10/30/2026
Good morning, Waycross!
As we close another week, I want to share some of the work taking place across our City departments. While much of what we do may not always be visible, our employees continue working every day to improve services, maintain infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and address the needs of our community.
🚧 PUBLIC WORKS – STREETS, EQUIPMENT & NEIGHBORHOODS
Our Public Works crews continued making improvements throughout the City.
✅ Applied approximately 56,000 pounds (28 tons) of asphalt to repair potholes and pavement cuts, primarily in Zones 1 and 3.
✅ Began seasonal curb cleaning and sidewalk edging along Knight Avenue, City Boulevard, Albany Avenue, and Tebeau Street.
✅ Completed six house demolitions since September 28, with two additional demolitions scheduled to begin next week.
✅ Received our new SPLOST-funded Street Sweeper, which will help improve street maintenance and cleanliness throughout Waycross.
Maintaining our infrastructure is an ongoing responsibility. We cannot address every street or drainage concern at once, but we are continuing to make progress with the personnel, equipment, and funding available.
🚒 FIRE DEPARTMENT – PUBLIC SAFETY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Our Fire Department continues doing an exceptional job protecting residents while remaining actively involved in our community.
✅ Responded to 44 emergency calls for service.
✅ Completed 27 annual fire inspections and four site inspections.
✅ Completed annual testing and routine maintenance on more than 1,000 fire hydrants.
✅ Participated in several school and community events, helping educate our young people about fire safety and public service.
✅ Fire Recruit Elijah Cobb successfully passed his Firefighter I examination and was assigned to a shift.
These accomplishments demonstrate the importance of investing in our employees, training, and emergency preparedness.
🚓 POLICE DEPARTMENT – PUBLIC SAFETY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Our Police Department continued reviewing major investigations, analyzing traffic accidents, and mapping felony crime activity to support enforcement and operational planning.
The Department is also working toward transitioning from outdated analog radios to digital communications equipment, with SPLOST funding being considered for the project.
Public safety remains one of our most important responsibilities, and we continue working to provide our officers with the resources necessary to serve our community.
🏚️ COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT & ANIMAL SERVICES
Our Community Improvement Department continued reviewing building plans, participating in Land Bank activities, and developing proposed changes to our Code Enforcement and Animal Control ordinances.
At our Animal Shelter this week:
🐕 Five dogs were received.
🐈 Five cats were received.
❤️ Two dogs were adopted.
We are also continuing improvements to the Animal Shelter facility and recruiting additional personnel.
As we move forward with code enforcement reforms, I want to emphasize that maintaining our community is a shared responsibility. The City has an obligation to enforce its ordinances, but lasting improvements require cooperation from property owners, residents, businesses, and neighborhood organizations.
📱 TECHNOLOGY & CUSTOMER SERVICE – MAKING CITY GOVERNMENT MORE ACCESSIBLE
We continue improving how residents access City services.
✅ Updated the MyWaycrossGA app with additional resources and information for residents.
✅ Continued improving digital workflows for code enforcement and building inspections.
✅ Added Building Department permitting links to the City's website.
✅ Uploaded approved 2026 Commission meeting minutes to improve public access to government records.
✅ Published a sample utility bill and updated the Utility Customer Service webpage to help residents better understand their bills.
We also identified outdated information printed on the reverse side of utility bills and are working to correct it.
These improvements are part of our ongoing effort to make City government more efficient, accessible, and transparent.
🏛️ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Work continued on several initiatives intended to support the City's long-term growth.
✅ Continued reviewing potential funding opportunities for the Crossroads Center.
✅ Coordinated with grant writers to identify additional funding sources.
✅ Submitted Main Street program updates to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
✅ Continued recruitment for a part-time Main Street Manager.
✅ Participated in Chamber of Commerce and Land Bank Authority meetings.
We also had an opportunity to speak with Ware County High School civics students about local government and the Mayor's Youth Council.
Engaging our young people is important because they are not only the future of Waycross; they can also contribute to our community today.
👥 EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT & DEVELOPMENT
We continue recruiting for several important positions, including Police Officers, Finance Director, Main Street Manager, Animal Care Attendant, and Leaf and Limb Collection Driver.
Interviews for some positions are scheduled for next week.
We also continue investing in professional development to strengthen leadership, improve service delivery, and prepare employees for additional responsibilities.
💬 MY FINAL THOUGHTS
I often remind residents that operating a city involves much more than the issues that receive attention on social media.
Every week, our employees are repairing streets, responding to emergencies, reviewing permits, maintaining equipment, assisting customers, managing public resources, and addressing concerns throughout our neighborhoods.
Some improvements happen quickly. Others require planning, engineering, funding, legal review, or coordination with outside agencies.
Progress does not always happen at the speed we would like, but that does not mean work is not taking place.
We still have challenges to address, and I will continue being transparent about those challenges. However, it is equally important to recognize the work being accomplished by our approximately 200 City employees.
To our employees, thank you for your continued dedication.
To our residents, thank you to those who report concerns, maintain their properties, support neighborhood improvements, and work with us toward solutions.
A better Waycross requires accountability from City government and personal responsibility from all of us.
We will continue moving forward, one project, one neighborhood, and one improvement at a time.
Opportunity in Every Direction.
K.I.N.G. — Keep Investing in Neighborhood Growth!
4:17 — Where We Make It Happen!
