Statesboro honors Kathy Fields for five years of urban planning leadership

The Statesboro City Council meeting held on May 20, 2025, began with a heartfelt presentation honoring Kathy Fields, the director of planning, who is retiring after five years of dedicated service to the city. Kathy joined the leadership team in April 2020 and brought a wealth of experience from her previous roles in various cities, including Milton, McDonough, Roswell, and the Boston Housing Authority.

During her tenure, Kathy made significant contributions to urban planning and development in Statesboro. Her accomplishments include the initiation of the International Property Maintenance Code, the townhouse zoning ordinance, and the Unified Development Code. She also played a key role in the city's housing study, the affordable housing study, the five-year comprehensive plan update, the strategic plan, and the downtown master plan. Additionally, she established the housing rehabilitation program and the land bank authority.

In her farewell remarks, Kathy expressed gratitude for the support she received from her team and department heads, emphasizing their collaboration in implementing various policies. She described her departure as bittersweet but acknowledged that it was time for her to retire.

Following the retirement presentation, the meeting proceeded to agenda item D3, where Richard Deal from Lanier Deal and Profit presented an overview of the financial aid for the fiscal year ending 2024. The council members engaged with Richard, asking questions and discussing the financial implications for the city.

The meeting highlighted the city's appreciation for Kathy Fields' contributions and set the stage for ongoing discussions about financial management as the council continues to navigate the city's growth and development.