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Residents urge 'planning and sustainability' rename and school composting pilot; council hears public comment
Summary
Two public commenters urged the council to elevate sustainability: Gail Owens asked for more direct mayoral communication and attention to expertise in committee appointments; George Kellecheck proposed renaming Planning and Inspection Services to Planning and Sustainability and described a school composting pilot and a one-acre pollinator planting.
During the public comment period, residents raised sustainability and process concerns that the council did not act on at this meeting.
Gail Owens opened public comment by welcoming returning council members and said several citizens were disappointed the mayor did not address them directly at the retreat. "Mayor also wrote that you didn't speak directly to us as citizens. What's your vision for the city was for this year?" she said, adding that experience and expertise should be considered for committee appointments.
George Kellecheck of the Rockdale Soil & Water Conservation District urged the city to rename its Planning and Inspection Services department to "Planning and Sustainability." He described partnership work with the Rockdale County School System and Compost Now on a pilot to start composting food scraps at one school, saying a USDA grant of $323,000 supported a similar pilot elsewhere. He also described a one-acre wildflower pollinator planting and a plan to pilot pollinator areas at Honey Creek Elementary with eventual expansion to more schools.
Council members acknowledged the comments but took no formal action on renaming or the composting proposal during the meeting. Staff and council indicated committee and departmental matters would be discussed further when agenda items return for consideration.
