Every year Mayor Jim Thornton hosts a series of town halls where he answers questions and learns firsthand what is important to citizens of LaGrange.

Thornton has hosted the events every year since he took office, and he said that he hopes to see a great turnout at this year’s series of town halls.

“It gives me an opportunity to come and report on some of the exciting things that are happening in the city that sometimes people have not necessarily seen or been attentive to, but it also gives me the opportunity — and other leaders the opportunity — to hear directly from the citizens,” Thornton said. “Our city council meetings are open to the public, and I encourage participation, but this is a way for me and the other leadership to come out into the community rather than asking them to come to city hall. This is our way of coming out to where the people are and out into the neighborhoods.”

While the town halls will be an opportunity for Thornton to discuss projects in the city — like the skate plaza in downtown, a proposed dog park and job growth through new industry — it will also give citizens the chance to let him know what issues are most important to them.

“I have learned that the citizens of LaGrange are very engaged and are very interested in improving their city,” Thornton said. “They have very good suggestions that they offer at these town hall meetings. I always say that the best ideas don’t start at city hall. Some of the best ideas start out in the community, and this is a way of bringing those ideas out in a meeting, so that we can get things done.”

Other city and county leaders have attended and helped answer questions at past town halls and will likely attend this year’s event as well. City of LaGrange staff members, including City Manager Meg Kelsey are also expected to attend all of the meetings.

Here is the schedule for the mayor’s Town Hall meetings:

Thursday, March 8 from 6 p.m. at 8 p.m. at Hollis Hand Elementary School at 641 Country Club Road.

Monday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Berta Weathersbee School at 1200 Forrest Avenue.

Thursday, March 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the William Griggs Recreation Center at 716 Glenn Robertson Drive.

Tuesday, March 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Division of Family and Children Services Building at 1220 Hogansville Road.

The meetings will also be broadcasted live on Facebook, and questions from both the live audience and social media will be answered at the meeting. For additional updates on the town halls or other city events, visit the City of LaGrange on Facebook @lagrangegagov.