A good crowd gathered at the Greene County administrative offices on Tuesday evening to both review the existing county structure and give valuable input to the county’s comprehensive plan moving forward into the new year.
It is an opportunity for residents to help guide future decisions affecting regional planning and create a framework for advancing the county’s goals. Greene County is one of 159 counties in the state and is credited for its success in county management.
“I am so happy with the participation tonight,” said Gary Usry, County Commission Chairman. “We see this as an important step to complement efforts underway in the county. We need and will acknowledge this critical input in our planning. Once all comments are gathered, we will meet and vote on the issues and move forward on a plan to guide us.”
As an agent of the state, the county government serves its citizens by administering and enforcing state laws and is governed by an elected county board of commissioners. The Greene County Board is pledged to provide citizens with responsible government that is mindful of the needs of all citizens living in the county. It is comprised of five members representing county districts and includes Gary Usry, chairman; Angela Walker Deering, District 1; Jeffery Smith, District 2; Dee Lindsey, District 3; and Ernie Filice, District 4.
Residents attending the planning sessions were guided through four stations that identified where they are from, where the county is present, what residents see as needs and priorities and comments relative to future land use. Multiple resource boards that identified key statistics for each were placed for easy viewing and discussion. Many board members were present as was County Manager Byron Lombard to answer questions.
Katheryn Harris is a four-year downtown Greensboro resident who moved here from Atlanta. She fell in love with the area, having visited friends in Greensboro, and decided to retire here. She sees the planning as a good effort to draw input and discuss key planning initiatives for Greene County.
“Obviously, careful and thoughtful planning is critical for creating a better life in this community,” she said. “Taking into consideration and weighing the interests of everyone is important.”
Steve Kilgore, a Greene County School Board member, was the appointee to the steering committee for the county’s efforts. He values the input received and acknowledges the importance of comprehensive planning.
“We like to see strong support for our planning efforts, and I am excited for the input we have received,” he said. “Gaining input from the community helps guide our strategic planning and reinforce county efforts here in the city.”