LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — If you want to have a say in how Laurens County grows, now's your chance!
The people drawing up the Joint Comprehensive Plan — which includes Cadwell, Dexter, Dublin, Dudley, East Dublin, Montrose, and Rentz — want everyone who has a stake there to give their two cents.
At Visit Dublin, Executive Director Miriam Lewis has seen Laurens County change a lot in the past few years, including in the heart of Dublin.
"It's exciting to see, our downtown has continued to be revitalized," Lewis said.
She said the county's planning survey can decided what changes come next.
"It has to be completed every five years, but it's looking forward to the next 20 years so it's very important for all of our voices to be heard," Lewis said.
Lewis said they'd like everyone to take the survey- whether you live in Laurens County, work there, or only come to visit.
The survey asks where the county needs growth and development. Issues discussed in the survey include economic development, community facilities, natural and cultural resources, housing, intergovernmental coordination, and other important concerns.
"Can't hear you if your mouth is closed. You know, you have to speak your mind," he said.
Loadholt owns The CBD Source on West Jackson Street. He said he'd like to see more shopping options, so he could spend his money locally.
"We have to travel just for simple things like shoes, clothing. So if we could get more, in a sense, retail stores. Not boutiques that cater to certain brands, but something like a variety," Loadholt said.
The survey asked about outdoor activities, which he wrote in the survey, that the county could use more of them.
"There's not much offered for the kids. You know, like not every kid wants to play baseball, not every kid wants to play soccer," Loadholt said.
Lewis said she hopes people filling out the survey remember that change takes time, but everyone can have a say in it.
"Things don't happen right away, and they do take a little while, but it's important that all of our voices are heard," Lewis said.
The survey is currently open at this link here. The deadline to apply is July 1.
To see the results from the previous survey in 2019, you can visit this link here.