Coker on the Record Episode 29 | The Secrets Behind New Cities in Georgia

In Episode 29 of Coker on the Record, Mayor Michael Coker sits down with Bill Riley, a key figure behind the creation of several cities across Georgia. Reflecting on cityhood, Bill Riley explains that “the best thing about starting new cities is helping people improve their quality of life.” This episode takes you behind the scenes of how cities are formed, the challenges involved, and why local control matters. 📧 Want your question featured in a future episode? Email Mayor Coker at [email protected] Listen to Coker on the Record on your favorite platform: ▶️ YouTube:    • Coker on the Record   🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sS6VqD... 🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎵 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b05... 👉 Stay tuned and subscribe:    / @cokerformulberry   👉 Subscribe to our Mailing List for More Updates: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/s... Stay Connected: 🌐 Website: https://www.cokerformulberry.com 📘 Facebook:   / cokerformulberry   📷 Instagram:   / cokerformulberry   🎵 TikTok:   / mayormichaelcoker   📌 Chapters: 00:44 – Bill Riley’s background and legal career 01:41 – The creation of Sandy Springs 02:10 – Writing legislation for new cities 03:26 – Early challenges of starting a city 04:54 – Why every city is different 05:25 – Contracted services vs. city staff 06:52 – Community development and zoning 07:15 – Cities Bill Riley has helped create 08:02 – Why each city is custom-built 09:03 – Funding, millage rates, and local control 10:55 – Cities that attempted but failed to incorporate 13:09 – Lessons from Peachtree Corners and Milton 16:57 – Benefits of local vision and planning 17:26 – The rewards and challenges of starting cities 19:07 – Litigation and unexpected challenges 19:31 – How to contact Bill Riley