Americus Office 1428 Second Avenue 228 West Lamar Street P

Columbus Office Americus Office 1428 Second Avenue 228 West Lamar Street P. O. Box 1908 Americus, GA 31709 Columbus, GA 31902 Phone (706) 256-2910 Phone (706) 256-2910 Fax (229) 931-2745 www.rivervalleyrc.org Fax (706) 256-2908 Fax (229) 931-2917

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RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL COUNCIL Josh Gibson Center 116 Rodgers Street Buena Vista, Georgia Minutes Summary May 22, 2013 10:30 A. M.

Members Attending/Representing (Representing 15 Counties) Jerry “Pops” Barnes, Muscogee Co. Pam Jordan, Talbot Co. Private Sector A. J. Rivers, Cordele Gerald Beckum, Oglethorpe David E. Kinsey, Georgetown‐Quit. Co. Mike Speight, Crisp Co., Private Sector Knox Blackmar, City of Talbotton Jim Lawrence, Cusseta‐Chatt. Co. James R. “Bump” Welch, Marion Co. Jimmy Bradley, Randolph Co. Harry Lange, Harris Co. Private Sector Rebecca Chambers, Hamilton Steven F. Martin, Ft. Gaines Barry Whitley, Butler Carla Cook, Americus Tommy McKenzie, Macon Co., Private Wally Summers, Sumter Co., Private Charles Gibson, Lumpkin Sector Sector Melvin Crimes, Webster Co. Cecil “Butch” McMickle, Joe Lee Williams, Stewart County Eddie Daniels, Vienna Marion County Lawrence Young, Stewart County Patricia Goodman, Randolph Co., Freeman Montgomery, Talbot Co. Private Sector Private Sector George Moore, Webster Co. James Morton, Cusseta‐Chatt. Co. Randy Howard, Sumter Co. Richard Morris, Georgetown ‐ Terrell Hudson, Dooly County Quitman County Chip Jones, Stewart Co. Private Sector Clinton Perry, Jr., Taylor Co.

Members Not Present Mary Ayers, Taylor Co. Teresa Tomlinson, Muscogee Mitchell Watkins, Lt. Governor’s Private Sector County Appointee, Muscogee County Greg Barineau, Schley County Pat McHenry, Muscogee Co. Steve Whatley, Cuthbert Ralph Brown, Buena Vista Private Sector Derek Williams, Harris County Richmond Felton, Macon Co. Edward Lee, Chattahoochee Co., Private Industry Kim Lawhorn, Schley Co. Private Sector Noel Williams, Governor’s Appointee, Private Sector Carole Rutland, Speaker of House Crisp County James Nance, Crisp County Appointee, Muscogee County Carlton Wilson, Ellaville David Shivers, Clay County

Others Present Rep. Ed Rynders, District 52 Senator Bill Stembridge, Laura Gower, Debbie Ron Hinze, Marion Co. Chamber Emanuel Jones, District 10 Senator Ed Cannon, Senator Saxby Chambliss’ Cliffton Holloman Harbison, District 15 representatives Cicero Latimore, Taylor Co. Rep. Debbie Buckner, District 137; Vickie Wainwright, Clerk, City of Butler Shavon Harris Rep. Mike Cheokas, District 138 Leslie McNary, Taylor Co. Dev. Auth. DeMarquez Mallard Rep. Patty Bentley, District 139 George Lee, Lt. Governor Casey Jamie Fernandez, City of Cordele Rep. Gerald Greene, District 151 Cagle’s representative Delores Felder ED. D, City of Rep. Buddy Harden, District 148 Kevin Brown, Marion Co. Family Conn. Marshallville Kenneth Cutts, Senator Sanford Terry Mathews, Mathews & Maxwell Willie J. Larry, Mayor, City of Bishop’s representative Regina McDuffie, Macon Co. Manger Montezuma Spencer Muller, Quitman Co. Manager Brian Jefferson, Macon Co. Amir Farokhi, Georgia Mickey George, Macon Co. Steve Fulford, City of Cordele Forward Executive Director Johnnie Owens, Clerk, City of Elizabeth Murray, City of Kris Hattaway Geneva Buena Vista Edwina Turner, Stewart Co. Jamie Loyd, Columbus Tech Russell Pounds, Taylor Co. Family Connections Buddy Walker, Hamilton Jo Childers, DCA Tonya Kirksey, Clerk, City of Jeanie Bartee, City of Cordele Shirley Lashley, Clerk, City of Reynolds Edward Beach, Cordele City Oglethorpe Ann Daniels, Vienna Manager Betty Rainey, Clerk, City of Curtis Lucas, Jr., City of Ideal Cordele Judy Summers, Clerk, Marion Co.

