EDITORIAL: Another attempt at consolidation

The consolidation bug has hit to Macon-Bibb County's west with Roberta and Crawford County catching the virus. Crawford with a population of 12,387, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has about 1,000 residents living in Roberta. On the surface, it would seem to make sense to roll the city into the county -- but far be it from us to make that suggestion. It took Macon and Bibb County almost 100 years to finally merge their two governments.

State legislators are proposing to come up with a Roberta-Crawford County charter once they hear public comment by the end of this session. The matter could be on the ballot before the end of the year.

Roberta has been incorporated for 106 years, but its heyday of passenger rail ended when the service was halted as interstates and cars took the place of train travel. Roberta has now become just a spot at the intersection of U.S. 341 and U.S. 80.

So what would change in the lives of the citizens of a combined Roberta-Crawford County? Probably not much, but they should expect a more responsive and efficient government. To the elected officials of Roberta, it would mean something, but in the last mayoral race, only 123 residents bothered to vote. The city only employs about 11 full-time workers, and they could easily be absorbed into the county workforce.

Still that's up to the people to decide if it ever comes to a vote. While consolidation finally passed in Macon-Bibb, similar efforts in Milledgeville and Baldwin County failed. If we have any advice, it would be listen to the people and explain in detail any proposal, because if you don't, it's easy for opponents to create mischief. People will vote against something -- even if it's good for them -- if they don't understand it.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 7:43 PM with the headline "EDITORIAL: Another attempt at consolidation ."