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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2020
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2020 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 7A
Continued From 1A
Budget
“Some departments asked
for funding of open (non
filled) positions,” Harvey
said. “The commissioners
want to fund only filled posi
tions that are in our personnel
records, and if the positions
are filled later in the year the
department head or elected
official can request a budget
amendment to fund the new
employee.”
When asked if she was
confident that a balanced
budget could be reached,
Harvey said, “The commis
sioners have asked that I
work with departments and
elected officials and adjust
the expenditure budgets to
meet our revenues, and I be
lieve that we can make that
happen. The current board
doesn’t want to put the in
coming commission chair
man in a position that would
require a millage rate in
crease next year.”
Commissioner Becky
Denney said she is also con
fident they can reach an
agreement.
“Department heads knew
these were requests and that
we couldn’t fund all of it,”
Denney said. “They have
been cooperative even if they
have been disappointed. I
think we can get it very
close.”
Off all departments and
offices, public works and the
sheriff’s office submitted the
largest increases over
FY2020 budgets, according
to the CFO.
“The sheriff’s proposal re
flected a substantial increase
- over $600,000 - more than
FY 2020 budgets,” Harvey
said. “I met with the sheriff
and provided an adjusted FY
2021 budget which includes
only current employees
(filled positions) and does not
fund vacant positions. It in
cludes a 5 percent increase
for all current employees, up
dated health insurance and
retirement numbers and all
operational increases that he
originally requested. That
proposal is slightly below FY
2020 expenditure budgets, so
I am hopeful that he will
agree with our adjusted pro
posal for the sheriff’s office.”
Commissioner Denney
said public works had many
additional expenses due to
their new facility and, among
other things, the need for ad
ditional tools and requests to
replace vehicles that are
high-mileage and costly to
repair.
“There were actually a
few departments that re
quested vehicles, but what
we would do if they needed
two we could see if we can
get by with one for now,”
Denney said.
FY 2021 proposals in
clude a 2.5 percent raise in
most departments and of
fices, with some requesting a
5 percent raise.
“Typically, the cost of liv
ing increases are 2.5 per
cent,” Harvey said. “In some
instances we are allowing a 5
percent increase if the start
ing salaries are very low and
need to be adjusted with a
larger increase.”
The revised budget will be
presented at the November
19 commissioners’ meeting.
A few notable items from
the meetings:
•The Pickens Recycling
Center is projecting $530,000
in revenue in FY 2021 due to
their new facility and
changes to operations. This is
in comparison to the $65,000
the county was spending in
the past to offer recycling
services.
•The county moved
$276,000 out of the road de
partment general fund budget
because those requests could
be covered with SPLOST
funds.
•There was a brief heated
exchange between Pickens
Chief Tax Appraiser Roy
Dobbs and Pickens Commis
sion Chair Rob Jones regard
ing salaries. Dobbs accused
the commissioner’s office of
luring employees away from
his office to a department
under commissioners’ control
by offering higher salaries.
Dobbs, who requested the
larger 5 percent salary in
crease for his employees,
said he has difficulty retain
ing people because of unfair
pay scales.
“It’s so lopsided my peo
ple feel like they’re being
discriminated against,”
Dobbs said. “[My employee]
went across the hall and dou
bles his salary.. .this is the re
ality.” Jones later
said this employee left and
secured a more skilled posi
tion that pays more than the
clerical work that was being
performed at the assessor’s
office.
Sound immersion on November 14
Following the regular Saturday morning yoga class on No
vember 14th at the Pickens Recreation Center, everyone is
invited to Secret River Sounds Sound Immersion at 9 a.m.
This sound immersion is an opportunity to relax, rejuve
nate and let vibrations of the gong, singing bowls, tingsha
bells and rain stick travel through you.
The session will be held from 9 until 10:15 a.m. Please
bring a yoga mat. Additional items include a pillow, blanket,
bolster, eye mask, warm socks, cozy clothing, etc.
This is a donation based session. $5 - $20 is recom
mended.
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
The city water department
turned my wter off for a $ 150
bill. I am 61 years old. To
stay clean is important during
this pandemic. I guess they
want me to die.
I know others that their
bill is over $500 that still
have water.
Neal Montgomery
To the Editor:
With such a good turnout
for early voting here in Pick
ens County, I was glad that a
second location was added at
the recreation center. That’s
where I went to vote on Fri
day, the last day to do early
voting. The line was not too
long and I thought that the
poll workers did a very good
job of getting people in and
out in a reasonable time. I
think I was there about 1 %
hours but I had a book, so
time passed rather fast. I’m
not sure why a second loca
tion was not added earlier in
the process as I had heard
some people saying that they
had stood in line for three to
five hours.
