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Valdosta honors former interim city manager Al Grace as he moves to project-manager role
Summary
Mayor and council publicly thanked former interim city manager Al Grace for a string of operational initiatives—downtown beautification, facility upgrades and obtaining federal reimbursements—and invited him to brief the council before moving to a project-manager position.
The Valdosta mayor and council on May 21 publicly recognized former interim city manager Al Grace and thanked him for initiatives accomplished during his interim tenure since Nov. 10, 2025. Mayor (unnamed in the record) invited Grace to the microphone to accept the council’s gratitude as he transitions from interim city manager to a project manager role.
Al Grace outlined a long list of actions he said were completed during his time in the interim role. According to Grace, those items include downtown beautification and removal of parking signs, reorganizing several city departments, completing remodeling of the Craig Center into a cooling/warming/storm shelter to be renamed the Janette Cudi Center, initiating transfer of land and event-space plans related to the former county park, initiating roof repairs for all city-owned facilities, overseeing a new public works compound and water/sewer meter installations, and working with staff on short-term rental regulations and transit planning. Grace also said he assisted in obtaining federal reimbursement for Hurricane Helen damages and COVID-related funds “to the tune of $35 million” for work tied to South Georgia Medical Center.
"I found a very professional team," Grace said, thanking council and staff and noting that he looked forward to serving alongside staff in his new role. "You're in good hands," he added, referring to recently hired department leaders.
The recognition was procedural and ceremonial; the council did not take formal policy action related to the remarks. The meeting then moved on to routine agenda items, including contract approvals and departmental presentations.
What’s next: Grace will continue in a project-manager capacity for the city; the council’s statements were expressions of appreciation, not a formal employment action recorded as a vote in the meeting minutes.
