Mayors give updates during State of the Cities luncheon

Monroe mayor says bypass on the way – will prevent 2,000 trucks per day going through downtown

Monroe Mayor John Howard speaks at Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast. Also shown, from left, are Good Hope Mayor Randy Garrett, Loganville Mayor Skip Baliles, Social Circle Mayor David Keener, Walnut Grove Mayor pro tem Erica Miles andChamber of Commerce President Teri Smiley. Stephen Milligan | The Tribune

Will 2025 finally be the time when the big wheels keep on turning around, instead of through, Monroe?

City of Monroe Mayor John Howard seems to think that will be the case.

Howard told those in attendance at the Walton County Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast Thursday morning that it was on track to happen.

“I first read about the truck route in The Walton Tribune in 1988,” Howard said. “In 2025, we will finally be there.”

The Monroe mayor said the bypass will divert 2,000 trucks a day out of the downtown area.

Howard and other mayors and leaders had the chance to talk about their municipalities during the annual Eggs & Issues event at Grace Monroe Church.

Howard, along with Good Hope Mayor Randy Garrett, Loganville Mayor Skip Baliles, Social Circle Mayor David Keener and Walnut Grove Mayor tem Erica Miles, spoke at Thursday morning’s event.

Miles said Walnut Grove’s mayor and city council were all female for the first time in history. Walnut Grove is also one of the few municipalities in Georgia with that makeup on the city council.

Miles said it is important for Walnut Grove leaders to get input from all citizens.

Walnut Grove is also looking to an expansive round-about which will be one the state’s largest.

Keener spoke of Social Circle’s small-town charm and ongoing efforts for historic preservation.

“We are proud of where we call home,” Keener said.

Howard said Monroe continues to draw a record number of visitors including 24,000 for last year’s Christmas parade and 22,000 for its annual car show.

Monroe had an estimated 1.2 million visitors to the downtown area.

Howard also said the city has seen a major downward trend in crime.

Monroe also debuted its Town Green in 2024.

In Loganville, Mayor Baliles said his city is the “gateway from Gwinnett County” with 40,000 vehicles each day. Loganville’s population is currently near 15,000.

Loganville built a Town Green more than a decade ago and has outgrown it, the mayor said. A new Town Green facility is in the works with the current one to be used for commercial purposes.

Baliles said growth is an issue many don’t like but it is a fact and that it will continue to be that way.

“Some don’t want more growth,” he said. “They move to paradise and then don’t want to let anyone else in. Well, they forget someone let them in when they came here.”

Garrett said Good Hope is also focused on growth but likes to maintain its small-town feel. The long-time Good Hope mayor said the town will have a mini museum display case to have a place to historic documents such as the 1905 charter.