It appears that the turnout
for voting in the 2020 elec
tion will be up from previous
years but according to US
News (usnews.com) in an ar
ticle dated October 30, 2020,
the United States is #11 on
the list of turnout by percent
age of voting age population
for the election years 2015-
2020. Wouldn’t it be great if
the final numbers for the
2020 election pushed the US
toward the top of the list!
Fran Bishop
To the Editor:
Bravo, Ken Reynolds, for
your editorial “Are We at
War?” published 10/29/20 on
Page 4 of the Pickens County
Progress. We are indeed
under attack trying to fight
COVID-19 without a battle
plan and without a national
healthcare system. Politiciz
ing the attack helps nobody,
and further harms the popu
lace by negating the medical
professionals. I can’t imagine
working as a doctor, nurse,
EMT, nursing home adminis
trator or any health profes
sional during this difficult
year. Your well-written arti
cle is well organized and cov
ers points I had not fully
taken into consideration.
Thank you for having the
courage and the ability to put
the whole situation into
focus. I would like to see
more of your editorials.
Mary Ellen Johnson
To the Editor:
As I write this, the out
come of our elections is not
known.
I'm praying for a Biden vic
tory; but I realize that it's
going to be close.
Either way, I've never
been more concerned about
our country. Even if Trump
goes, the millions and mil
lions of people who sup
ported him remain. People
who I count as friends, rela
tives and neighbors.
Try as I might over these
past four years, I have been
unable to understand their
support of this man that I de
test.
Without question, racism,
either consciously or uncon
sciously is a factor for many.
I'm embarrassed at my age to
have been so naive as to the
extent to which our country is
racist.
Another factor is voting
for your own self interests
over the interests of the com
munity. This is the segment
that only cares about the cur
rent stock market results.
The other segment I view
as the narrowly informed.
These people are the sheep
that gain their information
from 1 or 2 news sources,
such as Fox News or Rush
Limbaugh.
These people have been
systematically brainwashed
to believe whatever they hear
from these sources. Their
ability to think independently
has been lost.
Then of course are the
evangelical Christians who
apparently believe that the
ends justify the means. They
are so concerned with one or
two issues (overturning Roe
v. Wade) that they are willing
to sell their souls to the devil.
I've really tried to under
stand why otherwise reason
able people support Trump;
but in the end, I'm as baffled
as ever.
Tim Schutter
Letters Welcomed
“Letters to the Editor ” is an
important public forum in the
community and the Progress
welcomes and encourages these
letters. Letters addressing issues
will be accepted but not those
expressing a personal grievance
directed toward another individ
ual. Letters OVER 400 WORDS
in length will not be considered
for publication. All letters must
have a full name with address, e-
mail and phone number given
where the author can be reached
to verify information.
The contact information is
never published.
Letters may be e-mailed to
news@pickensprogress.com.
Call 706-253-2457 to discuss
this further.
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292 Burton Street
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Mon-Thurs, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues & Wed, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Friday
SUNDAY
1:30-5:30PM Live
Chateau Meichtry
Music
@8
1:30-5:30PM Live Music
Chateau Meichtry
4PM Banks & Shane @ Rocco’s
Operation Christmas Child 1 ft
Shoe Box Collection Day @ ‘ ^
First Baptist Jasper
10AM Outdoor service @ Jasper First
Baptist
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @ Chateau
Meichtry
2PM Radio Rangers @ Rocco’s
1:30-5:30PM Live Music @99
Chateau Meichtry
8PM Smokey Jones and the
$3 Pistols @ Rocco’s
1:30-5:30PM Live
Chateau Meichtry
Music
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MONDAY
6PM Jasper City Council @ 2
Chattahoochee Tech
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
10AM-12PMOpenpickleball@Rec. Q
Center ^
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
5:30PM Cardio class with Q
Karen Dobson @ Pickens
Rec. Center (6 class card for $25;
$20 for next 6 class card)
6PM Pickens Planning Commis
sion @ Cty. Admin. Bldg.
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
10AM Ball Ground Garden 1 Q
Club @ Sharp Mountain
Baptist Church
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ Rec. Cen
ter
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
5:30PM Cardio class with 1 0
Karen Dobson @ Pickens
Rec. Center (6 class card for $25;
$20 for next 6 class card)
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
Thanksgiving Break 99
5:30PM Cardio class with 4- '*'
Karen Dobson @ Pickens Rec.
