By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
One of the great things about my job is that I get to visit friends all over the country and see their cities and the city halls that they work in. I spent a few days in Georgia recently and was happy that I was able to visit one of my dearest friends in his home city. Mayor Vince Williams of Union City, Georgia is one of the most positive and enthusiastic
people I know. When I was President of the National League of Cities, Vince was always one of my biggest supporters and I was so happy when he was chosen President of NLC years later.
Union City, Georgia is a city of about 27,000 residents located in the southern portion of Fulton County. It is only about a fifteen-minute drive from the City of Atlanta and just ten miles from Hartsfield-Jackson international Airport, the world largest airport. As you approach the city hall, you can almost feel the spirit of the city through the beautiful flowers and landscaping, with a large I Love UC, in front of the steps leading to the city
hall. Once entering, you experience “southern charm” when a smiling face asks if they can help us. I look around and the floors are spotless and welcomes you to the city.
I always like to report on the little things that make a city special, and I found one of the most impressive signs, in of all places, the restroom. It gave instructions on how you were to leave the restroom after using it. A list of items included wiping down the sink and leaving a clean and dry surface for the next visitor. I had never seen such a pleasant message delivered in a way that encouraged visitors to respect the “people’s house”.
Mayor Williams can best be described as an energized ambassador for the city and someone who gives his all for his citizens. He came into the conference room where we were sitting and shook hands with my colleagues and gave me a big hug. He explained that he had two other engagements after our visit but for us not to feel hurried. We talked for about twenty minutes, and he connected us with his staff and bid us farewell.
He was wearing his trademark white tennis shoes with his well-tailored suit and a snappy black baseball hat as he moved swiftly to his next engagement.
As we left the city hall, I walked around the grounds to see some public art and took a picture of a vintage Coke advertisement painted on the side of a brick building and another mural that proclaimed: Reclaim, Renew and Reimagine Union City in a rainbow of colors. As might be expected, Union City is a growing city and attracts a diverse group of residents eager to add to the quality of life in the city. One surprising fact about this region is the growing film industry with hundreds of millions of dollars pouring into the area. You might recognize several of Union City’s iconic sites in a television show or movie.
I could hardly end this column without mentioning the delicious food in Union City. When the National League of Cities held their Board of Directors meeting in the city, we went to Green Manor, a stately mansion that serves an array of southern favorites and where no one has ever left hungry.
Mayor Williams has left his mark on Union City and has spread the warmth and friendliness of the city throughout the country with his work at the National League of Cities. I will leave you with the message Mayor Williams gives to everyone he meets, “I Love You and There Ain’t Nothing You can do About It”!
