’t see my role as a city councilor to dictate to people.”
Blair echoed Bowman’s point about citizen participation, noting the vacant seat on the Planning Commission and urging residents to attend city council meetings.
“We need to hear your voice. That’s because we don’t work for you, we serve you,” said Blair. “Your voice is telling us what to know, what it is you want us to do.”
Candidate Marsha Keating said that Grovetown’s biggest challenge is “the disconnect we have within communities,” noting the need for sidewalks, more playgrounds and greater public accessibility to areas.
“We need to connect better,” said Keating. “I believe that if we connect people to each other, we will see more activity and more interest in building the policies that make the city run.”
Early voting for the City of Grovetown Municipal General Election will be available on Oct. 16, and Saturday voting on Oct. 21, at the former Euchee Creek Library, 5907 Euchee Creek Drive. Election Day is Nov. 7. For more information visit https://www.columbiacountyga.gov/318/Board-of-Elections.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
