08/05/2026
The new city manager’s first newsletter
See the bottom if you would like to receive them
Columbus Georgia — City Manager Newsletter
Hello everyone,
As many of you know, I sent newsletters after each City Council meeting during my time on Council. Based on the positive feedback and the consistent request for more transparency, I plan to continue those newsletters as City Manager.
I started as City Manager on July 13th. I’ve tried to explain my approach in a couple of media releases already, but I plan to use these newsletters to provide more specific details going forward.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
On Tuesday, July 28th, we had an evening Council meeting. For those who are wondering, we alternate between morning and evening sessions to give citizens the option to attend whichever is most convenient. You can find the summary minutes here.
Mayor’s Agenda
Each meeting begins with the Mayor’s Agenda: Call to Order, Invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance. This is also where we handle proclamations. Last Tuesday, we had a proclamation for National Health Week, received by Valley Healthcare, and Columbus Lions Day honoring the success of the Columbus Lions. The Mayor's Agenda can also include specific presentations, though there weren't any last Tuesday.
City Attorney’s Agenda | Property Taxes Due 12/1/26
Next is the City Attorney’s Agenda, which is typically focused on ordinances and zoning. First Readings are the opportunity to present an ordinance or rezoning to the public and hear feedback. Second Readings are when Council votes. Last Tuesday, Council approved the annual amendment that sets the property tax due date. This year's due date is December 1, 2026.
Public Agenda
The Public Agenda follows. Anyone in Muscogee County can visit the Clerk of Council site and submit a request to speak.
City Manager’s Agenda | Columbus Airport Funding
This is the portion of the meeting that I lead. On the City Manager’s Agenda, we bring items to Council for approval: contracts, purchases, department presentations, and mandatory bid disclosures. Last Tuesday, that included the two intergovernmental agreements totaling $1.46 million to support the Columbus Airport: $260,000 for economic development initiatives and $1.2 million for airport operations, capital improvements, and deferred maintenance. The agreements may continue through FY28 and FY29 if funding is appropriated by Council.
The City Manager’s Agenda usually concludes with updates and presentations from specific departments or external partners that work with the city.
Clerk of Council’s Agenda
The public portion of the meeting typically wraps up with the Clerk of Council’s Agenda. She presents authorizations and resolutions related to Council, designations, board minutes, and board appointments.
Executive Session
We sometimes have an executive session to cover confidential topics such as personnel, litigation, or real estate. We did not have one last Tuesday.
11th Street Underpass Temporarily Closed for Mural
The 11th Street underpass is currently closed while a mural is being painted. We’ll share more details as the project progresses.
I hope this overview is helpful as a starting point. Future newsletters will have more detail on specific agenda items, but I wanted to set the stage first. I’ll post these to the website and look for ways to publish to social media as well.
If you know anyone who would appreciate more transparency from city government, please forward this email so they can subscribe.
As always, feel free to reach out with questions or feedback, as I’d love your input on what you’d like to see covered.
Sincerely,
Tyson Begly
City Manager
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus Consolidated Government • P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, GA 31902
[email protected]
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