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Residents press Statesboro leaders on sewer pipes, traffic lights, pool safety and accessibility during public comments
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Summary
Several residents raised infrastructure and service concerns at public comment: an academic solicited community partners for mental-health research; others reported possible mistreatment at a food bank, Orangeburg lateral-pipe failures and high repair costs, drainage and pool-safety risks, and outdated traffic signals in older intersections.
Multiple residents used the public-comment portion of the Statesboro City Council meeting to raise neighborhood, public-safety and service-delivery concerns.
Kirsten Munjell, a Georgia Southern doctoral student, sought local leaders' input for dissertation research on community-shaped mental-health solutions focused on Black and African American residents in Bulloch County and offered flyers and contact information to coordinate.
Annie Bellinger recounted an incident at a food‑bank/dining facility where she said an employee told her to sit in the dining room because she was using a wheelchair, then later another employee denied the instruction and she felt publicly accused of lying. Bellinger urged the city to screen and train staff better; Mayor McCollum said city staff would follow up.
Margo Bragg detailed technical concerns about 'Orangeburg' lateral-pipe deterioration and the city's 2023 ordinance that makes homeowners responsible for lateral repairs; she said repair quotes can be as high as tens of thousands of dollars and asked the city to educate residents about the ordinance and the likely costs.
Reverend Larry Watkins asked the city to fix chronic drainage at his driveway and neighborhood, requested resurfacing and speed signs, and warned that an un-drained, unsecured pool remained full and posed a child-safety risk. He asked for regulatory hours and locking of the facility to prevent drug use and unsafe access.
Kathy Dixon urged the council to upgrade traffic signals at older intersections, citing backups where lights are not coordinated and suggesting cameras, turn lanes or reconfiguration to improve traffic flow.
Council members and staff thanked speakers, pledged follow-up (including city staff checking the food-bank complaint and exploring neighborhood infrastructure solutions), and noted some items will be discussed further at retreats or through planned studies.
