The City of Cornelia is making more departmental changes. This week the city named Special Events Coordinator, Lindsey Fitzgerald, to the job of Main Street Manager. Fitzgerald has been in her current position for almost two years. She has been responsible for organizing all city events including Christmas in Cornelia, the Big Red Apple Festival, and Downtown trick-or-treat, among others. She has also helped market the city and its tourist attractions and managed social media.
In her new role, Fitzgerald will be overseeing the Downtown Development Authority, Historic Preservation Commission, and the Main Street program including its annual accreditation. This will be in addition to her previous responsibilities. Fitzgerald will keep her current location inside the Train Depot, and she will continue to report to Community Development Director Jessie Owensby.
“The goal in creating a Special Events Coordinator in the first place was to slowly train someone to grow into the Main Street Manager position,” says Owensby.
Cornelia has a population of less than 5,000, so it is not uncommon to have one person overseeing the entire downtown district.
“I’m happy, nervous, and excited! I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to work with our businesses and the community,” says Fitzgerald.
Owensby is also taking on new responsibilities. She will be overseeing planning and zoning administration in addition to economic and community development, and management of historic sites and the newly created Main Street Manager.
“As the city continues to grow, we want that growth to be smart and strategic. Therefore, it’s imperative that we have someone dedicated solely to planning, zoning administration, and economic and community development. I’m humbled that our City Manager and elected officials trust me to fill that important role,” Owensby says.
The change comes on the heels of a recent decision by City Manager Dee Anderson to consolidate management of the city’s police and fire departments and court services under a public safety director. Former Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith was named to that position. His former Assistant Police Chief Jonathan Roberts is now serving as Cornelia’s police chief.
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