Mayor Miller frames 'making' moment for Bibb County in 2026 State of the Community address

Mayor Miller delivered the 2026 State of the Community address at the Greater Mon Chamber of Commerce event, outlining priorities for public safety, housing, infrastructure and economic growth across Bibb County.

He framed the year as a community “making moment,” thanking local partners and volunteers and pointing to a calendar of recent events, including arts and downtown festivals. “It is a great day to be in Bibb County,” he said.

Why it matters: The mayor used the speech to both celebrate recent gains and set a directional agenda for decisions the county will make in the coming years — from infrastructure spending to ongoing blight removal — that he said will shape the county “for decades to come.”

Public safety: Miller credited the county’s MVP partners and community programs for crime reductions, saying last year saw the fewest homicides in nearly a decade and that the county was “at day 40 now without a homicide.” He also acknowledged a rough early-year stretch, saying February produced nine homicides and calling that figure “nine times too many.” Miller said leaders would avoid reactive measures such as curfews and instead continue community-based interventions.

Economic development and workforce: The mayor highlighted private investment and job activity, saying the county had attracted approximately $1.2 billion in investment and that the effort to connect schools, training programs and employers has helped retain and create a large number of jobs. He credited the industrial authority, the chamber of commerce and local schools for coordinating workforce pathways that he said make the county attractive for both employers and residents.

Housing and blight removal: Miller said the county has removed roughly 800 dangerous structures to make room for new housing, green space and neighborhood improvements, and he cited work by the housing authority, an affordable housing fund and Habitat for Humanity as partners in that effort.

Roads and infrastructure: The mayor reiterated an aggressive repaving target for the year, saying the county plans to repave roughly 160 miles of road in the year — a rate he described as equivalent to “20 years of roads in one year.” He framed the work as part of the county’s effort to improve daily life as well as economic competitiveness.

Tax policy and state delegation: Miller praised members of the local delegation, specifically naming Representative Tangi Herring and Dr. Nissa Jones for working across the aisle in Atlanta. He credited Representative Herring with carrying a bill he described as providing tax relief options for older residents if approved by voters in November; Miller said the measure would allow some seniors to be relieved of school and county property taxes contingent on the vote.

What’s next: Miller closed by urging residents and leaders to continue “seizing the moment” and preparing for decisions that will shape the county’s future. “This isn’t about personalities to me, but it is personal to me,” he said.

Reporting notes: Quotes and figures above are attributed to Mayor Miller’s State of the Community remarks as presented in the episode. Where the speech used an imprecise or abbreviated figure, the article avoids inventing exact numbers beyond those the mayor explicitly stated (for example, Miller’s investment figure was stated as $1.2 billion; a jobs figure was described in the speech as thousands retained or created).