Mayor gives state of city to Kiwanis Club

Local News

August 16, 2010

Carly Farrell The Americus Times-Recorder The Times-Recorder Mon Aug 16, 2010, 07:59 PM EDT

AMERICUS — Mayor Barry Blount told the Americus Kiwanis Club Friday that while the state of the City of Americus isn’t where it could be in a perfect world, things could be a lot worse.

“The state and some counties have hiring freezes and furlough days, but we haven’t had to do that,” Blount said. “That’s the last thing I want to do because it not only diminishes the service on every local level, but it would also exacerbate the economic decline. If there’s not as much money to spend, businesses won’t bring in as much.”

The City has 187 full-time employees and nine part-time employees.

Also, this year, capital expenditures are up, so the City hasn’t been forced to raise the millage rate.

He said the City’s budget is up 12 percent from Fiscal Year 2009; the budget is $30.5 million.

Blount also addressed the new storm water fee.

“It was not an easy decision (to implement the new fees,)” Blount said. “But we really didn’t have a choice. The City is 178 years old, and it’s been a long time since the pipes have been updated. We also have 115 miles of roads in Americus.”

He said the Sun Valley area is in desperate need of upgrading.

“Also, the quality of the water needs to be kept,” Blount said.

Economic development is growing in Americus, Blount said, with U.S. Highway 19 construction complete and the construction of the new hospital well underway. Three doctors have come to Americus so far because of the new hospital, and, with each doctor, Blount said, it brings $1 million annually to a city.

Also helping out with economic development is that South Georgia Technical College’s (SGTC) and Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) enrollments have grown. There are 3,100 students enrolled at GSW for the fall semester this year, Blount said. SGTC’s enrollment us up to about 4,000, which includes the Cordele campus.

“That’s 7,000 students in our area, which is phenomenal.

“I am optimistic about our community,” Blount said. “Plus, more students means more faculty, more staff and more economic development.”

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