Warner Robins mayoral candidates speak on the issues

Telegraph staff reports

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The proposed law enforcement center

CHALK: Absolutely, we need one. We need to buy the best one we can afford so we can be ready for the future. As for the location, I’m ... comfortable with that. I think we should explore the land we have available at GMC (Georgia Military College), but at no delay (to the project’s commencement).

SHAHEEN: We need one. That building started in 1968. We have got to upgrade it. The problem is we don’t have the money. I think you’ve got to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer’s money. And we don’t want to build a law enforcement center and it be obsolete. I mean, the mayor and council at that time, why didn’t they put it on (Jimmy Perkins Memorial Field)? Because they know Perkins Field is for the kids. It’s a memorial park, so I’m not quite sure (the law enforcement center) can even be there. But we need one. We still have to make sure we provide the best law enforcement for our citizens.

G-RAMP

CHALK: It’s an extremely complex, expensive project with a great deal of risk involved. We need to re-engage with other cities and counties, the state and possibly private corporations with dealing with (paying for the project). It’s a very good concept. Needs to be done. We need to approach it delicately because it is so expensive.

SHAHEEN: It, according to the experts, diversifies our job opportunities for Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base. How many cities have a flatline that can land a jet? Once you have that opportunity, then you need to be able to support that effort. Is it gonna affect (Base Realignment and Closure) and the closing? Probably not, but it would let the Department of Defense know our municipality is 100 percent for the Air Force base.

Parks and recreation

CHALK: The department has been underfunded and underappreciated in city government. You can tell by lack of infrastructure. Don’t think it’s due to its leader. It comes from the budget. We need to see what we can do about improving the parks we have and increasing the number of parks … major league type parks, in my opinion.

SHAHEEN: It’s mainly geared for our youth and we’ve got to be a voice for the youth. Parks and recreation develops teamwork, unity with the parents and kids. That’s what I want to do with a police league. We want an 8-, 10-year-old to have respect for the people who serve and protect the city. I also want to contract out Huntington Middle School’s sports complex. (School officials) don’t have the equipment to do that magnitude of a park. Parks and recreation can be an industry and can generate revenue funds for local small business owners and hotel/motel and restaurants.

Diversity in hiring

CHALK: The lack of diversity in city government, more specifically the police department. The starting compensation package isn’t as high as some recruits want. We need to go and recruit in places where we can increase the minority input. We have a high attrition rate because of the quality we demand of our officers. Only two of 10 applicants get through. We need to increase the number of minorities we put into the system so we can get some out of the system. But it’s a recruiting issue.

SHAHEEN: This is the 21st century in the International City. We shouldn’t even be having this discussion. It starts from where you interview and recruit. We need to go to minority colleges and also, we have the greatest resource (for law enforcement recruitment) a few blocks down the road. A lot of security officers on base are young minorities who want to go into law enforcement. Why can’t we recruit off the base? We don’t have to go far. (City government employee make-up) needs to be a reflection of our International City. Bottom line. This is taxpayer’s money. You’ve got to relate to the people.

What you envision for future of Warner Robins

CHALK: You’ll start seeing improvement in the way city government is run. Improvement in customer service. That should be reflected in better alignment of the (city) budget. Hopefully being able to do something with Commercial Circle as well.

SHAHEEN: I envision keeping great communication with Robins Air Force Base, letting our small-business owners thrive, revitalize downtown Warner Robins and having a vision for young people going off to college, having a job for them if they want to come back and have their families here.