WARNER ROBINS -- Warner Robins city officials continued their two-day retreat Saturday morning, hearing from Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon and government experts from the University of Georgia.
McMahon, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, took the floor first, giving an hour-long presentation about the current base situation, the future of the base and how the city can aid base operations.
“I have to have your support to be successful,” McMahon told city council members. “It is important to me that when I look out of my window at the city of Warner Robins, that what I see is a team of leadership working together to do what’s best for the community and Robins Air Force Base.”
The two-star general explained previous restructuring of base operations and the current workforce reduction efforts. As of Friday, according to McMahon, 238 base employees accepted voluntary separations. About 250 depot maintenance employees had also accepted, he said.
McMahon said the ideal situation would be that about 600 base employees and 540 depot maintenance employees accept such deals, but the reality will be lower because the separations and early retirements are entirely voluntary.
As for the city’s involvement with the base, McMahon expressed the need for an alternative access to the base, elimination of encroachment, and a strong and united community for current and retired airmen.
“The more things that are going well in that community, the better off you are,” McMahon said.
Following McMahon, Georgia EMC consultant Susan Peacock presented two exercises in team building. The exercises aimed to show the officials that everything isn’t always what one might think it is, and having a clear vision would help public understand city decisions.
“If they don’t have a clue about what you’re trying to do, they’re going to be frustrated, confused and maybe not care about what you are doing,” Peacock said.
Two experts from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia followed with an analysis of the city charter and explanation of the form of government.
The agenda calls for a noon lunch, followed by several city department updates.
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