Mayor Jimmy Palmer and the Calhoun City Council members are gearing up to head south to Atlanta for a weekend of events at the Mayors’ Day Conference Jan. 21-23.

Calhoun City Council member, David Hammond, said this is a great opportunity for city elected officials to better serve the community by discussing issues with other officials from all over the state of Georgia.

“The biggest benefit is the training that we’ll get,” explained Hammond. “It gives you the ability to make informed decisions utilizing the experience of other communities, so that you don’t repeat mistakes; it’s ways to learn from your peers in a positive fashion.”

The training varies with each conference usually centering on utilities and general government, according to Hammond.

Another benefit of attending for the city council members is the opportunity to meet with Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Speaker of the House David Ralston and all the other representatives in Atlanta.

“Most of our tax dollars are going to Washington or to Atlanta, so as an elected official you’re trying to advocate for your citizens to get projects in your community with money that your citizens have already sent to Atlanta or Washington,” explained Hammond. “You need that money back to build roads, to build schools and infrastructure.”

Hammond went on to say that in order to advocate properly for the citizens of Calhoun, the city council members first have to be knowledgeable about what they’re doing and why, and secondly, they must build relationships with the legislators in Atlanta.

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