County manager schedules legislative workshop, fall festival; highlights new airnasium and mobile command center

The Chatham County manager used the Oct. 3 meeting to announce a series of county events and operational updates, including a legislative workshop, a parks fall festival and new equipment for county services.

The manager said the Board of Commissioners will hold a legislative workshop at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 in the commission chambers to review the county’s legislative priorities. "If you've got things that you want me to add to the list for your consideration, please send it to me," the manager said.

Parks and Recreation will host a fall festival at Stell Park on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the manager said. The county plans a ribbon-cutting during that event for a new indoor/outdoor multiuse facility the manager referred to as an "airnasium." Commissioners discussed potential replication at other parks and asked staff to study shading and other enhancements for high-use outdoor courts.

The manager also introduced a new mobile command center to be operated primarily by the county police department and made available to smaller municipalities for mutual-aid responses. The manager said the county made a "significant investment" in the unit and invited commissioners to tour it at public events.

Finally, the manager recognized county staff who were named to Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 list and noted an award presented to the board for its continued support of the Summer Bonanza Partnership, a youth program.

Commissioners asked staff to share outreach details for the comp-plan process and to prioritize connectivity of sidewalks and pedestrian improvements in grant applications discussed during the meeting.