Center (6 class card for $25; $20
for next 6 class card)
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
5:30PM Cardio class withOQ
Karen Dobson @ Pickens
Rec. Center (6 class card
for $25; $20 for next 6 class card)
7PM Trivia @ Rocco’s
10AM-12PM Open pickleball 4
@ Rec. Center
Noon Jasper Rotary @ Chatt
Tech
1-2PM Seventh Day Adventist
Community Food Pantry open,
500 Burnt Mtn. Rd.
7PM Curtis Jones and Primal
Roots @ Rocco’s
VETERANS DAY
10AM Veterans Day Service 1
@ Pickens Memorial Park
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @
Rec. Center
Noon Jasper Rotary @ Chatt
Tech
7PM Jessie Albright Duo @
Rocco’s
17
10AM-12PM Open pickleball
Rec. Center
1PM Cancer support group
@ Pickens Rec. Center
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson7PM
Karaoke @ Rocco’s
Thanksgiving Break /A.
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @
Rec. Center
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson
7PM Karaoke @ Rocco’s
10AM-12PM Open pickle- 1 ft
ball @ Rec. Center
Noon Jasper Rotary @ Chatt
Tech
7PM Eric Reinhardt @ Leah
Chapman
@ Rocco’s
Thanksgiving Break 9 0
10AM-12PM Open pickle- ^
ball @ Rec. Center
Noon Jasper Rotary @ Chatt
Tech
10AM Commissioners’ Meet- ft
ing @ Cty. Admin. Bldg.
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @
Rec. Center
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson
1UAM-1PM uool springs baptist a ^
Food Ministry drive thru \ J
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ 1 £ ~
Rec. Center
10AM Quilting guild @ Rec. Center
11AM - 2 PM Drive thru flu, pneumonia &
shingles shots available at the Pickens
Chamber of Commerce, 500 Veterans Me
morial Blvd. (Offered by Bell’s Family Phar
macy)
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec. Center with
Karen Dobson
6PM School Board meet @ Central Office
19
10AM-12PM Open pickleball
Rec. Center
5:30PM Commissioners'
Meeting @ Cty. Admin. Bldg.
5:30PM All levels Yoga @ Rec.
Center with Karen Dobson
Thanksgiving Break 26
FRIDAY
9AM Choose to Lose Weight Q
Lose Group @ Pickens Commu
nity Center, Room#1
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ Rec. Cen
ter
5- 7PM Eric Reinhardt plays acoustic
music @ JAX Coffeehouse, down
town
6- 9PM Sunset Concert @ Fainting
Goat Vineyards
8PM HightRidge @ Rocco’s
SATURDAY
Weight 1 Q
Domrnu- I SJ
9AM Choose to Lose
Lose Group @ Pickens Commu
nity Center, Room#1
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ Rec.
Center
6-9PM Sunset Concert @ Fainting Goat
Vineyards
7:30 PM PHS Varsity Football @ Home
vs. Heritage (Ringgold)
8PM Stacy Wilson and the Band Raven
(5) Rocco’s
8AM All levels Yoga @ Rec. Center f
with Karen Dobson '
9AM-1PM Farmers Market @ Lee Newton
Park
10AM-2PM Old Jail downtown open
1:30-5:30PM Live music @ Chateau Me
ichtry
5:30PM PHS Varsity Dragon Football @
Home vs. Ridgeland
6-9PM Eric Reinhardt @ Leah Chapman
@ Old Mulehouse
8PM T. James Band @ Rocco’s
8AM All levels Yoga @ Rec. 1 A
Center with Karen Dobson ‘ ^
9AM-1PM Farmers Market @
Lee Newton Park
10AM-2PM Old Jail downtown open
1:30-5:30PM Live music @ Chateau
Meichtry
8PM Country River Band @ Rocco’s
9AM Choose to Lose Weight Lose O f)
Group @ Pickens Community Cen- d- \J
ter, Room#1
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ Rec.
Center
5- 7PM Eric Reinhardt plays acoustic music
@ JAX Coffeehouse, downtown
6- 9PM Sunset Concert @ Fainting Goat
Vineyards
7:30 PM PHS Varsity Football @ Home vs.
NW Whitfield
8PM Gregg Erwin Band @ Rocco’s
9AM Choose to Lose Weight O 7
Lose Group @ Pickens Commu- I
nity Center, Room#1
10AM-12PM Open pickleball @ Rec. Cen
ter
1:30-5:30PM Live music @ Chateau Me
ichtry
6-9PM Sunset Concert @ Fainting Goat
Vineyards
8AM All levels Yoga @ Rec. O 1
Center with Karen Dobson ^ '
9AM-1PM Farmers Market @
Lee Newton Park
10AM-2PM Old Jail downtown open
1:30-5:30PM Live music @ Chateau
Meichtry
8PM South of Nashville @ Rocco’s
8AM All levels Yoga @ Rec O Q
Center with Karen Dobson ^ ^
9AM-1PM Farmers Market @
Lee Newton Park
10AM-2PM Old Jail downtown open
1:30-5:30PM Live music @ Chateau
Meichtry
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