Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/153540
ADVERTISEMENT Leonard Bevill MACON OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE President and CEO Direct: 478-751-2925 Cell: 478-972-8900 lbevill@maconoccmedicince.org www.maconoccmedicine.org Consolidation will lead Macon into the Future. How will consolidation change Macon and Bibb County and why is it important? As a member of the Macon-Bibb County Consolidation Task Force, I am very excited about the opportunity to play a leadership role in the consolidation of Macon and Bibb County governments. The new consolidated government will be much more efficient as it moves from 21 elected officials down to 10. The new government will be led by a mayor that is elected countywide and nine commissioners elected from nine diverse districts. The Sheriff will be the top cop, and kudos to Sheriff Davis for putting together a solid and innovative plan for the new Macon-Bibb County Sheriff 's Department. This new government will start at midnight on Jan. 1, 2014. This new government will be more competent in the long run, which will reduce the financial burden on the taxpayers. The Consolidation Task Force has been working very hard to create the a new organizational 60 l MACON MAGAZINE chart and comprehensive benefits plan that is financially efficient as well as innovative enough to retain and recruit the best of the best to help the new government run like a Fortune 500 company. The current City Hall will be the central hub for the new government and all administrative activities. The current Bibb County Courthouse will become the comprehensive Judicial Center for Macon-Bibb County. Many other aspects of the new government's facilities are currently being evaluated to assure common departments can work closely together to be easy entry points for citizens to conduct business. Technologically advanced features will speed up all processes and provide new web portals to find the information any one may need to help solve a problem or to pay a bill. Consolidation will give our community the fresh new start we very much need. Successful consolidation means MaconBibb County can become an even better destination for entertainment, new industry, expanding existing business ventures and creating a vibrate community to raise a family. What can citizens do now to lead us into the future? It is VERY important for the citizens of this community to get behind the candidates of their choice in the upcoming election and vote on September 17. Demand that the elected commissioners and mayor help create a new vision for this great community, and we must hold them accountable for leading this community forward. It is time for everyone to step up and get involved. I hear a lot of people complain about how bad our community is. Well, our community will only grow and get better if we want it to and are willing to work together to accomplish that goal. The time is NOW and our future is up to US, no one else. I LOVE MACON, and you should too!! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013