The authorities that run Macon-Bibb: A primer

This story is the introduction to “Power,” a series by The Melody examining local authorities — quasi-governmental bodies that make consequential decisions about housing, water, transit, development, health care and public spending — that shape life in Macon-Bibb County.

In nearly every city across the country, there are small units of government that have immense power but often operate out of the spotlight.

Called local authorities in Georgia, these quasi-governmental bodies wield special powers and set the priorities for housing, transportation, water and sewerage, hospitals, land, industrial development and more.

Some authorities cover one county, while others operate in multiple jurisdictions. Macon-Bibb County has nearly a dozen authority boards. 

Though board members for each of these agencies make consequential decisions on behalf of the greater public, they are often appointed instead of elected by voters. 

Before Macon and Bibb County consolidated to form one government in 2013, appointments to local authorities were made by both city council and county commission. Since the city council no longer exists, the power to make appointments lies solely with the mayor and commission.

In a series of upcoming articles, The Melody will spotlight these authority boards to inform the public about their powers, histories, impacts and the individuals who serve on them. Let’s start with a primer:

Macon Housing Authority 

• Founded: 1938.
• CEO: Mike Austin.
• Mission and purpose: “To add value to our community and the lives of those we serve through quality housing, support services and community development.”
• Website: maconhousing.com.
• Board: Six-member board with staggered five-year terms. At least one member must live in affordable housing.
• Meetings: Monthly at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday (except for July) in the board room at 2015 Felton Ave. 
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26301306-macon-housing-authority-bylaws/.
• Lawyer: Scott Spivey of Spivey Pope Green LLC.
• Power notes: Can issue bonds, create subsidiaries, make and purchase loans.

Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority

• Founded: 1962.
• CEO: Stephen Adams.
• Mission and purpose: “Creating jobs and increasing the tax base of Macon-Bibb County” and “promoting and expanding, for the public good and welfare, industry and trade within Macon-Bibb County, and for the purpose of reducing unemployment to the greatest extent possible.”
• Website: mbcia.com.
• Board: Six-member board with five-year terms. Membership includes the mayor of Macon-Bibb County, four appointees and one appointment by the authority.
• Meetings: Monthly on the first Monday at 12:30 p.m. at 439 Mulberry St.
• Bylaws: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25557769-mbcia-bylaws-with-amendments-june-3-2024/.
• Lawyer: Kevin Brown, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
• Power notes: Can offer tax breaks to companies and developers via PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements and other similar programs, such as the county’s Heartbeat Incentive.

Macon-Bibb County Hospital Authority 

• Founded: 1968.
• Chair: Ron Shipman.
• Mission and purpose: To “possess and exercise public and governmental functions and powers to own, operate, lease, construct, manage and govern all projects, including the hospital and related medical facilities in the City of Macon and Bibb County, Georgia, to the end that total excellence in hospital and related facilities will be made available for the citizens of Middle Georgia.”
• Website: navicenthealth.org/governance.
• Board: Seven members with three-year terms and a limit of five terms. All members are appointed.
• Meetings: Quarterly on the fourth Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the Weaver Board Room located on the 4th Floor at 877 Hemlock St. Dates for 2026 meetings include Feb. 5, June 4, Aug. 13 and Dec. 3.
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26300959-mbcha-bylaws-amended-8-9-20211/.
• Lawyer: Michele Madison, partner in the Healthcare Practice Group at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
• Power notes: Has powers of eminent domain. Other powers of the authority are spelled out in state law and then approved by a resolution at the local government level.

Development Authority of Bibb County

• Founded: 1973.
• Board president: Starr Purdue.
• Mission and purpose: “To facilitate the development and promotion of general welfare, trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities in Macon-Bibb County. … Also assists with providing financing for projects for air and water pollution control facilities by industries.”
• Website: None.
• Board: Seven members appointed by the mayor with commission approval for four-year terms, with no term limits. The authority’s first board included the same members as MBCIA and MBCIA provides administrative staff for the authority.
• Meetings: Meets each May.
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26361141-dabc-summary-and-bylaws/.
• Lawyer: Chix Miller of Sell & Melton LLP.
• Power notes: Can grant property tax abatements to real estate developers by issuing tax-exempt bonds to fund projects. 

