Melissa Ray

Columnist

Liberty County has always been home. My husband Ronald and I enjoy traveling, but no matter where we go, this is the place we can’t wait to come back to. I love our little piece of the world — the cities, the country and the coast. I love our historic communities like Midway and Riceboro.

 I love the charm of Flemington and downtown Hinesville, the quiet of Gumbranch, and the growth we’re seeing in Walthourville and Allenhurst. Every one of these places has something special, and I want to help protect what we love about them. At the same time, I know we need good jobs, strong businesses, and smart growth. That’s why I proudly serve on the Liberty County Development Authority board and take that responsibility seriously.

I know not everyone is on board with growth. I’m not either if it doesn’t bring high value to the people who live here. I know we need more good jobs for the many hard-working people in our community who cannot make ends meet – which is more than half of our population!

We need to continue to expand the tax base with industry in select locations that will help provide property tax relief for residents over time. Tax abatements required for several major economic development projects in the past have now expired and those properties turned over to the Tax Assessors office to be added to the tax digest.

Big things are happening all around us. Hyundai’s new plant over in Bryan County, the fast growth of the ports of Savannah and Brunswick and our new TRI-95 Georgia Joint Development Authority are bringing a lot of attention to our region. Developers and businesses are looking this way. That brings promise —but also pressure.

Development is coming whether everyone welcomes it or not. So, the best and perhaps the only thing we can do is manage it, maximize it.

While no one can control land they don’t own, we can guide growth through good planning, strong zoning, and design standards hat make sense.

As LCDA, the county, Hinesville and all of our municipalities work together in partnership with the professionals of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission, we must answer these questions: What do we want Liberty County to look like? Who do we want to be? How do we grow the right way?

I do not want to be the quick, cheap stop off I-95 with metal buildings and barbed wire fences all the way down the highway. I would rather we all work together to make Liberty County a more beautiful, welcoming place that honors its history, protects its environment, mixes industry, retail, entertainment and housing in thoughtful ways that open the door to new opportunities!

I believe we can have all that and more, if we work together. I am willing to work for it. It’s all I know. I was raised to give back to my community. My grandmother, Hazel Carter, spent her life serving Liberty County and she taught me that a rising tide lifts all boats. That’s the reason I serve — and it’s the reason every LCDA board member does.

We’re building something better. Join us, even if it is just lending your moral support and positivity. Big things are hard but we can do it. Together.

Melissa Ray is the vicechair of the Liberty County Development Authority.