Blight Task Force seeking community input to address run down houses

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Blight Task Force is looking for input on ways to address run down structures in the county. 

Another day, another blighted house gone. Charles Coney wants to see the community get to even more. 

“I think it says a lot that this administration has been focused to reach the 100 houses-per-year goal,” Coney said. 

Macon-Bibb’s Assistant County Manager is also the head of the county’s blight task force. The group, made up of different county department heads and leaders in the community, is hoping to address each house one by one. 

“As I stand here on this property, it’s clear that it’s just one house amongst many,” Coney said. 

Now Coney is asking people to speak up and point to dilapidated structures. 

“The first step that we want to go to is is that house identified? One of the things that we’re working hard on is to have a tool, so that you can tell us about that house,” Coney said. 

Macon-Bibb’s Public Works Department already knocked down more than 90 homes since July, and the goal is to top 100. 

“Part of being in an economic distressed, or being labeled as an economic distressed community is that you are open to get funding from other resources,” Coney said. 

Community development block grants are helping pay to remove the homes, even then Coney says that’s not enough.

“You can always run out of money. What you cannot run out of is the passion to make a difference. That’s what we all should be doing as private citizens in this community,” Coney said.

A community effort, Coney and others are hoping bring residents together as they look to address blight in the county. 

The task force is taking the information they’ve picked up from residents, and also what participants learned on a blight educational trip in Michigan to commissioners next month. Coneys says he’s looking to have a presentation for commissioners by the end of May.