More transparency is good
Published 4:44 pm Friday, January 24, 2020
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The Troup County Board of Commissioners is doing its best to be as transparent as possible while also being present in public to speak with constituents.
Starting in early February, the county commissioners will host “Coffee with a Commissioner,” and it will give residents a chance to sit down with their representative and chat about any problems.
For some, it may be an opportunity to meet the commissioner who represents them. For others, it’s a chance to complain about all the things that are wrong in the county.
Either way, during the first week of February, they will have their chance.
There will be three meetings — one in West Point, one in LaGrange and one in Hogansville, so the entire county will get a shot.
The LaGrange meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, at LaGrange Active Life, located at 140 Ragland Street.
The West Point meeting will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at West Point Active Life, located at 1114 OG Skinner Drive.
Lastly, the Hogansville meeting will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, at Hogansville Active Life, located at 407 Church Street.
County Chairman Patrick Crews said the commissioner who represents the district where the meeting is being held would in attendance. Also, he said it possible more commissioners might show up.
However, he said there would be county staff members available at every meeting to answer residents’ specific questions.
The thing we like most of about these type of meetings is that it allows those who are uncomfortable speaking at public meetings a chance to get their questions answered or voices heard.
Also, getting to a public meeting isn’t always the easiest thing. We know the commission has changed the hours of its meetings to afternoon once a month, and we think that’s a great idea. However, if somebody works from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and outside of the county, then making it to downtown LaGrange may not be a possibility.
We know these times fall within working hours as well, but if a person works in West Point, maybe they can find 20 minutes to speak with a commissioner.
At the end of the day, Crews said it’s a different method to make the commissioners available, and we can’t argue with more transparency.
We hope residents who have burning questions have a chance to get answers.