About two dozen Monroe County leaders visited the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Thursday, March 7 to celebrate “Monroe County Day” at the state legislature.
Monroe County Commission Chairman Greg Tapley and Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore John Kennedy worked in tandem to organize the first “Monroe County Day” celebration under the Gold Dome since 2018. As part of the celebration, Sen. Kennedy, who represents Monroe County, read aloud on the Senate floor a resolution officially commemorating “Monroe County Day.”
The group then gathered with Monroe County’s State House delegation of Rep. Clint Crowe and Rep. Dale Washburn for a boxed lunch provided by Monroe County Assistant Magistrate Judge Hugh Sosebee, who is Mercer University’s Vice President, External Relations.
Seven representatives from Monroe County stepped onto the floor of the Senate to receive the proclamation and pose for a photo with Sen. Kennedy and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the Senate. Those seven leaders included: Chairman Tapley, Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson, Development Authority of Monroe County President Joyce White, Culloden Mayor Lynn Miller, Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Nick Morgan, Monroe County Board of Education Chairman Stuart Pippin, and Hospital Authority of Monroe County member Stan Hall.
Other Monroe County representatives in attendance on Thursday who watched the proceedings from the Senate gallery included: Monroe County District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis, Monroe County District 2 Commissioner Eddie Rowland and wife Kathy Rowland, Monroe County Achievement Center Special Education teacher Laurie Pippin, Development Authority of Monroe County member Craig Craddock and wife Michelle Craddock, Monroe County Grant Writer Tammy Selman, Culloden Councilwoman Margie Bryant, Culloden Councilwoman Louise Brice, Culloden resident Jimmy Pierson, Forsyth Councilman Mike Dodd, Development Authority of Monroe County member and Monroe County Board of Education member Greg Head, Monroe County Hospital Interim CEO Kerry Trapnell, Aletheia Health Partners CEO Michael Azzolin, and Monroe County Public Information Officer Richard Dumas.
Commission Chairman Tapley and Commissioner Rowland each went to Atlanta on the evening of Wednesday, March 6 and had dinner with Rep. Crowe, Rep. Washburn, and Sen. Kennedy. The group discussed important statewide topics including: Monroe County’s participation in the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) Initiative, Georgia’s Certificate of Need program for rural hospitals, coroner pay, the new House district, and housing issues. Commissioner Rowland said he updated the state legislators on local topics including: Monroe County Hospital, the county’s new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the performance of county departments, and continued good relations between Monroe County and the cities of Forsyth and Culloden.
Chairman Tapley and Commissioner Rowland then had a session on Thursday morning with Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns before the full group met up in the Capitol rotunda for a group photo.
Commissioner Rowland said of Monroe County Day: “Our reps really appreciated us taking the time to come and visit with them. They loved to be able to see some home folks. It means a lot to them that we can all come together as one Monroe and collectively tell our story, our successes, our needs, our opportunities. Our reputation is becoming one that shows togetherness and sincere interest in making each facet of our county succeed. And they asked us to please continue to do this every year.”
(Photos courtesy of Georgia State Senate press office)
