English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Macon-Bibb County, GA

Public Information OfficerMacon-Bibb County Transit AuthorityMacon, GA

It sounds like a joke or scam. Out of the blue a young, unknown man offers to present a transit authority with fifteen custom bus shelters totaling more than half-a-million dollars. Except, that really happened to the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority (MTA) in Macon, Georgia, with a backstory as touching as the gift itself.

Galvanized by childhood memories of his impoverished, carless grandmother braving heat, cold, rain, snow, and even a purse snatcher on her daily commute to work at the local library, the man was determined to make life a little easier for bus riders in his adopted hometown.

So, millennial Eric Williams, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce member and board member owner of Unified Defense, Truss, Inc. and Prince Service and Manufacturing, asked the Chamber to connect him with the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority.

After a lengthy conversation, which included assurances that no strings were attached to the hefty donation, MTA CEO Craig Ross and Operations Manager Tony Woodard readily accepted the extraordinary offer and the Williams team set to work with MTA on a contemporary shelter design that was both sturdy and attractive—and on which art could be installed, as MTA is known to add.

Eric Williams explains, “We knew it needed to be simple, lightweight, and modular so that if an accident occurs or something breaks, we can replace a single piece and do it quickly instead of replacing the entire shelter. That means lower maintenance costs in the long run. And except for the metal roofing, we made everything, including the benches and the trash cans and their plastic liners. A local company, Ace Entities, LLC, gave us favorable pricing for the concrete slabs on which each shelter sits, and our field services crew did the installations, which was an additional bonus.”

Tony Woodard’s top priorities were ADA compliance and the functionality of each shelter, whether located on a roadway or sidewalk, so they’d be accessible and provide entrance from the left or right side, and wheelchair users could access the back of the shelters.

Eleven of the fifteen shelters have been installed around Macon, and MTA is working with the Georgia Department of Transportation on securing permits for the remaining four.

The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the shelter project on October 8 at a shelter located in a busy shopping center. The gifted shelters provide a daily benefit for bus riders during their workday commute and to every other destination where MTA provides service.

And for Eric Williams, the bus shelters remain an enduring legacy of the indefatigable grandmother he loved and admired.

A proposed trail expansion could bring millions in funding and add a new wetlands park to Macon’s outdoor network.

MACON, Ga. — The Macon-Bibb County Commission is set to vote Tuesday on a proposal that could expand one of the area’s most popular outdoor attractions — the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail.

The proposed expansion would add hundreds of acres to the existing trail system and create a new park focused on wetlands preservation. The project could open the door to millions in state funding to support the effort.

The Ocmulgee Heritage Trail stretches about 12.5 miles, connecting the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, downtown Macon, Rose Hill Cemetery and Amerson River Park.

In 2019, the Urban Development Authority purchased 210 acres of protected wetlands next to Amerson Park, and officials are now proposing to extend the trail through that area to create the new “Conservation Park.”

The project is estimated to cost just over $3 million. County officials plan to seek $2.5 million from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant and use $625,000 in local Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds to meet the required match.

Plans call for ADA-accessible concrete trails, new canoe launches, expanded parking and restrooms, and educational kiosks, along with natural and equestrian paths.

According to county leaders, Amerson River Park currently draws about 400,000 visitors each year and county officials expect that number could double once the expansion is complete.

If approved, final grant decisions are expected next summer. Construction would begin after funding is secured.

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As neighboring counties attract large-scale data center projects, Macon-Bibb leaders are watching closely.

MACON, Ga. — As data centers expand rapidly across Georgia, Macon-Bibb County leaders say they’re prepared to evaluate proposals that may come their way — but warn that not every site is a good fit for the massive, resource-intensive facilities.

Planning and Zoning Executive Director Jeff Ruggieri said that while Macon-Bibb has not received a formal application for a data center, the county’s current zoning code is ready to handle such a development if it happens.

“We don’t have any definition of what a data center is and those specific rules and regulations,” Ruggieri said. “But we have similar uses, and the way our code is set up, I can apply the same criteria as I would to other similar uses.”

Under the code, data centers would be considered a heavy industrial use, meaning they would only be allowed on industrially zoned property and would require a conditional use permit — a case-by-case approval that allows the county to impose site-specific conditions.

"They have their place. They fill their role in the economy, obviously, but they shouldn't be anywhere near a residential site," Ruggieri said. "No one should have to listen to those enormous generators kicking on at whatever time of the night."

