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Published Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Local

Manager optimistic on Grantville's potential

By Rebecca Leftwich

The Newnan Times-Herald

Grantville City Manager Johnny Williams believes his new town has great potential.

A self-described "lifelong public servant," Williams already has had city council members work together compiling a list of priorities for Grantville -- including fiscal responsibility, infrastructure, recreation and economic development -- after not quite two weeks on the job.

No small feat, considering members of the council have had difficulty functioning as a unit at times. But that's where Williams comes in, and he's had a lot of practice.

"I had them analyze where they are, and what their visions are," said Williams, who has worked in the public arena since age 18. "There's potential here, with an interstate and infrastructure in place and room to expand."

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Williams worked his way through the University of Alabama employed by the city's planning department on a half-time basis and serving in the Alabama National Guard. After graduation, he worked in the same department full-time for two more years before moving to Blacksburg, Va., to earn his master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech.

From there, it was on to the Central Midlands Regional Planning Council in Columbia, S.C., to provide planning and management assistance to Lexington County and its seven municipalities, then back to his hometown to work with every city and county in west Alabama in his job with the West Alabama Planning and Development Council.

Williams formed a joint city/county planning department during that time, securing more than $15,000,000 in grants for Tuscaloosa County and the city of Northpoint.

He has experience in the private sector as well, working in civil projects, urban planning, community development block grants, budgeting and general management assistance throughout Alabama.

He has worked in Georgia, Mississippi and, most recently, Florida, where he supervised 13 departments, 200 employees and an annual budget of approximately $46,000,000.

As for Grantville, Williams says he has high hopes for its success in development and growth.

"The council wants its town to become a full-service bedroom community," he said. "I am ready to give it my best effort to help them get there."

Williams and his wife raised two sons and a daughter, and have nine grandchildren.

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