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Monday, May 14, 2012

JOUR 3010 Article 8


Welcome to Cartersville
by Morgan Scroggs

Cartersville offers a blend of pastoral beauty, metropolitan sensibilities and historical charm. According to their website, Blue Ridge Country Magazine even recognized them as one out of 16 of the most friendly towns.

With a population of nearly 20,000 in 23.5 square miles, the city sits comfortably in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in northern Georgia and has been built up by its residents into a metropolitan arm of the Atlanta area.

Following a mantra of “be charmed, be prosperous, belong,” it is no wonder that Cartersville serves as the county seat of Bartow, engaging residents and visitors alike with its vibrant yet bucolic lifestyle and community.

Cartersville's mayor, Matt Santini – who has been mayor since 2008 – says he loves his job. He enjoys solving people's problems in the community, respecting their time and diverse personalities to make sure they get what they need.

Helping an introverted resident solve a trash collection issue without having to make the resident wait through an entire city council meeting may seem simple, he explains, but “having the opportunity to connect people to the right resources,” says Santini, “that's very rewarding.”

“My job is really to sell the city, make people feel good about living here, and certainly keep policies in place that make it good to work here.”

Cartersville has historically employed its residents through manufacturing industries such as Vulcan Materials and Chemical Products, but has expanded and diversified. It now boasts companies such as Shaw Industries, Anheuser-Busch, Trinity Rail Operations, Goodyear, and Unilever.

When considering how to attract industries to Cartersville, Santini says he looks for companies interested in investing in the community. “We want a good neighbor too,” he says. Santini's approach to inviting new industries focuses on the company's desire to be part of Cartersville.

In terms of community partners, Anheuser-Busch is at the top of the list. “They provide a lot of jobs,” says Santini, “are a great utility customer … they pay school taxes, and they carry a heavy load for the city of Cartersville.” Santini also describes them as a good corporate citizen. “It's an organization that shows a lot of leadership. They're always giving back and trying to identify ways to help the community.”

Shaw Industries and Toyo Tire have also been invested in the community. “Some people were skeptical when [Toyo Tires] decided to move here, a little bit because of the location, but they've been a great corporate citizen,” said Santini, “They've gone out of their way to be a part of the community … We're very fortunate to have a lot of industries that are not only good customers, but also good citizens.”

Aspirations in the community are diverse. “Everybody desires to live in a place that is safe, where – if you have children – they can get a good education,” says Santini, “a place that is clean, well taken care of – where they can walk outside, talk to their neighbor, and not have any real concerns. They want to get up, go to work and enjoy their job, and come home at night and enjoy their family.”

According to the 2011 citizen survey, perceptions of the residents in the community are generally good. They feel safe, think it is a good location to raise a family, and enjoy the green space and environment Cartersville offers in contrast to urban life. “We score pretty well,” says Santini humbly, “... it's not because I'm the mayor. We've always had good leadership.” From the administration, to previous councils and mayors, Santini believes it's the people that work in the city – that care about it – that have made it so prosperous.

The city council, comprised of the mayor and six council members, works with several departments to keep the city running smoothly. They foster input from the community with two open council meetings per month, working primarily in the city council chambers. “Informally,” jokes Santini, “the community gathers wherever there is food served.” The chamber of commerce also actively invests in the community, holding a governmental affairs meeting every Monday. A number of committees allow involvement from the community as a whole to voice concerns and drive policy, including committees for the Cartersville school board.

Civic groups often meet and gather at the Clarence Brown conference center, which also serves as a Georgia local welcome center. Other informal gathering places include some of Cartersville's restaurants, the downtown depot, and a private residence Santini referred to as a cabin where mostly males in the community go to have breakfast, mingle, and talk about the city.

Santini says he tries to lay low, although once a month in the county, he'll attend breakfasts with locals. “The Quality Inn used to be the place for every civic organization to meet … a lot of prominent people used to eat breakfast there,” he said. The Cartersville country club still serves as a place where, according to its website, “business is handled, friendships are formed and special family events are celebrated.” Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs and more also serve as informal and formal civic gatherings.

Other boards and commissions serve as trusted organizations in the community outside of the government itself. “I rely on a lot of different people, depending on the situation,” says Santini. Shaw plant manager James Jarrett, explains Santini, is an “intellectual leader, business leader, and on some levels, a spiritual leader.” Other people that play important roles include Melinda Lemon, head of the joint development authority, and Ellen Archer who heads the convention and visitor's bureau. Community leaders also include Patty Eagar who runs the children's shelter Advocates for Children, and Gordon Gilley who heads the Boys and Girls Club of Cartersville. “They're almost too numerous to name,” Santini says.

Charles Fluellen, who worked for the county, says Santini, was also a strong community voice. Fluellen was a pastor at Glory Harvester Church who passed away earlier this year. “Almost everywhere you turn,” says Santini, “there's somewhere you can turn to get help, expertise, or input – trusted information, valuable information – on whatever topic.”

In terms of value, residents hold heritage, leisure, work, and family in high regard. “One of the challenges in governing versus legislating is to find that balance … “ he says, “there are some people that are passionate about historic preservation, there are some people passionate about recreation … there are different segments of the population that have different passions and you have to try to address all those things in a reasonable fashion.”

The passionate residents of Cartersville help grow and strengthen the city. Santini says anytime people are active, involved and invested in the community – which many Cartersville residents are – then the city becomes more robust.

The community continues to grow, historically built up from a mining community, evolving into a manufacturing community, which later allowed the carpet industry to grow. Cartersville also boasts a rich Native American history, particularly in the Etowah Indian mounds and the Booth Western history museum. The downtown area also has many historic buildings which have been preserved by private investors.

Santini characterizes the community as a whole with entrepreneurial spirits, rugged individualism, and determination. “We've attracted, fortunately, people who have been determined to come here and make something happen.” Ernest Cochran of City Motors, Santini explains, ended up broken down in his car with his toolbox. Cochran later created an auto repair shop and dealership, making Cartersville his home for nearly 60 years.

If you look at people like that … ” says Santini, “it probably mirrors what went on throughout the history of Cartersville – people just either liked it here or ended up here through no fault of their own and have decided to make an investment and make it happen.”

We're big enough for 20,000 people, but everybody kind of knows each other for the most part …” he says, describing a community iconic of the 1950s where home owners walk out onto their porches to wave at the person dropping off packages. “I think that speaks to the reason why people might be attracted to [the city]. We're tight-knit, but we're a welcoming community as well.”

Santini believes the city is seen positively, particularly by visitors to the downtown area. “I think you'll find that there are very few people who come up here just once.”

He feels proud that the city has staked a reputation for being different from Atlanta, but still close enough that those interested in dining, sightseeing, and shopping can be comfortable and charmed by Cartersville's enticing blend of historical, natural, and modern interests. “Once they come here once,” he says, “they're coming back for more.”











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