The Downtown Waycross Development Authority

DWDA was created by an act of the Georgia Legislature as an instrumentality of the State and Public Corporation in 1974-75. The establishment of Independent Authorities has long been recognized as a useful tool for developing and managing public interest ventures. An authority can act in a manner similar to private enterprise promoting efficiency and flexibility.

The DWDA Board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:15 P.M. in the Community Room venue located at 317 Plant Avenue.

Board Member Election Process

The process in which board members are elected is stated through the DWDA legislative enabling Acts and will be followed as how they were written.

The election is done by a caucus vote. There will be two caucus meetings. One for business owners of Downtown Waycross and the other for property owners of Downtown Waycross. Each caucus will discuss their nominations and will then have a vote. 

The election date has been set for July 25, 2023. The caucus for property owners will be from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. and the caucus for business owners will be from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M.  Voting will occur at the end of each caucus. 

During each caucus the nominees will be discussed, and votes will be placed. After both meetings are completed, a third party will read aloud the names of newly elected board members.

Article II, Section 1 of the DWDA enabling Act states that the eligible voter for a business owner must either be the owner or the official representative of the owner. In the case where a person is an owner of two (2) or more businesses in the downtown district, that owner will be given an individual ballot for each business. The eligible voter for a parcel of property will be either the owner or the official representative of the owner. In the case where a person is the owner of two (2) or more parcels of land in the district, the owner will be given an individual ballot for each parcel of land. However, when these parcels of land are contiguous, only one vote will be allowed for all parcels. Ballots will be color coded and labeled so that each business owner or property owner will be given the correct number of ballots. Ballots will be given during voting check-in.

According to Section 2 under Article II of the Act that created the Downtown Waycross Development Authority, Proxies will not be allowed to vote in the elections. To exercise voting rights, an official representative of each business or parcel of land must be present. If you choose to send an official representative of your business, please e-mail waycross@dwdaga.org with the name of your business or the address of your property along with the name of your representative.

Please feel free to call or email our office, 912.283.7787/ waycross@dwdaga.org