3 months ago
Many in Macon celebrated in 2007 as voters overwhelmingly elected Robert Reichert as mayor, embracing his sweeping political agenda.
Two years later, 13WMAZ Special Assignments Editor Randall Savage sat down with Mayor Reichert to get his take on his first term so far.
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After taking office, annexation was first on the mayor's check list. He called for nearly doubling Macon's size, adding about 13,000 people. His plan got a frosty reception when he held town hall meetings in Bibb County, but his fiercest opponents were in Jones County where 250 people showed up at one meeting. All of them were against annexation. The plan died before it even reached a vote.
"We hadn't been in office long enough to lay the groundwork to creating a viable city of Macon," Reichert said. "Give me another couple of years."
Another issue the mayor talked about in the campaign was improving and growing in-town neighborhoods. That includes the the College Hill Corridor where a group started by Mercer University students is helping revitalize the area. The improvements include walking and biking trails, beautifying public spaces, and bringing new businesses to Mercer Village.
"We have been very pleased with some of the revitalization efforts in downtown," Reichert said.
As are other Macon officials, including NewTown Macon CEO Mike Ford. Ford says the mayor has been instrumental in getting the Main Street Designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Main Street effort brings a community focus to the downtown area and helps in applying for grants.
"In our view, he's been a strong supporter of NewTown and accomplished many things under his watch," Ford said.
Another hot issue during Reichert's 2007 campaign was making the city financially fit. He said once in office he would switch the city to a purchase order system and get rid of department credit cards.
According to the Mayor's Spokesman Andrew Blascovich, the city has not adopted a purchase order system, but shortly after taking office the city got rid of department credit cards in favor of what are called purchase cards, which have a strict spending limit. To get more money, departments have to go through the finance department.
Reichert also was able to complete the city's annual budget audit on time for the first time in seven years. But the rest of the city's finances proved more challenging.
"It's been frustrating for this administration, like many newly elected administrations, putting in place their plans proved more difficult than it is to talk about," City Councilwoman Elaine Lucas said.
Also the mayor hoped to build a reserve fund for the city.
"We're making progress, but we have not been able to build the reserve to where we thought we'd be," Reichert said.
Reichert admits that times have been difficult financially for the city because he took office shortly before the country's financial meltdown.
"Who would have thought they'd pull the economic rug from under my feet," Reichert said.
That's meant fewer tax dollars coming to the city. In response the mayor has worked toward gradually consolidating services with Bibb County over the next 10 years. That plan is currently before city council. Just last week, he announced a plan to reduce the city's workforce, laying off 31 people. Reichert calls this "right sizing" and says it will save the city $2.6 million a year.
