Area senior citizens sought answers to important questions at the Senior Citizens Center on Tuesday.

The group left with many of them unanswered.

Sponsored by the Senior Citizens Center and Home Instead Senior Care, the event brought together representatives of area government officials and Mayor John Fretti to field questions during the open forum.

The more than 20 seniors asked pointed questions on a variety of topics.

To kick things off, Fretti discussed a few of the items the city of Valdosta is addressing that would effect area seniors.

A Valdosta transit system, which will include 35-foot ADA accessible buses that run on biofuel, will help with senior mobility within the community, he said.

The buses will run on a fixed route system and a single trip on a bus will probably cost less than a dollar, Fretti said.

One member of the audience questioned Fretti on the increasing presence of gang activity in Valdosta.

“We hope to cap it where it is,” Fretti said.

“If we are made aware of gang graffiti we try to remove it by at least the next day.”

A stronger police presence within the gangs in the last year has helped the city monitor gang initiations. The best result is to ensure that no one gang takes control, he said.

“We are paying people with your tax dollars to stay close to the gangs,” he said.

Afterwards the four other members of the forum introduced themselves.

Michael Bryant, representative for U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Jody Redding, representative for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, Steven Meeks, representative for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and Christian Varner, representative for U.S. Representative Jack Kingston were all on hand to field questions.

“We came to hear from you more than speak to you,” Bryant said.