To learn more about the creation of a new White County Joint Comprehensive Plan for the county and the cities of Cleveland and Helen, White County residents flocked to the board meeting room of the White County Administration Building on Tuesday night.
Joe Rothwell, the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission’s Regional Planner, gave the group a thorough rundown of what a comprehensive plan entails. Additionally, Rothwell provided details of previous programs, including their creation and execution. More than 520 citizen comments have been received thus far, he said, surpassing all of the comments received in the 2021 comprehensive plan.At the June 24, 2025, Joint Comprehensive Plan meeting in White County, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Planner Joe Rothwell provides information. The WRWH Radio/Dean Dyer
According to Rothwell, thorough planning promotes greater community development through prudent resource management and astute investments in infrastructure, services, and utilities.
About half a dozen persons raised questions and voiced their opinions on a range of subjects during the citizen comment period.
present were more people present to learn more about the strategy and how it would be developed than to offer recommendations or opinions. The majority of attendees at the Tuesday meeting had previously submitted their opinions through a poll.
Sell: Community input will help us plan
Following the meeting, White County Community and Economic Development Director John Sell said he was pleased with the community’s reaction.
The fact that our house was packed makes us very happy. According to him, that demonstrates the public’ dedication to participating in this process, which will aid in our planning. To find out what they want us to do and what they don’t want us to do, we are eager to hear their thoughts.
According to Sell, the 520 surveys that have already been turned in have a lot of excellent feedback.
Through the end of this year, officials will keep gathering online responses, and in the fall, they will have another public meeting.
The public can participate in the online survey by going to www.surveymonkey.com/r/WhiteCounty2025, clicking here, or scanning the QR code above.