Staff Present Becky Holmes, Office Manager Lauren Pfrogner, Admin/Data Entry, Patti Cullen, Executive Director Bill Weathers, Intake Referral Specialist Special Projects Sarah Walls, Asst. Executive Director Buddy Strength, Community Developer Linda Harris, Case Manager Tiffany Ingram, AAA Director Debbie Zwaga, Secretary/Receptionist Mariyana Kostova, GIS/GPS Manager Rick Morris, Planning Director Franetta Miles, Administrative Support Mary Day, AAA Assistant Director Gerald Mixon, Planning Director Technician Norma English, Workforce Specialist Katie Howard, Comm. & Economic Gail Simpson, AAA Fiscal Analyst Rochella Wright, Intake Referral Development Director Ilona Preattle, AAA Program Director Specialist Emily Chambers, Finance Officer Jarrod McCarthy, Mobility Manager Shakendra Stafford, Intake Referral Tammy Collins, Finance Officer Julio Portillo, Regional Planner Specialist Janice West, Workforce Dev. Director Kayra Velez, Marketing/Planner Shameika Averett, GACARES Allison Slocum, Sr. Planner/Historic Kevin Howard, Regional Planner Tina Rust, GIS/Planner Preservation Planner Kia Barrow, Gateway Coordinator & Alysa Stephens, Options Counselor Specialist Annie Thompson, Fiscal Assistant Lance Renfrow, Environmental/GIS Annmarie Rivera, Resource Data Planner Specialist

Welcome and Recognition of Visitors Chair Terrell Hudson welcomed Council members, legislators and visitors to the River Valley Regional Commission Council meeting and the Fourth Annual Legislative Luncheon. Clinton Perry led the Council in prayer; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Chair Terrell Hudson.

Minutes Council reviewed the minutes of the April 24th, 2013 meeting. Clinton Perry made a motion to accept the minutes as presented; Richard Morris seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Young Gamechangers Amir Farokhi, the Georgia Forward Executive Director, gave a presentation explaining the Georgia Forward program and its importance to the citizens of Georgia. He highlighted some of the economic opportunities in Americus and Sumter County.

Legislator Remarks Terrell Hudson, Chair, introduce Representative Mike Cheokas, District 138; Representative Ed Rynders, District 52; Senator Emanuel Jones, District 10; Representative Debbie Buckner, District 137; Patty Bentley, District 139; Representative Gerald Greene3, District 151; Representative Buddy Harden, District 148; Senator Ed Harbison, District 15; George Lee, representing Lt. Governor Casey Cagle; Kenneth Cutts, representative for Senator Sanford Bishop; and Bill Stembridge and Laura Gower, representatives for Senator Saxby Chambliss. Each of them spoke about legislative affairs. Terrell Hudson also introduced Terry Mathews, with Maxwell and Mathews, the Public Affairs representative for the Georgia Association of Regional Commissions.

Terrell Hudson, announced and thanked Bill Stembridge, representative for Saxby Chambliss’ office, for a flag given to River Valley Regional Commission to use at monthly Council meetings.

Staff Recognitions Patti Cullen, Executive Director, explain that she would like to recognize the following staff members for years of service: Grace Grant, 35 years; Tammy Collins, 20 years; Tiffany Ingram, 10 years; Lauren Pfrogner, 5 years; Norma English, 5 years.

Blessing Richard Morris, Secretary, led the council and guests in prayer before lunch was served.