Roadwork, population growth discussed in state of community luncheon
PERRY — Some of Houston County's top elected officials answered questions Wednesday about topics ranging from ongoing roadwork to the school system's increasing student population and what's in store for the Perry-Houston County Airport.
The Perry Chamber of Commerce's annual state of the community luncheon took place at the Houston County Board of Education Annex on Macon Road.
The event's moderator, former state Rep. Larry Walker, asked questions to local political and government officials. Most questions were submitted by the people answering them.
Walker asked Houston County Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker about a recent commitment the commission made to the Perry-Houston County Airport Authority.
Fourteen new T-hangars are being built at the airport.
"Actually, construction has already begun on those T-hangars," Stalnaker said. "We're also going to build an aviation hangar for the Georgia State Patrol. ... They're going to bring some additional aircraft in and then, in the summertime, they're going to run a task force out of there, which we think is huge."
More hangar space means more fuel sales, which Stalnaker said is good for the airport and the county.
The county also recently bought 9 acres beside the airport, and "we believe that's going to pay dividends in the long run," Stalnaker said.
Stalnaker also was asked about the status of ongoing road work, including construction on Ga. 96.
"Phase 1 from (Interstate) 75 to Lake Joy Road is scheduled for completion by July next year," said Stalnaker, adding that work on all three phases is expected to be complete by spring 2017.
As far as the county's fiscal state, "It's been a difficult time in recent years ... but we've managed to do, I think, very well," Stalnaker said.
The county's savings are healthy and the tax digest continues to improve, he said.
"We're still having some level of growth throughout the county, which I think is huge," Stalnaker said.
Col. Jeff King, 78th Air Base Wing commander at Robins Air Force Base, was asked how the base is faring, and he said Robins is amping up its productivity and efficiency.
After four months of identifying needs, "I'm actually really impressed with what I've seen," King said. There won't be any major organizational changes there this year, he said.
The air logistics complex had the "most productive and efficient year it's seen in the last five," King said.
"That's all good news as we lead up to potentially a (Base Realignment and Closure Commission) in 2017, right?"
While the base is strengthening itself, the Houston County school system is growing.
Student enrollment in Houston schools has increased by 4,000 over the past decade and is expected to continue. Superintendent Mark Scott said he will ask the Houston County school board at its next meeting to propose a referendum for a penny sales tax, known as an education special purpose local option sales tax or E-SPLOST, to help pay for a new elementary school among other facility needs.
"We've averaged about 400 students a year," Scott said. "Our main growth right now is along the (Ga.) 96 corridor and south of (Ga.) 96."
This year, 384 new students enrolled in Houston County schools.
For the first time in years "our kindergarten numbers are down this year," Scott said. "In middle schools and high schools we saw growth. That means that people are moving into our community, and that's a positive thing overall."
Since 2002, 717 classrooms have been added, but Scott said more capacity is needed in elementary and high schools.
The next E-SPLOST "will cover our facilities development plan for the 2015-2020 year and will also help us plan for the future," Scott said, adding that the money also would be used to build more classrooms at Veterans High School.
To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Roadwork, population growth discussed in state of community luncheon ."