I know that’s another loaded question. Ask 10 people and you’ll probably get ten different answers.
I’m usually one of the people being asked questions like that, but today, I have some questions for you.
Where do you think Emanuel County is today?
Where would you like to see Emanuel County grow?
How would you make that happen, and why do you want to see our great county move in that direction?
Who can make it happen?
Those are all good and fair questions, right?
You bet!
Let’s take a look at each one.
I’ll give you my thoughts in hopes that some of you will reach out and share yours.
Where do you think Emanuel County is today?
I see a county with a special quality of life.
I see citizens who, for the most part, truly care about one another and show it whenever a friend or neighbor needs help.
I see countless volunteers who step up every day for the benefit of their communities.
I see constitutional officers who want the best for their constituents and strive every day to make that happen.
I see other elected officials who give their time, effort, and ever-growing knowledge to make decisions that will positively affect every citizen.
I see county and city employees (firefighters, police officers, deputies, maintenance workers, road crews, technology personnel, and staff members) doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.
None of us are perfect because we are human, but these employees are working to make life better for everyone in this county.
Hear me when I tell you that most people would not want the job of a city manager, county administrator, or mayor.
I also see taxes that, contrary to what some people may think, are among the lowest in our region and in the state.
(That said, I agree that taxes are still too high.)
Where do you want to see Emanuel County grow?
That is another good question.
I want to see well-managed growth.
I want companies to invest significant amounts of money here because the fact is, when companies invest and pay taxes here, you and I pay less in taxes.
There is a caveat, though.
Along with that investment should come jobs and, hopefully, great-paying jobs for our citizens first, then for others.
When people from outside our county get those jobs, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
However, when those workers decide to move here, our infrastructure may need to grow.
If we are not careful, the additional revenue that could have reduced taxes may instead have to be spent expanding or improving that infrastructure.
Let me be clear: I want to see us grow, but I do not want Emanuel County to become Bulloch County or Swainsboro to become Statesboro.
Ask your neighbors over that way how sudden and tremendous growth has affected their quality of life.
According to the 2020 Census, our population is between 23,000 and 24,000 people.
I think it is actually higher than that.
If you do not believe me, try turning onto Highway 1 in Swainsboro on a Friday afternoon.
I want well-managed growth that does not negatively affect our quality of life or consume tremendous amounts of our natural resources, all while helping reduce property taxes.
How would you make it happen?
Now, that is a tough one.
The first word that comes to mind is “trust.”
Some of y’all are probably rolling your eyes right now.
When I first ran for commissioner, I knew it would not be an easy job, but it concerned me to think about who else might run and what direction the county might take.
I entered this position with an open mind, knowing I would not have all the answers and that I would not change the world in one fell swoop.
The people of District 4 elected me to do a good job, learn as much as possible, and be the most dedicated, approachable, and accessible commissioner I could be.
After running uncontested for the past two terms, I tend to believe most residents of District 4 trust me to serve them well and make the best decisions for the county as a whole.
I believe it was President Ronald Reagan who said, “Trust, but verify.”
I have no problem with that at all.
What I sometimes have a problem with is when people treat me as though I am some kind of national bureaucrat or politician. That is where I draw the line.
I see the social media comments containing accusations, mistruths, and sometimes outright lies spread by keyboard warriors.
The truth is, I refuse to acknowledge or respond to attempts to gain attention through ugliness on social media.
If you have questions, sign up to speak and come to a meeting.
Call me.
Ask to meet me for a cup of coffee.
I can only tell you the truth as I know it, and I will be more than happy to do so.
Sorry, I got a little off-topic, but it needed to be said.
Folks, we live in little old Emanuel County, not Richmond, Chatham, or Fulton County.
Those places are nice to visit, but they ain't home.
As commissioners, we also have a responsibility to make sure the growth we pursue is good for the people who already call Emanuel County home.
Economic development is important and sometimes attracting new investment requires putting together competitive development packages, but those packages should not come at the expense of the taxpayers who are already here.
Your board of commissioners is committed to advocating for economic development agreements that bring new investment into Emanuel County without shifting the financial burden of that growth onto our current taxpayers.
If we are going to offer incentives to encourage a company to invest here, there should be a clear benefit to Emanuel County in return.
That means growing our tax base, creating good jobs, and making sure the long-term benefit to our county outweighs what we may be asked to provide upfront.
We also have to look beyond the dollar amount of an investment.
We have to consider what a project means for our roads, public safety, utilities, natural resources, and overall quality of life.
A large investment may look great on paper, but if the cost of supporting it outweighs the benefit it brings to our citizens, then we have to be willing to ask hard questions.
That does not mean saying “no” to growth. It means saying “yes” to the right growth.
I believe your commissioners understand that responsibility.
We want companies to choose Emanuel County.
We want new jobs, new investment, and a stronger tax base, but we also want to protect what makes Emanuel County a great place to live.
Those goals do not have to compete with one another if we are thoughtful about how we grow.
Working together, asking the right questions, and keeping the interests of our current and future citizens at the center of those decisions is how we move forward and prepare for future growth.
Why do you want to see our great county move in this direction?
I want to see us grow for our current and future citizens.
I want good-paying jobs here so our residents do not have to travel outside the county for those opportunities.
That would allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets and spend more of it here at home.
I want our young people to have access to good-paying jobs.
Whether they continue their education at Georgia Southern University’s East Georgia Campus or Southeastern Technical College in Swainsboro, we want them to come home, or stay home, to build successful careers.
After all, we had a hand in raising them.
I, for one, would love to see them prosper and grow old right here, just as many of us have.
Having a hand in raising them probably means they have grown up to be pretty good people, too.
Who can make it happen?
That is an easy question to answer: all of us.
We make it happen by working together, trusting one another, and helping each other.
We may not always agree on the who, what, or how, but we can agree on the where and when, and that is right here and right now.
I can speak for your board of commissioners when I say that every member puts the needs of this county first and foremost in every decision we make.
It may not always seem that way, and I understand that.
However, if we talk to one another, maintain open lines of communication, and remain honest with each other, we can continue making every day a great day in Emanuel County.
I’ll close with a saying from a former commissioner and friend from a neighboring county:
God loves you, and I do too.
Be nice. Be kind. Do right and go to church!
478-299-2273
jsherrod@emanuelco-ga.gov
