PERRY, Ga. — The City of Perry experienced significant growth in recent years, with no indications of a slowdown.
In 2024, the city celebrated its bicentennial while continuing to adapt to expansion.
Looking ahead to 2025, Mayor Randall Walker outlined plans to address the challenges and opportunities associated with this growth.
With an increasing number of residents moving to Perry, city officials are focusing on preparing for the demands of a growing population. According to Census data, the national average for relocation is 10 percent, while Perry's rate in 2024 was notably higher at 13.6 percent.
“As we have more and more people come to Perry, we have to plan for more and more streets,” Walker stated. The city is also reviewing ways to improve traffic flow to accommodate the influx of new residents.
"One of them is the Commodore Drive extension, which will run basically from Houston Lake Road, all the way to 341," Walker said. "Also Saint Patrick's Drive... from exit 138 all the way down to Perimeter Road."
The mayor added the city is working with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to improve the intersection of Swift and Macon Road.
"That seems to be one of our major congested areas," Walker explained.
Those projects should be completed by early 2025, before the summer, Walker anticipates.
Recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene, prompted city officials to reassess emergency preparedness.
Walker highlighted the need to evaluate and strengthen Perry’s ability to respond to potential disasters.
“We think we’re doing a really good job, but we haven’t been tested,” Walker said. “What do we need to do to ensure that we’re ready to provide services in a catastrophic occurrence?”
To support the city’s growth, Perry is investing in infrastructure.
Plans include the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and improvements to essential services. Walker emphasized the importance of meeting residents’ expectations for reliable utilities and functional public services.
"As these people move into their homes, they expect their toilets to flush, and that they have fresh water, and the gas works, and the streets are in, and those type things -- and all those are responsibility of the city," Walker said.
Additionally, upgrades to downtown access are planned to comply with federal accessibility requirements, along with broader enhancements to city facilities.
“Everybody’s improving, and for us to continue to be at the top of our game, we need to keep improving too,” Walker remarked.
City leaders are also focused on long-term improvements and efficient use of taxpayer funds.
Walker noted the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance processes and maintain fiscal responsibility.
“We’ve got to keep looking every day at how we improve our processes, how we become more efficient, and how we focus on spending taxpayers’ money wisely,” he said.
Through strategic planning and proactive measures, Perry aims to sustain its growth while maintaining a high quality of life for its residents as it moves into 2025 and beyond.