Macon Water Authority

• Founded: 1973.
• CEO: Ron Shipman.
• Mission and purpose: “To provide public water and sewer services for Macon and Bibb County.”
• Website: maconwater.org.
• Board: Two county commissioners, appointed by the mayor, serve on this board, along with five elected members. They serve four-year terms.
• Meetings: Monthly on the first Thursday. Committee meetings begin at 2 p.m. and the regular meeting starts at 4 p.m. inside the second-floor board room at 790 Second St.
• Fiscal year: Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26099088-board-by-laws-2022-1/.
• Lawyer: H. Jay Strickland of Jones, Cork LLP.
• Power notes: Can issue bonds, unilaterally control how much it charges for water, wastewater treatment and stormwater services.

Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority

• Founded: 1974.
• Executive Director: Alex Morrison.
• Mission and purpose: “To carry out downtown redevelopment and revitalization.”
• Website: maconbibbuda.com.
• Board: Seven members appointed for up to two consecutive four-year terms. Unlike some other authority boards, members must be Bibb County residents. 
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26313995-by-laws-and-legislation/.
• Lawyer: Blake Sharpton of Butler Snow.
• Power notes: Has eminent domain powers.

Macon Transit Authority

• Founded:1973.
• CEO: Craig Ross.
  Mission and purpose: “Dedicated to delivering safe, reliable, high-quality and affordable transit services” and “ensuring accessibility and efficiency in every ride.”
• Website:mbcta.net.
• Board: Seven board members appointed to five-year terms, with no term limits. 
• Meetings: On the last Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the fourth-floor board room of Terminal Station at 200 Cherry St. 
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24441071-mta-by-laws-jan-2017/.
• Lawyer: Brad Wilson of Adams Hemingway Wilson Rutledge LLC.
• Power notes: Unilaterally controls the cost of bus fares in Macon.

Central Georgia Joint Development Authority

• Founded: 1995.
• Chair: James Vaughn.
• Mission and purpose: “Job creation, encouraging economic growth and improving the availability of regional opportunities for member counties.”
• Website: cgjda.com.
• Board: Includes 44 members representing 11 counties (Baldwin, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Macon-Bibb, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson). Board member terms are four years.
• Meetings: At 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday in the last month of each calendar quarter inside the Middle Georgia Regional Commission offices at the Macon Mall, 3661 Eisenhower Parkway. 
• Bylaws: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26313619-cgjda-bylaws-signed/.
• Lawyer: Kevin Brown, Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Macon-Bibb County Enhancement Authority

• Founded: 2012.
• CEO: Vacant.
• Mission and purpose: To alleviate poverty in Macon’s poorest neighborhoods. 
• Website: Defunct.
• Board: A five-member board with four-year terms. One member is appointed by the mayor with county commission approval. The bylaws state one appointee is to be made by the city of Macon, but it is defunct. The board chair is appointed by the local delegation of the General Assembly. Two members are appointed by the chair. The county’s most recent appointment to this board was in 2020.
• Meetings: Twice a year, 2026 schedule TBD.
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26314042-cea-bylaws/.
• Lawyer: Blake Sharpton of Butler Snow.
• Power notes: Can issue revenue bonds.

Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority

• Founded: 1996.
• Executive Director: Everett Verner.
• Mission and purpose: “Returning non-tax-generating properties to productive use. … providing land for housing production and creating jobs for low- to moderate-income citizens through residential, commercial and industrial development.”
• Website: maconlandbank.org.
• Board: Five-member board. Members are appointed to staggered four-year terms and have no term limits.
• Meetings: At 4 p.m. on the third Monday of each month via Zoom or in-person at the Land Bank’s headquarters at 688 Walnut St., Suite 102. 
• Bylaws:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25906219-approved-bylaws-for-lba-authorityoctober-12-2016/.
• Lawyer: Cater C. Thompson of Jones, Cork LLP.
• Power notes: Can extinguish back taxes on property it owns.