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As the city of Lanett closes out another year, Mayor Jamie Heard looks back on 2025 and looks forward to the year ahead. 

It was announced in September that the city had gotten an over $500,000 grant to  improve the airport’s taxiway and other improvements. 

Despite losing its manager last year, the Lanett Municipal Airport has grown, specifically the flight school. Sessions for the flight school have filled up fast. The airport has gone from three instructors to nine, in order to keep up with the demand. The city is still looking for a new airport manager. 

Also in September, the city council adopted a 10-comprehensive plan. It aims for the city to experience sustainable growth with bringing in new businesses, housing and updating the city’s infrastructure to accommodate the growth. The plan also hopes to address the lack of green and multi-use space within the city. 

Earlier this year the council passed a resolution to create a conceptual plan for a riverside park in Lanett, which would join with West Point’s riverside park. 

Lanett rezoned the former mill site, designating it mixed-use. This  is in hopes of attracting commercial developers. Heard said he hopes to bring new businesses to the site during the new year.

Heard highlighted the extensive repaving and road projects the city has accomplished in 2024. 

“We were able to do quite a bit of paving that we haven’t been able to do in the past,” the mayor said. 

Eleven streets are budgeted to be paved in the upcoming year. 

The Lanett mayor said he hopes to continue street and infrastructure improvements. The city is currently waiting on $4 million in grant funding from a grant to replace the gas pipes in the city. A sewer system study was also budgeted this year.