The county's current code prioritizes separating industrial zones from residential areas.

Ruggieri says any proposed data center would be evaluated for potential impacts on nearby residents, traffic and other factors, with site-specific conditions imposed to minimize negative effects, such as requiring generators and facilities to be positioned away from homes and other sensitive areas.

One major concern is noise, especially from the large backup generators used by data centers during power outages.

“What we ideally want, and what other counties are not really doing a very good job of, is just separating that use from residential to mitigate the noise. It's the noise of those generators kicking on that is very loud," Ruggieri said. "Most of our industrial properties are away from homes, but a few are close — a holdover from the old code."

While Macon-Bibb is open to proposals, Ruggieri said the likelihood of attracting a large-scale facility — like those being built elsewhere in Georgia — is relatively lower than potential builds in surrounding counties.

“I would say a year ago, there were talks about one coming in, but I think they're going into the cheaper agricultural areas in the counties around us," Ruggieri said. "I think our land is probably more expensive than what you'll find in Monroe and Jones County...that's what's kind of pushing them to those really rural areas."

In the past week, Google finalized the purchase of 948 acres along Rumble Road near Interstate 75 in Monroe County, paying $42.5 million for land that could house a future data center. That came months after a failed 900-acre data center project in Bolingbroke, which was denied by the Planning & Zoning Board in early August following strong resident opposition and environmental concerns.

Meanwhile, a proposed 634-acre data center in Jones County is drawing growing opposition from neighbors just days after county commissioners approved new zoning ordinances allowing such facilities.

In Twiggs County, opposition escalated to a legal battle, with residents filing a lawsuit to stop construction of a 291-acre data center called Pine Ridge Technology Park.

Mayor Lester Miller also addressed the growing conversation around data centers during a recent appearance on Central Georgia Focus during a Q&A segment with Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian.

"You've got the Google one over in Monroe County, which I think is going to end up being very harmful to them over a period of time. And you got the one that may pop up in Twiggs County...they're looking wherever they can go," Miller said. "Unfortunately, I think they're taking advantage of smaller places that are not very well developed that need the money. It's a nice little carrot they dangle in front of you."

Miller emphasized that infrastructure and location are critical, and pointed to public opposition in Monroe as an example of what can happen when those pieces aren’t in place.

"I would never be comfortable putting one in Macon while I'm here unless it's in a commercial area, not near any residential areas," Miller said.

Most potential sites for data centers in Bibb County are located in industrial zones in the southern parts the county near the airport, and in the eastern part of the county, with a few smaller parcels scattered throughout the area.

Multiple industrial sites — Airport East Industrial Park, Interstate 75 Business Park, and Airport North Industrial Park — have all received Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certification.

Ruggieri said the community needs to be thoughtful about what kinds of development it welcomes — and where.

“It’s just good to have rules in place and try to protect your community the best you can,” Ruggieri said. “This is a new phenomenon. It's obviously needed, but how much it's needed is the question nobody knows the answer to at this point in time. Just make good decisions for your community, and you can never go wrong in the future."

District officials said Bibb County schools are seeing a higher trend in absences on Fridays and Mondays after holiday breaks.

MACON, Ga. — As Bibb County students returned to class after fall break on Monday, school officials were already bracing for a familiar challenge: empty desks, especially on Fridays and the first day back after holidays.

Chronic absenteeism — defined by the state as missing more than 10% of the school year — remains a persistent problem in Bibb County and across Georgia.

Last year, state officials reported that one in five students met that threshold, a statistic that has prompted district leaders to double down on efforts to keep students in class.

“We have seen some trend data with our students being absent on Friday and even sometimes on Monday after school breaks,” said Takeysha Lewis, Bibb County’s attendance and transfer coordinator. “I think that is again attributed to us really wanting to communicate to our parents and to our students that no day is a day off, whether a student is absent because they're sick or whether they are just absent. Every day counts.”

Lewis said the district’s efforts to address absenteeism are multi-faceted, involving not just school staff but also parents and the broader community.

“Chronic absenteeism is an issue that has impacted not just Bibb County, but nationally post-COVID,” she said. “We are dealing with what everyone across the nation is dealing with as it relates to our chronic absenteeism rates.”

To combat the problem, Bibb County schools have implemented a range of strategies, from incentive programs and special recognitions for good attendance to providing additional support for families facing barriers to regular school attendance.

