Public officials and community members gathered at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center to continue to find ways to keep improving Ward 8.

The Ward 8 community meeting was held Monday at the convention center, as citizens were able to talk directly to the heads of the city’s departments, including public works, recreation and police.

Selma City Ward 8 councilman Corey Bowie said the meeting gave citizens a chance to voice concerns, and help come up with solutions, to any issues facing the ward.

“One main purpose of this meeting is to get a chance to talk to the citizens, not only to hear their concerns, but to hopefully resolve some of the concerns that they have, and get a chance to brainstorm and come up with new ideas to make the ward better,” Bowie said. “During this time, they get a chance to talk to department heads when ordinarily they won’t get a chance to talk to department heads.”

Bowie said it’s important to hear the community’s voice because it helps the ward improve, which in turn improves the city as a whole.

“It’s very important. It helps galvanize the community and the ward,” Bowie said. “When the ward is productive and growing, the city as a whole grows.”

One concern raised by community members was the issue of loud music and what was being done to enforce the ordinance prohibiting it.

Selma Chief of Police William T. Riley ensured attendees the police are actively enforcing the noise ordinance, and while officers are encouraged to write tickets, they are allowed to use discretion.

Riley said there must be balance when enforcing the ordinance aimed at prohibiting loud music because the situation may vary, and he gave an example of a call officers received about a child’s birthday party, which didn’t warrant writing a ticket.