WARNER ROBINS -- Following two years of sometimes tense relationships among the Warner Robins mayor and City Council members, a two-day retreat started Friday with four presentations about communication and getting along.
“The retreat is a way to get mayor, staff and council together with the same mission and vision for the city of Warner Robins,” Shaheen said.
The second half of the retreat begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and will include updates from eight department directors. The first day featured five presenters, four of whom pressed for better internal and media relationships.
Though Shaheen had said for months the retreat would be at the Museum of Aviation as a way to promote local attractions, the location was changed this week to the Hilton Garden Inn. Shaheen said Friday a presenter was staying at the hotel, leading to the change.
Councilman Mike Daley, who attended the last retreat two years ago, said this year’s event has gone much better.
“We really understand what we’re trying to do here,” Daley said.
Shaheen gave a brief explanation of the city’s accomplishments, including the in-progress law enforcement center, a completed Kimberly Bridge, and updates at City Hall. Expansions of North Davis Drive and Watson Boulevard top the to-do list, he said.
“We work together to achieve things for our community,” Shaheen said. “The staff couldn’t ... do anything without the council appropriating funds.”
O.V. Brantley, a former attorney for Fulton County government, told City Council members their internal relationships are important to strong operations and the city’s image.
“(How) you are acting is the way the rest of the city is going to act,” she said. “It all trickles downhill.”
In one exercise, Councilman Daron Lee gave a brief presentation about the personalities of the people in the room based on quizzes each took prior to the meeting.
Later, he revealed their personalities to be bold, expressive, sympathetic or technical. Each personality has pros and cons, Lee said, but all can work together.
“After seeing each other’s personalities, you may be able to approach them in the right way” to get the wanted response, Lee said.
Non-city attendees such as Jimmy Autry, a former reporter and spokesman for Flint Energies, also attended the retreat. He gave the council tips to good relationships with the media. He suggested that councilmen know the crux of the issue being discussed with the media, be prepared and understand journalists’ individual responsibilities.
He also told the officials to be open to reporters.
“Don’t lie, spin the truth, evade the media or hide your dirty laundry,” he said. “Whether you tell them or not, they’re going to find out.”
Former television broadcaster Ron Wildman delivered a different message, which was more of a warning to the officials that media members are not their friends and can be malicious.
“These reporters, they get this power and they use it,” he said.
The Rev. David Clark of Union Grove Baptist Church told council members they must have love, integrity, confidence, competence and curiosity to be an effective team.
“These are just a few things of leading your team, to where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas, their inventions,” Clark said.
The only presentation about the city’s departments Friday came from utilities director Montie Walters. He showed pictures of his staff working in emergency situations, such as water and gas line breaks.
He also pointed out a few undeveloped areas of city where utilities are already available. A patch of about 100 acres just north of Russell Parkway at Veterans Parkway drew the most comments from the council and mayor. Walters said it would cost the city about $250,000 if anyone chose to develop in the area. So far, only Groome Transportation is there.
“You want to make sure we have developers before we spend the money,” Walters said.
