Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
The City of Statesboro and Georgia Southern University are collecting residents’ accounts of growth-related challenges to help inform a future city resilience plan. Their second town hall, held Nov. 10 at City of David Worship Assembly, included discussion of environmental risks, utility costs and traffic congestion.
Dr. Helen Rosko, a Georgia Southern assistant professor leading the project, said the goal is to bring community perspectives into city planning. The university calls the work the Statesboro Vulnerability Assessment.
The first town hall took place Nov. 5 at Pittman Park United Methodist Church. Rosko said residents there raised affordability, traffic congestion, job opportunities and access to health care, including primary care, as concerns.
The assessment goes beyond the public meetings. Rosko said the team has reviewed city policies and plans and intends to interview city leaders, businesses, nonprofits and people working on issues related to vulnerability.
The project is also being carried out with Georgia Southern’s Institute for Vibrant and Engaged Communities. Rosko said responses collected over the next couple of months will be shared with the city to help it work toward a future resilience plan.
People who were unable to attend either town hall can still complete a three-question survey, the partners say. Rosko can be contacted at hrosko@georgiasouthern.edu.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
