Political Notebook: Is Warner Robins a ‘city of ethics’?
During a political forum for Warner Robins City Council candidates earlier this week, a councilman said one or more members of the council routinely behave unethically.
A question read by the moderator was directed to Post 6 Councilman Mike Davis, who is challenged by Carmen Antonio.
“City of Ethics and Parks were both big items in the last election,” the moderator said. “Neither have been accomplished. Why?”
“Parks, I can’t tell you why except we haven’t got it done,” Davis said. “The city of ethics, I think, is a joke. ... Just because we’ve got signs out by the interstate that says we’re a city of ethics don’t mean we’re ethical. There’s things that happen down here every day. Every council meeting, there’s unethical conduct that goes on.”
Davis said he “wouldn’t get into name-calling,” but “there’s no way in the world I would ever sign off on being a city of ethics until we have a city that deserves it as far as the council, and I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”
COUNCIL TALKS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION START UP
During Monday night’s council meeting, Warner Robins Councilman Chuck Shaheen voiced concerns about the need for public transportation.
“What we need is a transit service in our city,” Shaheen said. “I’ve picked up people. I was talking to Mayor Pro Tempore (Carolyn Robbins) the other day on the phone and she heard me picking up somebody on the road. ... A lot of people don’t have transportation, and we cannot continue to put a deaf ear and a blind eye towards that.”
Shaheen said such a service could start small and expand.
Robbins said she agreed with Shaheen about the need for transportation.
“We’ve got some money to start some sort of transit system to get people where they need to go,” Robbins said, adding that even a trip to the grocery store is a struggle for some.
MACON-BIBB TO COMMEMORATE VIETNAM VETS
A ceremony to honor Vietnam veterans will take place Nov. 17 during the regular meeting of the Macon-Bibb County Commission.
On Tuesday, commissioners approved the resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Elaine Lucas, to recognize local veterans as part of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
MACON-BIBB HOSTS YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
On Thursday and Friday, Macon-Bibb County was the host of a two-day Youth Leadership Summit for its 2015-2016 Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students, according to a news release.
Thursday night’s activities included a welcome reception at the Hilton Garden Inn with Mayor Robert Reichert and District 5 Commissioner Bert Bivins as well as a tour of Mercer University.
Friday, students heard from the statewide GCAPS coordinator as well as local government and community leaders. They also discussed a service project. The students also toured Tattnall Square Park and took part in leadership training in Mercer University’s Stetson School of Business and Economics, the release said.
Telegraph writers Laura Corley and Stanley Dunlap contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Is Warner Robins a ‘city of ethics’? ."