>Ray, Gardner plan for transperancy, promise fulfillments & communication in county government

>The Grip sat down with newly-elected county commissioners Raymond Ray and Chipper Gardner to discuss their plans and agenda for the upcoming year.

Both Commissioners Ray and Gardner expressed that their main concerns were transparency in the county government, fulfilling promises to their constituents and Griffin-Spalding residents, and fostering communication between the county BOC and other local governing agencies.

Ray was concerned that residents and county employees had lost faith in their county officials. “You get what expect from your officials,” he said. “We have to rebuild and regain trust,” he continued.

Ray said a way to rebuild that trust is to maintain transparency of government, which is why the county BOC is holding meetings about job titles and descriptions. “It is semantics. But the job description [of the deputy county manager] provides the illusions of day-to-day operational authority over certain departments. For all intensive purposes people perceive that we could have two county managers. We need to end the discussion,” said Ray.

“Things were done in haste last year… Things were done in the 11th hour at the 45th minute. It makes you question why it was done the way it was done. It’s unbelievable in my book that the county manager and human resources director had no say in the job description of the deputy county manger,” continued Ray.
Gardner and Ray said that fulfilling the promises made to the tax payers was top on the priority list, mentioning that the senior center that was promised with the passing of the SPLOST of 2006 has yet to be filled. “It’s my hope and expectation that we will have a location for the senior center identified within 60 days,” said Ray. “It goes back to credibility. The money was collected [for a senior center] and it’s yet to be completed.”

Ray mentioned the five locations in consideration: expanding the current senior center; the Elks’ Club, the Cooks’ site, the Old Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, and the Carver Road location. He also feels that more research needed to be done before the senior center could be completed. The current, relatively new, senior citizen center is evidence a lack of long-term planning, and Ray doesn’t want a repeat mistake. “We need to know what seniors want in a center,” said Ray. “If they want a pool, that knocks out a few of the locations we’re considering,” he expounded.

Gardner referred back to his campaign platforms, mentioning that he suggested that the county board of commissioners, the city commissioners, and the school board meet quarterly to sit down and discuss issues relevant to every tax payer in Spalding County. “We all need to have input and to help each other; find ways to save tax dollars at least,” said Gardner. Ray continued, “Talk with each other, share information.”