Mayor LaRhonda Patrick: New development will help Warner Robins ‘take flight’
Mayor LaRhonda Patrick celebrated urban and economic development while making her case for a second term during the 2025 Warner Robins State of the City Address on Wednesday.
WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mayor LaRhonda Patrick celebrated urban and economic development while making her case for a second term during the 2025 Warner Robins State of the City Address on Wednesday.
At last week’s State of the Robins Air Force Base luncheon, downtown development was discussed as one of the city’s greatest needs. Wednesday, Patrick discussed the recently revealed and long-awaited renderings for Commercial Circle, as part of a project expected to revitalize downtown Warner Robins and bring in millions of dollars annually.
“I never would’ve ever guessed or imagined as a middle schooler at Tabor Middle School that I would be the one to redevelop the downtown that I heard about back then,” Patrick said.
Patrick says the crime rate has decreased throughout her term, which she attributes to the various approaches the city has taken to hire more police officers.
“Our different marketing to get people to come to the city, our starting wage when they’re coming in to be a police officer, all of that helps,” Patrick said. “We’ve got people moving into our city from other departments who just like the quality of life here.”
Patrick says cutting waste is one of the reasons the budget for fiscal year 2024 was $21 million more than that of 2023. James Drinkard, the City Manager of Warner Robins, says residents will enjoy the fruits of this labor, having more places to eat, shop and play.
“Some of the things that we’ve talked about today have been talked about for years, in some cases generations,” Drinkard said. “But now, we’re actually putting boots on the ground, fuel in the tank. We’re not just talking about them.”
The recent millage rate rollback from 9.98 to 8.953 mills brought the rate to its lowest in history. Derek Mack, Warner Robins Post 1 City Councilman, says being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is at the forefront of every decision the council makes.
“They elected us, they trusted us with their money,” he said. “So, everything we do, we want to consider them first.”
Patrick is hopeful voters see this progress in November and allow the current flight to stay in air for another four-year term.
“If you think we’ve done something right now, you wait until we get to the second term,” Patrick said. “You’re going to really see how far and how high Warner Robins can excel.”
