About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2021)
The Upson Beacon Thursday, June 10, 2021 Page 5A Kyle Fletcher Executive Director, T-U IDA Let’s Get to Work! I have recently had the oppor tunity to update the city’s Com munity Relations Committee, IDA board, city council, school board (and soon the county com missioners) on the biggest prob lem facing our industries and retailers... the lack of people wanting to go to work! One of the CEOs of a local in dustry told me a few weeks ago that his biggest competition was “the federal government.” Whether it is incentives given to the unemployed, lack of am bition, or not knowing what to pursue, the result is having a det rimental impact on our local busi nesses. While there are numerous businesses wanting to hire people (with various job descriptions and wages), very few of the unem ployed are applying or accepting employment. Following are a few of the changes we are experienc ing as consumers due to the lack of workers: l) Some businesses are forced to alter hours. 2) Some businesses are “drive through” only. 3) Some businesses are having to rely on existing employees to work longer shifts. 4) Some businesses are not able to manufacture/produce the volume they desire due to limited staff. 5) Extended wait times for service. Outside the retail and indus trial sector, we see healthcare, law enforcement, and education hav ing hiring issues. When there are n’t enough “certified teachers,” college graduates are hired with a provision to get their classes/cer tification within three years. Wait times at doctors’ offices may be longer due to a shortage of staff. Why aren’t people interested in these professions? For new high school graduates and young adults without a path way after graduation, why won’t they enter the workforce arena? I don’t have an answer, but I do know they have more options than ever to choose from when it comes to becoming employed. I’ve heard the excuse that minimum wage needs to be higher. Why would someone with no experience and high school de gree deserve $15 an hour when they begin a new job? If indus tries have such a high hourly rate for entry level positions, their budgets for other employees would have to increase and so would the cost of their products. If someone will get an entry level position, have good soft skills, and pass a drug test, they are likely to quickly move up the ladder with wages and promo tions. The lack of motivation is concerning as an economic devel oper, and it should concern every one in our community. A variety of free options have been offered with little interest. When we can’t find people to accept jobs with existing busi nesses, it raises concern about re cruiting more businesses that must find employees. The IDA office will continue to work with the local school system, city and county government, Southern Crescent Technical Col lege, Three Rivers Regional Com mission, and other partners in addressing the lack of people seeking employment. Please do your part by having tough discussions with those who don’t seem motivated and are ca pable of working (but don’t). En courage them to GO TO WORK or go to Southern Crescent Techni cal College to learn a skill set. If we can’t remedy the prob lem, businesses/industries will close or move and it will affect all of us. Let’s get to work and “Build Upson!” Workers Needed, Continued from Front IDA Welcomes Summer Intern Shania Duncan wage will advance more quickly, depending on work ethic. “Go to work, show up on time, and pass a drug test,” she said. “People are so desperate for workers, I guarantee you will move up the ladder quickly. The number one thing in our community is being able to pass drug tests.” Southern Crescent offers a two-week course for eight hours per day to prepare high school gradu ates for entering the work force, focusing on “soft skills” crucial to the inter view process. As of her May 24 presentation to the CRC, Fletcher said no Upson Lee students had signed up for the course. She added that govern ment supplements have re duced incentive to seek employment. “One of the CEOs here Tent City, said his biggest competi tion is the federal govern ment,” Fletcher said. “He can’t compete when people can make more sitting at home than going to work.” Almost 19 percent of Upson residents have less than a high school educa tion, according to Fletcher, with 36 percent high school graduates, 20 percent with “some” college, 10 percent with associate’s degrees, and eight percent with bachelor’s degrees. Median household income is $54,000 and average age is 40, with 47 percent male and 53 percent female pop ulation. She suggested that anyone searching for jobs visit indeed.com, and re minded that the civic center and public library offer free computer and in ternet access. The Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority is proud to intro duce Shania Duncan as its 2021 summer intern, ac cording to executive direc tor Kyle Fletcher. “Several months ago, we reached out to the UGA Griffin Administration in hopes that they had a stu dent that was interested in a volunteer internship,” Fletcher said. “Shania ex pressed an interest and that set the wheels in mo tion for an MOU between UGA Griffin and the IDA. “We feel Shania is a great fit for our office and she is enthusiastic about helping us with social media, marketing, and other economic devel opment initiatives,” Fletcher continued. “Please give her a big wel come!” Duncan was born and raised in Milledgeville, and comes from a large family which includes her three brothers and two sisters. In Spring 2019, she gradu ated from Baldwin High School with honors, and she participated in the dual enrollment program where she attended Georgia Technical College and Georgia Military College. During her last se mester of high school, Duncan completed seven college classes while main taining all As. Upon com pletion of high school, she continued her education at Georgia Military College, where she graduated in Spring 2020 with an asso ciate’s degree. She is cur rently a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia Griffin Campus, majoring in consumer eco- Continuedfrom Front Jones said he consulted County Manager Jason Tins ley and Planning Director Doug Currier, both of whom agreed that the group is not in violation of