Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – The Effingham County Board of Commissioners listens to its constituents – including the youngest ones.

District 2 Commissioner Roger Burdette is set to host “A Town Hall with Isaiah” on Jan. 28 at South Effingham Elementary School. The 6 p.m. event is designed to address the concerns of 10-year-old Isaiah Rivera and other children about the challenges that residential development presents while also focusing on the role and responsibilities of local government.

A Midland Road resident, Rivera expressed his concerns in a letter to the editor in the Effingham Herald last year. His chief worries are how residential developments impact the county’s environment, school class sizes and recreational opportunities.

“Once you add more homes, the yards will turn out to be very small, so the other kids will have no place to play,” he wrote. “Where can we all play now? Are you going to build us a new park?”

The town hall will give Rivera, other young residents and adults a chance to share their thoughts about development and ask questions. The objective is to work together to solve potential problems in a fair manner.

South Effingham Elementary School is located at 767 Kolic Helmly Road.