Roswell mayor praises cooperative transition, highlights $180 million bond projects and infrastructure gains

The mayor of Roswell delivered a farewell and transition address on Dec. 2, saying she has met with Mayor‑elect Mary Robashaw and urging residents to set aside campaign divisions in favor of cooperative governance. "The campaign has ended. The duty to govern and to do so with integrity, respect, and good faith endures," the mayor said.

The mayor framed the meeting with Robashaw as the start of a "thoughtful and cooperative transition of leadership," saying they spoke at length about ongoing projects, upcoming challenges and opportunities for the city. The address repeatedly emphasized continuity and a shared responsibility to the community after a close election.

A centerpiece of the remarks was the administration’s record on capital projects. "In 2022, the voters of Roswell approved nearly $180 million in bonds," the mayor said, calling the referendum the largest in the city's history and crediting it with enabling investments in public safety, parks and infrastructure. She cited a long‑planned downtown parking deck and the city's purchase of the Summit buildings to centralize police and fire operations as examples of work the bonds made possible.

On public safety, the mayor said her administration led a transition from a part‑time to a full‑time professional fire department, improved response times and expanded coverage. She also highlighted increased compensation and technology investments for police and firefighters: "We made a deliberate investment in best‑in‑class compensation for our police officers and firefighters," she said.

On transportation, the mayor described completing the Oxbow Road project and restoring the Big Creek project to its original voter‑approved design. She said negotiations with "GD DOT" returned $15 million to the city and secured an additional $6.5 million specifically for the bridge, which she said will deliver a critical east‑west connection that reduces travel time and congestion.

The mayor also pointed to economic development wins, including the Hill Street mixed‑use development, plans for a reimagined city center, approval for the Chambre Hotel near Southern Post and attracting PBS aerospace, an international engine manufacturer. "We attracted a global aerospace engine manufacturer from the Czech Republic and brought high‑paying, high‑tech jobs to our city," she said.

She outlined quality‑of‑life investments such as a multimillion‑dollar improvement to East Roswell Park and replacement of worn turf fields across parks. The mayor said the council approved a construction contract for Riverside Park and that first phases of the river master plan at the ASAN property were complete.

The mayor announced a neighborhood‑centered "slowdown in Roswell" program to reduce speeding on residential streets and said the city doubled its annual street‑repaving budget from $2 million to $4 million. "A substantial investment that allows us to maintain our roads at the highest standards," she said.

The address closed with gratitude to staff, council colleagues, residents and family. "While this chapter comes to a close, my commitment to the city does not," the mayor said, urging residents to recommit to the common good and the future of Roswell.