Forward Jasper Works on Comprehensive Plan
Following the March 7 Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Forward Jasper First Friday meeting, Dr. Marj Davis, Mercer University School of Engineering, conducted a strategic planning workshop at the Monticello Government Complex. This was the second in a series of workshops designed to assist with a community wide strategic planning initiative for Jasper County.
Dr. Davis is leading a series of interactive workshops designed to develop a strategic plan to create common (shared) understanding of the current situation and the desired situation in our community, and reach consensus on how to move forward. Forward Jasper has met several times over the last two years, including a Community Conversation Forum held at Jasper County High School last spring.
The public Community Conversation Forum, advertised in The Monticello News and by various civic groups, was well attended and provided an overview of various community development strategic activities.
In Friday’s meeting, Dr. Davis reviewed the importance of the first work session which was held on the campus of Mercer University with the Dean and Faculty of the School of Engineering. She also emphasized the need for the community to work together to identify what we can do right now to build teamwork and to create a sense of urgency to develop a clear strategic plan.
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Dr. Davis also discussed the importance of working with other counties in our region. The objective of the workshops is to develop a set of specific action goals that are most important to the community, along with implementation timelines, responsibilities, and resources needed. She explained that this will be key to building a cohesive, empowered team that can work well together, create desired actions, explain the vision to others, and solicit support, funding, and buy-in from all elements of our community.
Those taking part in Friday’s meeting included Jasper County School Superintendent Mike Newton; Piedmont Academy Headmaster Tony Tanner; Mark Andrews, Vice President of Economic Development for Southern Crescent Technical College; Jasper Memorial Hospital Administrator Jan Gaston; and Jeff Greeson, Vice-President of Energy Services, Central Georgia EMC.
Also, Jasper County Commissioners Gene Trammell, Craig Salmon, Doug Luke, Bruce Henry, and County Manager Karen Degges; Monticello Mayor Bryan Standifer; Peggy Billerman, City of Monticello; Steve Jordan, Kim McMichael, David Dyer and Rusty Bullard from the Development Authority; Stone Workman, former State Director-USDA-Rural Development; Juanita Gazaway, Secretary, Alcovy Shores Water Authority; Mark Walton, engineer and Secretary/Treasurer of the Jasper County Water & Sewerage Authority.
Also, Jay McMichael, Jasper County Recreation; Cissy Benton, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce; Skip Davis, vice chair of COC; Bob Trouteaud, executive consultant; Walter Smith, retired colonel, U.S. Army and local business owner; Deb King, General Manager of Turtle Cove Property Owners Association (TCPOA); Don Jernigan, active member of the community and the recreation department; Mary Patrick, local business owner; former Congressman Mac Collins; and Barton Lowery representing Senator Johnny Isakson.
The next work session will focus on basic research/investigation and moving rapidly to develop an action plan. For more information, interested parties may contact Skip Davis at skip.davisTC@gmail.com or David Dyer at ddyer01@bellsouth.net.
