With the Hub City’s recent improvement in the number of coronavirus cases, Mayor Toby Barker appointed 40 area members Wednesday night to a committee that will work toward returning Hattiesburg to its pre-pandemic state.
Barker said he is seeing a five-day average of positive COVID-19 cases.
“While you're seeing the higher hospitalization rates for patients, we believe that we are making major progress toward our two goals,” he said. “(We are) protecting vulnerable populations of people over the age of 60 and the underlying or chronic health conditions, and preventing an overrun of our healthcare system by slowing the spread in our community.”
Appointing a committee is the best approach toward reviving the city, Barker said.
“We know collaboration and partnerships work; it's how we have gotten this far,” he said. “Going forward, we must continue to listen to our medical community dialogue with our businesses and be honest with you about trade-offs to chart a course for the future.
“This approach recognizes that one person does not have all the answers and we're better when we solve problems together. Understanding these realities, I believe the team approach is best in navigating the uncertain times.”
The 40 committee members come from health care, government, private sector, hospitality & tourism, faith-based & nonprofit, and two liaisons for Governor Reeves task force: Robert St. John of New South Restaurant Group and Jonathan Jones of Jones Companies.
Barker said he understands that people want to get back to normalcy.
“To this point, people are getting tired, frustrated, angry, and lonely – just ready to get out of the house,” he said. “I know this is hard; I know it's hard to not see your family for over a month. I know it's hard to explain. These worries and fears naturally bring complications. When will this be over? When can I open my business again? When can I go back to work? When can we not be afraid of going out into the community and do the little things to get back to work?”
Baker said he doesn’t know the answers to all those questions, “at least not yet.”
While we must realize the threat of COVID-19 will be with us until there is a vaccine or effective treatment, parts of Hattiesburg cannot shut down or the entire city shelter in place, Barker said.
“In the end, we will get through this, but I want us to look back at this time years from now at our community response,” he said. “I want to look back one day and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best of ourselves was here each and every day. I ask you to help us do just that.”
Committee members include:
HEALTH CARE
- Phyllis Chambers-Berry, DNP – Forrest General
- Dr. Rambod Rouhbakhsh – Forrest General
- Traci Rouse – Merit Health Wesley
- Dr. Steven Farrell – Forrest General and Hattiesburg Clinic
- Andy Woodard – Forrest General
- Dr. Bryan Batson – Forrest General and Hattiesburg Clinic
- Karen Newell – Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative
- Sherri Siggers – City of Hattiesburg Employee Health
- Dr. Rita Porter – Pine Belt Mental Health Care
GOVERNMENT
- David Hogan – President of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors
- Jody Waits – Administrator of Lamar County
- State Rep. Missy McGee
- State Sen. Juan Barnett
- Glen Moore – Forrest County Emergency Management
PRIVATE SECTOR
- Chad Edmonson – Lee-Way Financial
- Jonathan Krebs – Horne LLP
- Valencia Williamson - The ADP
- Todd Jackson - The ADP
- Jerome Brown – The First, ANBA
- Hoppy Cole – The First, ANBA
- Carlos Flores – Jefcoat Fence
- Abb Payne – Payne Companies
- Roman Galey – Southgroup
- Bernard Green – Global Green Insurance
- Chamberlan Carothers – SVN Realty
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM
- Marlo Dorsey – Visit Hattiesburg
- Frank James – Hilton
- Nelson Haskin – Blu Jazz
- Diana Pennington Hembree – Keg & Barrel
- Chris Ortego – Cotton Blues
- Rebecca Chandler – HCLO and Hattiesburg Ballroom and Beyond
FAITH-BASED & NONPROFIT
- Carlos Wilson – Ebenezer Baptist
- Jeff Clark – Venture Church
- Traci Fowler – United Way of Southeast Mississippi
- Michael Dixon – Pinebelt Foundation
- Reginald Woullard – Shady Grove Baptist
- Father Tommy Conway – St. Fabians
- David Martinez – Iglesia Vida