Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
Elmore County leaders said continued collaboration among local governments, schools and community organizations is laying the foundation for the county’s future as officials gathered July 1 to discuss the partnerships driving growth across the region.
Representatives from Tallassee, Millbrook, Wetumpka, Elmore, Eclectic, Coosada and other communities joined county commissioners, school officials and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority to highlight how working together has benefited residents throughout Elmore County.
“It is very evident that we all are concerned about our citizens continuing to live in a greater Elmore County, and that can be seen through our partnerships and our quality-of-life projects across the county,” said Elmore County Commission Chairman Bart Mercer.
Throughout the discussion, leaders emphasized that the county’s success has not been driven by any single city, agency or organization. Instead, they said progress has come from local governments and community partners sharing resources, maintaining open communication and working toward common goals.
Elmore County Public Schools Superintendent Richard Dennis said those relationships are especially important for the school system as communities continue to grow. He said that growth will bring new challenges, making it important for leaders to work together before small issues become larger problems.
Mayors from communities across the county said those partnerships have allowed municipalities to complete projects that would have been difficult to accomplish independently. They also noted that cooperation between county government, municipal leaders and local school systems has strengthened relationships while creating opportunities for long-term growth.
Officials pointed to partnerships involving the county, municipalities, school systems, the YMCA and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority as examples of collaborative efforts that have attracted visitors, supported economic activity and benefited residents throughout the county.
Art Faulkner, chairman of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority, said Elmore County’s collaborative approach has allowed leaders to improve services and invest in the community without placing additional tax burdens on residents.
“I think the leaders in this county recognized that our citizens were not interested in paying higher taxes to government in order to provide more services or improve quality of life,” Faulkner said. “Instead, we’ve worked together to find ways to strengthen our communities through partnerships, collaboration and smart investments.”
As the meeting concluded, leaders agreed that continued cooperation will remain essential as Elmore County grows. They said maintaining strong partnerships among communities of every size, from Wetumpka and Millbrook to Tallassee, Eclectic, Elmore and Coosada, will help ensure the county continues moving forward together while creating opportunities for future generations.
