Warner Robins appoints new finance director, firefighters, talks rezonings

WARNER ROBINS — The city of Warner Robins made personnel and property decisions at their latest meeting on July 21.

During council meeting, the city appointed Dr. Sharon Hall as the city’s newest Chief Financial Officer.

According to council documents, Hall began working for the city in March through an interim contract and led the department through the fiscal year 2026 budget process, service delivery changes, structural changes, and software implementation.

Cited as an effective leader, Hall was formally offered employment by City Administrator James Drinkard.

Council also welcomed 11 new firefighters to the city during an oath of office ceremony. 

Celebrations continued for the fire department, which also honored employees of the year, a peer-nominated achievement for their service and dedication.

This year’s winners were:

• Joshua Theus – Rookie Firefighter of the Year
• Engineer Lee White – Firefighter of the Year
• Lt. Jessten Mullis – Company Officer of the Year
• Lt. Jonathan Clark – Instructor of the Year

Additionally, Councilman Clifford Holmes was recognized for his induction into the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute’s inaugural 400 Club, signifying 400 hours of training through the institute. He joins a distinguished group of nine leaders throughout the state.

“We call [Holmes] ‘Godfather’ for a reason. 400 hours of training in our state is not an easy thing to accomplish. That’s why it’s the inaugural class.” Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said, “He came and broke the mold.”

At Monday’s pre-council meeting, council discussed two developments, one approved during the regular meeting and another removed from the agenda.

The approval was for a rezoning of property on the corner of Lake Joy Road and Russell Parkway, from residential and neighborhood commercial to general commercial.

According to council documents, the property was petitioned in 2007 for rezoning but was denied in favor of a neighborhood commercial designation.

Planning and Zoning recommended approval, with stipulations that the property not provide access to Paddington Way, no dumpsters be placed along residential boundaries, and an opaque buffer be placed along the southerly residential district.

Patrick and Councilman Clifford Holmes questioned the property’s use. Zoning Manager Darin Curtis and the developer’s representative responded, saying the property would, in part, consist of professional offices.

The representative said it will also feature a medical building and Patrick added the city must approve site plans.

The type of buffer between the development and residential areas was also a topic of debate. The current verbiage required an opaque buffer, and the council debated whether that consisted of a fence, vegetation, or both.

Drinkard said Planning and Zoning did not specify a vegetative buffer, but the council spoke in favor, citing benefits such as increased privacy and noise reduction. Drinkard said it all boils down to the conditions’ verbiage. Vegitation and 45 feet of buffer were added as conditions to the approval.

“The conditions would override. So, if the conditions state a vegetative buffer, then a vegetative buffer there shall be,” Drinkard said.

The removed item was a revision to a planned townhome development on Tallulah Trail and Southland Station Drive. The previously approved site plan included sidewalks, but the developer requested a revision to remove the sidewalk.

According to council documents, staff recommended denying the request. A sidewalk along the property is a candidate for future expansion.

Dylan Wingate, representing the property developer, argued the townhome development will have a walkable sidewalk inside the property, but the sidewalks along the exterior would have nowhere to go. The surrounding properties do not have sidewalks, Patrick mentioned.

Drinkard said the city is working on updated development standards that include sidewalks and suggested a compromise: requiring the developer to donate the right-of-way if the city decides to build sidewalks in the neighborhood.

When the city reaches a consensus, the proposed revision will be put on an upcoming agenda for consideration.

A full livestream of the meeting can be found on the city’s Facebook page. Supporting documents from the meeting can be found on the city’s website.

The next Warner Robins City Council meeting will take place Monday, Aug. 4, at City Hall, located at 700 Watson Boulevard. Pre-council will start at 4:30 p.m.; Council meeting will follow immediately.