2024 Bay County Citizens' Academy
September 23 - November 3, 2024
Cost: $10
The Bay County Citizens Academy is an informative series of classes about the many services provided by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners. Students will learn from elected officials and county administrators about an array of topics such as the budgeting process, where we get our drinking water, what happens to our trash, how our tax dollars are spent and much, much more. The class concludes with a day-long field trip to various county facilities, including Animal Control, the Emergency Operations Center, the Bay County Gun Range and more. The county will hold a graduation ceremony for participating members during the Bay County Commission meeting at the Bay County Government Center.
An itinerary for each session is available below. Space is limited to the first 25 people who register. Lunch and transportation are provided the day of the field trip.
Register for Bay County Citizens' Academy!
| GCSC, Student Union East (SUE) 10 | 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Comments from Chairman Hamm |
| 9:10 to 9:25 a.m. | County Manager, Bob Majka - Introduction to Bay County BOCC | |
| 9:25 to 9:45 a.m. | Budget | |
| 9:45 to 10:30 | Community Development – Planning & Zoning, Builders Services and Code Enforcement | |
| 10:30 to 11 a.m. | Questions |
| GCSC, Student Union East (SUE) 10 | 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by Commissioner Carroll |
| 9:10 to 9:30 a.m. | Parks & Recreation | |
| 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. | Solid Waste | |
| 9:50 to 10:10 a.m. | Animal Control | |
| 10:10 to 11 a.m. | Utilities: Water and Wastewater |
| Bay County Government Center Chambers | 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by Commissioner Moore |
| Traffic Meeting Room, 3rd Floor, Government Center | 9:10 to 10:00 a.m. | Public Works – Traffic & Engineering Presentation, Questions, and Tour of Intelligent Traffic Center |
| Room 1030, Government Center | 10:00 to 10:20 a.m. | IT and GIS |
| 10:25 to 11 a.m. | Tour library |
| GCSC, Student Union East (SUE) 10 | 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by Commissioner Pease |
| 9:10 to 9:30 a.m. | Housing | |
| 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. | Veterans Services | |
| 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. | Transit | |
| 10:00 to 10:15 a.m. | Cooperative Extension | |
| 10:15 to 10:30 a.m. | Public Information | |
| 10:30 to 11 a.m. | Questions |
| GCSC, Student Union East (SUE) 10 | 9:00 to 9:10 a.m. | Welcome Remarks by Commissioner Dozier |
| 9:10 to 10:15 a.m. | Fire, EMS and Emergency Services | |
| 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. | Roads and Bridges and Mosquito Control | |
| 10:45 to 11:00 a.m. | Review and Closing Discussion (Possible completion of survey) |
| Front of Bay County Government Center | 8:00 a.m. | Depart for Utilities on Transmitter Road |
| Travel Time to Water Treatment Plant/Utilities | 8:00 to 8:20 a.m. | |
| Water Treatment Plant/Utilities – Transmitter Road | 8:20 to 9:00 a.m. | Tour of Facility |
| Travel Time to Animal Control | 9:00 to 9:15 a.m. | |
| Animal Control | 9:15 to 9:40 a.m. | Tour of Facility |
| Travel Time to EOC | 9:40 to 10:00 a.m. | |
| EOC – Southport | 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. | Tour of Facility |
| Travel Time to Solid Waste/Gun Range | 10:50 to 11:15 a.m. | |
| Steelfield Landfill | 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Riding Tour of Landfill (Pick up Glenn upon arrival) |
| Gun Range | 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. | Presentation by FWC in Gun Range Meeting Room, pre-arranged activity on gun range or golf cart tour and catered lunch |
| Travel Time to West End Fire Station | 1:15 to 1:35 p.m. | |
| West End Fire Station | 1:35 to 2:00 p.m. | Tour of Fire Station |
| Travel Time to County Pier | 2:00 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. | |
| County Pier | 2:20 to 2:30 p.m. | Drive by County Pier (time permitting) |
| Travel Time Back to Government Center | 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. |
| Bay County Government Center Commission Chambers | 9:00 a.m. | Ceremony recognizing the citizens who completed the Academy |
| Lara Herter Program Coordinator, Business & Community Education |
Register for Bay County Citizens' Academy! |