current county or dinances. Sheriff Dan Kilgore said he understands concern of residents in the area, but his office is bound by applica ble law. “I sympathize with the neighbors, but so far there has not been a criminal violation,” Kilgore told The Beacon Monday morning. “We will do everything within our power to resolve any situation involving our citizens, but we have to apply the law fairly and equally to everyone.” Kilgore said his office re ceived several complaints of gunfire, so a sergeant was set to investigate. He found that Smith Statement, the weapons were loaded with blanks, and no live rounds were found on the property. Kilgore said the ser geant “located a person he recognized” from a black na tionalist paramilitary organi zation which conducted firearms training exercises in Upson earlier this year. Chairman Norman Allen asked if the campsite could be considered a nuisance, and questioned whether property owners could be prohibited from camping on their prop erty. “If the neighbors are com plaining about it, it’s a nui sance,” Jones replied. “There’s a difference between camping and living - camp ing is the weekend, and they’ve been there more than a week. “Now they’ve put up a fence around it so you can just see the tops of the tents, and put up a gate with ‘no tres passing’ signs,” he continued. “They back their cars in so you can’t read the tag numbers. We know one of the tags is from Nevada.” Jones said one neighbor witnessed a man walking the two-acre tract wearing two long guns while holding a machete and a handgun. “I need to bring it into the open because I’m getting too many complaints. Is there anything we can do? If not, I’m really going to get com plaints,” Jones said. “I’m try ing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it if keeps on, then they’re living there.” According to Jones, Cur rier said commissioners would be required to amend a county ordinance before tak ing action against the settle ment. County attorney Heath English agreed, telling the board it currently is “a sher iff s office issue.” Kilgore said the matter was referred to code enforce ment. “Tell the neighbors if they have a problem, call the sher iff,” Allen said. “If they’re making a lot of noise after a certain time, they’re in vio lation of the noise ordi nance... code enforcement can ride by to see if they’re leaving trash.” “My constituents have asked me to look into it, so I’m throwing it to the board,” Jones concluded. “I’m look ing for guidance. Yall think about it.” Continued from Front nomics with an emphasis on financial planning. Duncan plans to attend graduate school next year, with an eye on starting her own financial service firm, according to Fletcher. She said she has always had a passion for finance and helping others, and wants to help everyone reach their goals no matter how big or small. “Shania is a very deter mined student with a bright future ahead of her,” Fletcher said. “She’s super excited to be joining the team!” Photo Submitted Shania Duncan G EOJt C/ Senvice Lee Bray 706 648 3747 (Office) 706 975 6896 (Cell) 509 N. Center Street Thomaston, GA 30286 Fire and Water Damage Restoration Carpet & Oriental Rug Cleaning VCT & Ceramic Tile Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning Odor Control Construction/Move Out/ Move In Clean-Up SSlICRC MiiW Initatute of Inspection Cleaning I/!**!/It‘(I end ResloislienCetliUtlion Ct-rtiHunt ion 4*223063 & ifOna^d Homecare, Inc. Bringing Healthcare Home. 101 Deluxe Circle - Thomaston 706-648-6001 ACHC Accredited . tii A We Rent ' Wheelchairs' A Lift Chairs Wf have 1 Respiratory Equipment - bathroom Aides hospital beds-Enteral Feeding C-pap/bi-pap Supplies acy,” he told committee members. Smith referred to opin ions that Confederate mon uments were “intended to remind emancipated blacks of their place in society, [and remind them] who’s in charge.” He compared monuments to Jim Crow laws which limited voting, work, and education op tions for minorities. “Georgia’s law protect ing monuments must be changed. It is unjust and immoral. Somebody must be willing to challenge it,” Smith said. “If we’re look ing for a solution that’s not a radical solution, we’re probably not going to find one.” Committee member Sheila Hall questioned Smith’s assessment, saying, “I’ve been here 50 years, and I really don’t agree.” Hall said multitudes of students had graduated from R.E. Lee Institute and equated the name with pos itive high school memories, and added her opinion that racism is not prevalent in the community. But Smith told Hall she had not seen it from his perspective. “We’ve been systemati cally discriminated Sewage Contract, Continued from Front million project. “The city shall pay no more than $1,060,315 and the county shall not pay less than $1,885,004,” Thompson read to council members. Construction cost has been inflated since initial estimates, adding as much as $1,030,000 to the county’s unincorporated portion, according to Thompson. “It’s complicated, and has a lot of moving parts,” he said. A large portion of the project entails installation of a transfer pipe which would move effluent off the Bell Creek facility on DOT Road to the Town Branch facility on Goshen Road. The two combine for a total capacity of four million gal lons per day. County Manager Jason Tinsley delivered the pro posed 20-year agreement to commissioners during a work session the following morning. If approved by the county, the contract would face a final hurdle involving Industrial Development Au thority participation. The agreement could be ex tended to 50 years, accord ing to Georgia law. Members voted to post pone the council’s June 15 meeting until June 29. against,” Smith said to Hall. “You probably never have been stopped [by police] and asked where you’ve been, where you’re going, or made to do things you shouldn’t have to do. You probably never experienced that. I have, a number of times.” Following debate be tween Smith and Hall, com mittee members voted to table the R.E. Lee discus sion with no recommenda tion for city council. City Manager Russell Thompson agreed to sched ule a tour for committee members to view examples of litter and homelessness in Thomaston for consid eration at the group’s next meeting June 21. DON’T BE THE DEALER. 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