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PAGE 2A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. AUGUST 11.2022 County hopeful repairs on Cove, Grandview will begin soon Right-of-way clearing in west end, other updates from commissioners meeting Pickens Tax Commissioner Daniel Reeves recognized Kelly Wells as their employee of the quarter. Employees are selected based on productivity, customer service, etc. “We’ve done all of that to ensure good customer sendee, ” Reeves said. “She takes initiative do things that are not part of the normal job description. ” Wells, who has worked in the office around a year, has won the last two quarters. Pickens Commissioners recognized Jacob Edwards for 10 years of service. “Jacob, following in the footsteps of his father, has been in fire service most his life. ” (l-r) Commissioner Josh Tippetts, Public Safety Director Sloan Elrod, Jacob Edwards, Fire Chief Tim Prather, Commissioners Kris Stancil and Josh Tatum. By Angela Reinhardt Staff Writer areinhardt@pickensprogress.com The county is hopeful that paving and repairs on Cove Road will begin between Au gust 16 and August 20. “The bids were put out a long time ago and because of supply with all the other is sues that’s been going on [Pickens Road Department Director Kirk Anderson] has been going back and forth with our contractors,” said Pickens Commission Chair Kris Stancil. Anderson told the board that he has been in close con tact with the contractors and “I talked very plainly with them and that I’m tired of it getting pushed back and pushed back, so hopefully this is our set in stone date on Cove Road,” he said. Contractors told Anderson that paving on Grandview Road should begin soon after the Cove Road project is complete. “That sounded kind of vague to me so that worried me a little bit,” he said, “but we’ve got a date in Septem ber they are required to be done and we’re intending to hold their feet to the fire be cause they have wasted a lot of time in my opinion.” Anderson also reported that they were preparing to put down chip seal on Talc Mine Road the week of Au gust 8. “We’re really excited about that,” he said. “We’re going to try to get as much done on the other end to get that end paved this year be fore the weather sets in.” Some areas like Twin Mountain Lakes Circle they have dug up bad spots in the road and filled with gravel, and Anderson noted that they will return to chip seal those areas. Right of Way clearing in Jerusalem area This week some west end residents will see county crews clearing right of ways, which will allow them to ac cess utilities easier and quicker in emergency situa tion. “Our waterline is proba bly 20, 30, to 40 feet off the road on every road just about over on the west end, in what we call the holy land over off Jerusalem Church Road and Henderson Mountain (Road),” Dean said, noting that crews were expected to begin August 8. “That way if we have a problem we don’t spend two to three days try ing to clear it and find it,” he said. Dean also reported that beginning Tuesday, Aug. 9 the county will begin running pipe on Longswamp Church Road to the church. “It will probably take us a couple weeks to do that, maybe a month because we do have to pull off and main tain our system,” he said. The department is waiting on EPD approval to tie on Mullinax Road and Gibson Trail to Hill City Road and create a loop. “We’ve got materials for both jobs,” he said. “Once we get done with Longswamp hopefully Matthews will be ready and we just jump straight in.” Other news from commissioners: •Commissioners voted to change mileage reimburse ment for employees to match the rate set by the state ac counting office. The vote changed the county’s reim bursement from 57.5 cents per miles to 62.5 cents per miles. •The Pickens Recreation Department will host football games at Dragon Stadium on August 27, September 17 and 24, and October 1, 8 and 29. Pickens Rec. Director Brian Jones said the games will be a combination of youth and flag football, including one girls’ flag football team. •Jones reported that sup ply chain issues have held up SPLOST-funded improve ments to lighting at Roper Park field. “Hopefully with August and September you’ll start seeing them out there dropping off equipment to start putting in the lighting structures.” •Pickens Recycling Direc tor Kenny Woodward re ported that in June the two recycling centers took in 214 tons of trash and in July they took in 219 tons. For July that equals 14,500 bags of trash. They also took in 124 mattresses, 139 tires, 113 pieces of furniture. For June and July they shipped out 251,000 pounds of recy- clables. •Pickens Tax Assessor Roy Dobbs thanked the Pick ens Sheriff’s Office for their presence at Hill City Elemen tary School during mornings. “It’s greatly appreciated. I hope that people learn some lessons because sometimes people coming in from other counties are in a real hurry to get to wherever they’re going. So atta boy, atta girl. We appreciate it.” •Planning & Development Director Wes Frye said his department has not “seen the slowdown,” he said. “A lot of my counterparts told me they have dropped off in permit ting, but we seem to be okay. I guess we’re in a pretty good spot to be in.” He reported 51 building permits, 15 site builds, five mobile homes, 22 miscella neous, two commercial, 12 plat approvals and 75 busi ness renewals. Sheriff’s Office Recognitions The Pickens Sheriff’s Of fice recognized employees of the month for May, June and July. The employee of the month for May is Sgt. Steven Lewiki, who went above the call of duty when he stayed overnight to comfort an eld erly woman whose son died in their home. He originally responded to a death in a residence, but the funeral service from out-of county would not able to come until the next morning. “Sgt. Lewiki didn’t want the mother to stay there by her self with her son so he stayed there and comforted her the rest of the night until his body could be removed,” said Pickens Sheriff’s Major Mitch Yeargin. Sgt. Jody Weaver, super visor of court services, was recognized for “the excep tional work he does day to day,” and was named June employee of the month. “If you go into court services you’ll see his smiling face, always positive attitude.” Lawson Self Storage Al Lawson Office 706-253-1188 Cell 770-893-7221 1188 Talking Rock Rd Jasper, GA 30143 allawson3@gmail.com Consigning ‘Women^jf “A Unique Consignment Shop" 50% Ofa Summit (frtetvuzvice Sale fat t&e entire eptont/i f4ccyu&t I • Browse our racks Women’s Clothing, Plus Sizes, Formal Wear, Purses, Shoes, and Jewelry 706-253-6905 • 540 N. Main Street • Jasper Hours: Wed 11-5, Thurs 11-4, Fri & Sat 11-5 • QE7W raw SLIM 9MM PISTOL SHIELD2.0 9mm 3.1” Barrel 13+1 Cap $359.95 .223/5.56 RIHE! ) Smith & Wesson M&P Sportll 16” Barrel Adi. stock 30-Rnd Mag $769.95 .'iii'.'iiiMi.'itgr Sheriff’s office recognizes employees (L-R) Major Shane Padgett, Pickens Sheriff Auxiliary President Charlie Vickers, Miranda McDowell, Sgt. Jody Weaver, Sgt. Steven Lewiki, and Major Mitch Yeargin. Weaver’s supervisor has also been out with issues and he has taken on extra responsi bility. Miranda McDowell was recognized as July employee of the month. McDowell is an executive assistant. “She takes on so much more,” Major Yeargin said. “There’s some new extra duties she’s taken on and works hard every day. Positive, and al ways bouncing up and down the hall.” Bryan Lawrence Email: Bryan@Iaithturf.com LANDSCAPING DESIGN & INSTALLATION FERTILIZATION • WEED CONTROL LAWN MAINTENANCE • DEBRIS CLEANUPS & MORE! www.Fai th Turf, com 770-490-2795 Transportation for veterans The Fannin DAV Chapter 28 van transports veterans to the Atlanta VA Medical Center for free. The van’s first pickup is at the Fannin County Veter ans Conference Center in Blue Ridge and stops in Ellijay, Jasper, Canton and Woodstock. Call John Bailey at 706-851-5204 for more information. Volunteer van drivers are needed. Learn taxes. Earn $$$. Visit hrblock.com/BeAPro H&R BLOCK 675 NOAH DR, STE104 JASPER, GA 30143 706-692-3178