“We have support for families who are homeless, for those going through medical issues, and for families who may need help meeting daily basic needs,” Lewis said. “Schools are set and ready to provide the support. We just want to make sure that we get the message out that we want our students here. We need our students here in school.”

At Bruce Elementary, Principal Kizzie Lott has seen firsthand how targeted interventions can make a difference.

This year, the school has employed a student engagement facilitator who works directly with the school counselor to address chronic absenteeism. The school also receives extra support through the district’s truancy interventions.

“Due to us being a state-identified school, we do receive extra support through our truancy interventions," Lott said. "Support is provided with those families who are struggling with absenteeism, and figuring out what the root cause of it is, and then how we as a school district can employ resources to support families who are struggling.”

Lott said the school’s goal is to reduce the percentage of chronically absent students from 36% last year to 22% this year.

Bibb County schools have also launched a 30-day push initiative aimed at improving student attendance and reading skills. The campaign encourages parents to sign off daily on their child’s participation, with school leaders hoping the focused effort will boost engagement and reduce absences before the next school break.

“With the efforts of my student engagement facilitator and my counselor, along with our school social worker and the district's truancy interventionist, we've already seen a decrease at this point in the school year by five percentage points from last year, where we were at the beginning of October,” she said.

Both Lewis and Lott emphasized the importance of communication with families. The district uses ParentSquare, social media, and direct outreach to keep parents informed about attendance expectations and available support.

“We are rallying together to get our community to support our schools,” Lewis said. “We are definitely providing around-the-clock support services.”

Lott echoed that message, urging parents to send their children to school and to reach out if they need help.

“We have amazing resources,” she said. “If your student is sick, we have a school-based health clinic. We have mental health support right here in the building. Everything that our families need is right here. All we need you to do is communicate with us.”

Macon-Bibb County will enact a 90-day moratorium on new vape shops starting Monday as officials work to tighten regulations on where such businesses can operate

MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb County will enact a 90-day moratorium on new vape shops starting Monday as officials work to tighten regulations on where such businesses can operate.

Planning and Zoning Executive Director Jeff Ruggieri said the temporary ban will give the county time to establish a clearer definition of what qualifies as a vape shop and set new criteria for where they can be located.

That includes proposed minimum distances from schools, parks and other vape shops.

“These facilities are at the epicenter of a national health epidemic at this point with the synthetic drugs that they’re selling,” Ruggieri said. “I consider them a scourge on the community. They prey on the marginalized and the youth.”

Ruggieri estimated there are between 50 and 70 vape shops currently operating in Macon-Bibb County, which has a population of about 160,000 residents. He warned that without stronger rules, the area could see an influx of vape shops—particularly as neighboring counties begin passing similar restrictions.

“If our state legislature doesn’t step up and regulate these a little more responsibly, the Planning and Zoning Commission will use our legal authority to protect the community to the maximum extent allowed under Georgia law,” he said.

The moratorium does not affect existing vape shops, which will be allowed to continue operating at their current locations. However, any shops that close or relocate will be required to comply with the new zoning rules once they are adopted.

Ruggieri said the goal is to make vape shops a “conditional use” in specific commercial zoning districts, meaning new businesses would be subject to more oversight and location restrictions.

Vicky Wood, who owns "Vaportrail" on Zebulon Road, said while she understands the city’s concerns, she’s also worried about how the changes could affect small business owners like herself.

“Sometimes a pause is good, just to take stock and see what’s going on,” Wood said. “But yes, we have way too many vape shops in this town. You can go from one to the other if you can’t buy here because of the restrictions.”

Wood said her shop has maintained a steady customer base despite growing competition.

“We have our clientele that are repeat clientele, and then we of course get new people all the time,” she said. “It’s been pretty steady for us for the last 10 years even with the competition being what it is.”

Concerns about underage access to vape products have been a major factor driving the count’s decision. Wood said her store is strict about checking identification, but fake IDs remain a persistent issue.

“Sometimes people will come in here with fake ID. All we can do is just look at the ID. If it’s fake, they got it someplace else, but we have to deal with that on our own,” she said.

For now, Wood said she hopes for clear guidance as the city considers the future of vape shops in Macon-Bibb.

“We’re at the mercy of the government,” she said. “What they want to do to us, they do to us. They say they’re going to take things away, and then they change their minds.”