COLUMN: It’s a great day, it’s a new day in Macon-Bibb County

Communication has been at the core of my public service in Macon-Bibb County, and that includes serving as your Mayor. Months before I took office, my Transition Team and I heard from thousands of people on what was most important to you…what you saw as our greatest strengths and needs…and how we could all move forward together.

It’s amazing that today, nearly four years later, more and more of you are joining me in saying, “it’s a great day in Macon-Bibb County.” And as I added at this past year’s State of the Community hosted by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, it’s a new day in Macon-Bibb County. We just approved our community’s largest budget while also recommending its lowest millage rate, and that’s possible because of the work of our departments and partners, the oversight and guidance of our Commission, and your approval of the OLOST.

We are able to do more with less…adding funds to remove more blight from neighborhoods (removing 700+ structures so far), beautification (removing millions of pounds of litter and debris), public safety (new equipment and higher pay), economic development (attracting more private investment and jobs), tourism and recreation (more events and visitors) and so much more. 

And we’re not done, but I know we’re on our way because of the people and organizations that have joined together as Team Macon-Bibb. We’re on our way because of the people who live here, who call this place home. Because of the people who know our strength and potential, while also understanding our challenges and know the solutions to overcome them. 

The last several years are only the foundation for what comes next…all of which will be bigger than what’s come before.

We’re ready to open Georgia’s first national park, right here in our backyard, and continue drawer closer with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. We’re preparing to fund more nonprofit and community organizations through the Macon Violence Prevention program and continue to see a drop in our homicides. The blight fight will continue with more removals, but, more importantly, with more affordable housing built for our families. We’re almost ready to welcome new industries and help current ones expand, creating more opportunities for jobs. 

We’re ready to announce even more shows at the amazing Atrium Health Amphitheater and see life return to the Macon Mall and entire Eisenhower corridor.

And none of this would have been possible without amazing people who love and care for our community because it’s their home, and they want it to be successful. We are together in a shared story, working to take full advantage of this new day for our community, and that’s a story that deserves to be told. 

I’m excited to welcome The Macon Melody as our newest media outlet, to help us tell our community’s story, to hold accountable the bad actors who work against creating a better day, and to improve our entire media landscape. 

Lester Miller is the mayor of Macon-Bibb County. Re-elected to a second four-year term in May, Miller has previously served president fo the Bibb County school board. A lifetime Macon resident, he and his wife Toby have two sons, Tyler and Landon.