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Thursday, January 23, 2020
Volume 132 Number 40
Jasper, Georgia
Local News Published Weekly
Being mayor
of Jasper beats
picking cotton,
says Lawrence
Jasper’s first new mayor in a quarter-cen
tury, Steve Lawrence talks new job and how
he came to town.
By Dan Pool
Editor
dpool@pickensprogress.com
Steve Lawrence, Jasper’s first new mayor
in more than a quarter of a century, was sitting
in a barren office last Wednesday, his eighth
official day at work, saying he is still learning
the ropes at City Hall.
Lawrence takes over the top elected post,
with a city manager, Brandon Douglas, already
in place for the day-to-day operations. Having
a paid, full-time manager is another recent de
velopment in Jasper government and gives
Lawrence some freedom to define how his po
sition will function.
“The good part is I don’t have to run the
city,” he said. “I can be the number one cheer
leader for City Hall.”
During this interview, Lawrence was still
looking at the basics, such as when he will be
at City Hall to meet with people and how con
stituents should contact him. Lawrence said
there is nothing set about how much a mayor
should work. He wasn’t even sure if his mayor
job is considered full or part time. He is paid
only for city meetings at $50 per meeting, the
same amount council members receive.
“We are still working to see how it is going
to evolve,” he said. “Right now I am working
almost all the time. I took the position with the
idea that I would do what is necessary when I
took office.”
To begin his four-year term, Lawrence said
he would make himself available most any
time to discuss ideas for the city. He said any
one can call City Hall at 706-692-9100 and if
Lawrence is not in the building, they can set
up a meeting. See Mayor on 2A
Power Solutions
Business of Year
Power Solutions Unlimited was named the
Chamber’s 2019 Business of the Year. The
award is sponsored by Community Bank of
Pickens County. PSU owner, Scott Fowler,
right, is pictured with Chamber President Am-
berle Godfrey, left, and Melissa Jordan of
Community Bank of Pickens County.
PSU started in 2007 with three employees
and 100 service contracts. Now they have
three office employees, two salesmen, three
on the install crew, four technicians and have
gone from 100 to 2,500 service contracts and
install close to 100 generators per year from
residential to industrial.
PSU has been active with the Chamber, in
cluding being participants in the Georgia Mar
ble Festival as well as assisting the Chamber
with their power needs by providing portable
generators and backup power when needed.
And Fowler, personally helps with the Lucky
7 Giveaway by providing the sound system for
the evening. PSU sponsors a family every
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Power Solutions
Unlimited also sponsors a child during every
sports season so the child is able to enjoy their
sport and the family doesn’t have to worry
about paying for it.
County financials
for 2019 presented
By Angela Reinhardt, Staff writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
Summary budget numbers for the period end
ing December 31, 2019 were presented at the
Thursday, January 16 commissioners meeting.
These numbers are for the entire fiscal year of
2019, but are not finalized.
“There may be additional accruals and adjust
ments to the FY 2019 budget before our annual
audit is completed,” Pickens CFO Faye Harvey
said in an email.
Percentages reflect 100 percent of the yearly
operating budget. Total expenditures for 2019 are
tentatively $27,839,268 or 98.59% of the budget.
In the email, Harvey also commented about a
few of the departments that were over budget.
The largest overages in General Government
Buildings were repairs and maintenance on build
ings, technical services and utilities.
The Pickens Animal Shelter increased person
nel and upgraded the general condition of the an
imal shelter.
The largest overage in the Public Works
budget is the cost of the Jones Mountain Road re
pair that was not reimbursed by GDOT, as well
as technical and engineering costs.
The Pickens County Airport overage reflects
the increase in fuel sales in FY 2019, so both rev
enue and expenditures will be adjusted. Revenues
exceeded expenditures by $25,843.
Harvey did not comment on some offices’
budgets including the Office of the Tax Commis
sioner, District Attorney and the Pickens Sheriff’s
Office. These offices are all run by elected offi
cials. See Break-down on 2A
Grandview Lake project
clears big EPD hurdle
By Angela Reinhardt, Staff writer
areinhardt@pickensprogress.com
The Grandview Lake project, which will allow
the county to withdraw 333,000 gallons of water
a day, received critical approval from the Envi
ronmental Protection Division last week.
“This was definitely one of the biggest hurdles
we’ve gotten over,” said Pickens County Director
of Utilities Phillip Dean.
The EPD approved the water withdrawal per
mit, as well as the permit for the package plant
that will be constructed near the lake on a piece
of property to be donated by the Salvation Army
at Camp Grandview. Dean and county officials
will meet with representatives from the Salvation
Army this week to finalize easements to access
that parcel. A package treatment plant is pre
manufactured, used See Grandivew on 2A
Jasper has laid new waterline to this point
on Grandview Road, and will eventually connect
to the county’s new water treatment plant.
Landrum named Citizen of the Year
Phillip Landrum III was honored as the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Saturday at the group’s
Winter Ball. Landrum is a native of Pickens County and a local attorney. Landrum has been very in
volved in the community and also serves on the Board of Trustees for Reinhardt University.
In selecting Landrum, the judges wrote, “The Chamber received some very worthy nominations
and choosing one award recipient was difficult. They are all winners. However, the recipient of this
year’s award was chosen primarily based on the significant role he played in recruiting the new nurse’s
training program to the community. The positive impact this program brings to the county and region
is paramount.” Landrum is shown with his wife Crystal and daughter Helaina.
Winter Ball photos/Knowpickens
Gail Arp named
Ambassador of Year
Gail Arp, left, was recognized as
the Chamber’s Ambassador of the
Year during the event held at the
Tate House. Arp has been an ambas
sador for five years and served as
chair in 2019.
“She serves on other boards
within our community, helping to
increase the quality of life for our
citizens,” said Chamber President
Amberle Godfrey, shown present
ing the award. “The Chamber and
our community are fortunate to
have Gail.”
Harmony Elementary
needs comprehensive
support from the state
Officials say their goal is to be off
state’s improvement list by December
By Destini Shope
Director of Community
Engagement and Public
Relations for Pickens
County Schools
In early December, the
Georgia Department of Edu
cation released a list of
schools around the state who
were named to the Targeted
Support and Improvement
(TSI) list, with Harmony El
ementary School (HES) in
cluded on the list. The
teachers, staff, and adminis
trators are working hard, and
while disappointed, under
stand that there is work to do
and that a sense of urgency
exists. HES and the school
district view this as an op
portunity that will lead to
positive outcomes. By being
designated as a TSI school,
HES will receive additional
resources to help with im
provements for their stu
dents. As a district, we
expect that in the end, the
plan will be transformational
See Harmony on 2A
Inside:
Tate Fire Dept,
now operating
out of new
Station Page 8B
MyKenzie
Weaver passes
2,000 total
points Page lB
Obituaries - 5A
• Jerry Woodall
• Kloe Mae Chester
• Martha Quinton
• Robert McGraw, Jr.
Index
Editorial 4A
Letters to the Editor . 5A
Church 10A
Kids 3B
People 11A
Classifieds 6-7B
Legals 4-5B
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