WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — “I’m going to say it now, and I’ll say it again when the time comes,” Councilman Clifford Holmes said. “I am not going to vote in favor of moving anything else from [the north side of Warner Robins] until you show me something where you’re going to provide an opportunity on this side to get to it.”
The statement received several affirmations from the surrounding crowd.
On Monday, May 2, the City of Warner Robins gathered in their usual chambers to hold their first meeting of the month. During the pre-council meeting, a discussion was held among council and the city’s department heads regarding the city’s Independence Day Celebration and its location. Later, during council’s regular meeting, mayor and council voted on the final location of this year’s event.
According to City Attorney Julia Mize, if the city continues to host the event at The McConnell-Talbert stadium, affectionately called “The Mac,” it could be an issue of liability for the city.
“If there are known safety concerns which are not acted upon, it may ultimately effect potential liability,” Mize said.
During the April 19 meeting, it was suggested that the Independence Day Celebration, which tradition ally takes place at The Mac, should be moved to Freedom Field. During that meeting, the item was denied. At the time, the suggestion was made for safety reasons.
Following Mize’s comment, Police Chief John Wagner offered an explanation of the safety issues identified at The Mac.
“It’s mostly commercial over [near The MAC] whereas this is residential,” Wagner said. “There are more improved parking areas by Freedom Field, safer pedestrian flow with sidewalks.
“There are better traffic compression zones — it’s four-lane traffic everywhere you’re going to go. It would be less manpower intensive for us, there’s less infrastructure you have to support [at Freedom Field]. It’s a larger venue and viewing area, it’s easier for us to secure, there’s definitely better lighting out there for the entire area. It’s more isolated, and it would be a safer fireworks area.”
Following Wagner’s explanation, Councilman Derek Mack responded.
“The integrity of traditional values of our city that we seem to be losing slowly, the public’s perspective — from the constituents perspective, the things that I hear — those are the things that will come across. ‘Why is everything moving to this side of town versus this one?’ ‘We’ve done it this way for years; it’s tradition.’
“Same thing with the Christmas Parade, and I do understand that logistically it would be easier, but we have to maintain a sense of integrity for the tradition of The International City at some point.”
Mize later followed with a reiteration of her previous point.
“If there is a pedestrian, an unfortunate accident, or an accident in a parking lot that is not a parking lot but a parking lot that has been created and is staffed by utility workers or public works employees, and this is a known risk, it will be the whole city that will be liable,” Mize said.
Holmes commented at this point as well, announcing that he would not vote in favor of moving city events from the north side of Warner Robins until transportation was provided to citizens by the city in some capacity.
Later, during council’s regular meeting, mayor and council voted unanimously to hold Warner Robins’ 2022 Independence Day Celebration at the McConnell Talbert Stadium on Davis Drive, maintaining the city’s longstanding tradition.
In an earlier portion of Tuesday’s meeting, mayor and council discussed an amendment to the city’s Code of Ordinances regarding noise complaints. The amendment allows officers to respond to noise complaints when the sound is “plainly audible from 300 feet, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.” Previously, city police were required to use volume-measuring devices before issuing citations. Council approved this amendment unanimously.
In addition to these items, council approved several Veterans’ Issues Board Appointments, nominated Councilman Holmes to be the District 6 Officer of the Georgia Municipal Authority for the City of Warner Robins and approved their consent agenda. Mayor LaRhonda Patrick was nominated for the Georgia State Commission for Women, City Clerk Mandy Stella was recognized for Municipal City Clerks Week and Keep Warner Robins Beautiful was honored for their receiving of the Keep Georgia Beautiful award.
After an executive session, the meeting was brought to adjournment.
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