Billy Parrish and Adriane Wood with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs were in Gray last week to facilitate a visioning session between elected officials from Jones County, Gray, and the Board of Education.

The meeting was promoted by Jones County People Looking Ahead Now (PLAN) and the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce with the purpose of exploring what the elected officials want for the future of the community and how PLAN and the chamber can help.

The outcome of the session was a commitment by the elected officials to have regular meetings to discuss how they can work together.

Parrish began by asking the elected officials their top three big ideas, and Gray Mayor Pro Tem Loretta Lipsey said the city’s main issue is the sewage system. She explained that the city built its first plant in 1988 and borrowed $1.5 million for the project.

“The 1994 flood destroyed the plant, and it had to be rebuilt. We are still paying off that long-term debt, and the plant is at capacity,” she said.

Lipsey added that the city has committed capacity for numerous subdivisions, and a new plant will cost $11 million.

Board of Education member Larry Haskins said the burden is on taxpayers to pay for services and industry is needed to share that load. He said the county is on the right road with the industrial park.

“We are all in the same boat and need to bring in revenue from another direction,” he said.

Parrish asked how the challenges faced by the county can be turned into opportunities. He said industry is good, but it is important to bring in the right industry. If water and sewer is an issue, the type of job creation needed would put fewer burdens on water and sewer.

Board of Education Chairman Ted Stone said Jones County is a great place to live and a good place for white-collar industry.

“We have the opportunity for condos and apartments, and there is a need for them now,” he said.

Parrish said Jones County attracts people because of its quality of life, and School Superintendent Mike Newton said Jones County is located in a good area in proximity to the interstate.

“Sprawl can kill a community, and I’m not sure we have tapped into the fact that we are a great place to be because of our location,” he said. “Just think about where Gray was 10 years ago.”

Board of Education member Alfred Pitts said Jones County’s elected officials have the opportunity as a body to work together.

“The right hand needs to know what the left is doing. If we are building a school, we need to let the city and county know about it. We need to put our money close together rather than spreading it out,” Pitts said.

Lipsey said growth is good, but it falls back to the city and county to provide services.

Parrish pointed out that, in his experience, it is unusual for the city, county, and Board of Education to work together.

“How often is that the case?” he asked.

Commissioner Tommy Robinson said one opportunity could be possible consolidation of the city and county.

“Now I perceive the ‘us against them’ feelings. If we were consolidated, grants would be much easier. Sewage and water are badly needed in the county. If we had a partnership, we could have a huge plant,” he said.

City Councilman Benny Gray said Robinson hit the nail on the head.

“We talk about this here, but once we leave here, we don’t work together. We are like taffy pulling each other apart,” he said.

County Administrator Mike Underwood said the city and county have quarterly meetings, and in the future, the Board of Education will be included.

Josh Lurie, chairman of the Infrastructure and Planning Committee of PLAN, said he is glad to hear a county official talking seriously about a countywide water and sewer plan.

“Long term, that would be something to focus on,” he said.

Stone said one of Jones County’s best opportunities are the 300-plus students that graduate each year and have no place to work.

“This is an excellent place to stay if we can find something to do,” he said.

Development Authority Chairman Greg Mullis said he believes Clinton is a diamond in the rough, and Wood said she believes that is an idea whose time has come.

“We have seen an increase in attendance at museums,” she said.

Parrish said, for serious history buffs, Clinton is already on their lists, but the attraction can be enhanced.

“One thing that can easily be done is to clean up the façade. We live here and don’t notice. We could pay more attention to what we look like. Presentation of the area means a lot,” Underwood said.

Parrish said one way to spruce up the county is to have an annual or semi-annual walk or drive around.

Newton talked about the transformation of Monticello. He said the town started by purchasing buildings and creating walking paths all with federal money. He said it seemed crazy at first, but the renovation has grown.

“Now there is a vendors market on the square and hot air balloons for the kids. It was a tremendous opportunity that came out of planning,” he said.

Each PLAN committee chairman gave the elected officials an overview of their goals and progress, and the next step was a discussion of the vision statements of each entity.

The idea of ‘One Jones’ came out of the discussion as well as how important it is for the decision makers of the community to continue to meet.

Chamber president Hoyt Brown said the Chamber of Commerce added the PLAN Steering Committee chairman to its board of directors with the idea of showing unity.

“You have the vehicle. It may not work exactly right, but we are building on it,” he said.

Robinson said he would like to see the ‘One Jones’ concept reach out to all the corners of the county.

“The perception is that most everything takes place in Gray,” he said.

Underwood said the quarterly meeting has happened on a whim and he would like to see it set up to happen on a regular basis.

“I’ll volunteer to coordinate it,” he said, and Lipsey volunteered to coordinate the meeting for the city and Newton for the Board of Education.