Newspaper Page Text
February 2, 2022
Page 7A
iReporter
EMAMI
Continued from the front
4, which includes northern
Monroe County and the
River Forest subdivision.
Qualifying is set for March
7-11 and the primary is in
May Emami will remain in
office until the end of the
year.
Here’s Emami’s letter to
the community:
I have been incred
ibly lucky to call Monroe
County home for almost
9 years. I called my wife
while on a rim after being
here 2 years and told her
“I’ve never felt more at
home in a community
than Monroe County”.
That sentiment still rings
true. I’ve been honored
that you entrusted me
to serve as a commis
sioner these last 4 years.
It has been an incredible
privilege and something I
do not take lightly or for
granted. I’ve learned a lot
about government and
myself over this time; and a
lot about life in general. I’ve
tried to bring some new
ideas and thoughts to the
table while honoring the
great heritage of this amaz
ing community.
I do have some regrets.
I’m a passionate person
by nature and have been
known to attack problems
and issues like a middle
linebacker, sometimes with
less finesse (and a little
more vigor) than necessary.
For those moments that
may have gotten away from
me... I want to apologize.
For those of you who have
supported me (or put up
with me) anyways, and
have shown grace during
my lesser moments, I truly
thank you.
We, as a commission,
have accomplished a lot
since I got on. Incredibly...
by this time next year, over
90% of Monroe Countians
will have access to high
speed internet. We will
have gone from near worst
to being one of the best
connected counties in the
state. We still have a few
pockets of people who we
need to get taken care of
but what we have done in
partnership with the school
board and the EMCs has
been unprecedented and
incredible to see. I prom
ised to deliver on internet
and I’m so happy that I was
able to fulfill that promise
in only one full term.
I am also proud of being
the commissioner who
suggested in the spring of
2020 we send a resolution
to Gov. Kemp to reopen
Georgia after months of
lockdowns and mandated
business closures. Our
county got world wide
coverage (BBC) as being
the only one and the first in
Georgia (others followed)
to make such a motion.
Our Governor needed to
know that he had support
for reopening before our
entire economy collapsed
and caused catastrophic
damage.
Lastly, I promised many
of my constituents that I
would not raise the millage
rate while in office. I am
very proud of honoring
that promise and I promise
not to for the remainder
of my term. I’m proud of
having been a part of hiring
our county manager and fi
nance director and manag
ing them towards helping
to rebuild our financial
credibility. With them,
we as a commission have
taken the financial status
of our county from a very
insecure spot to having a
top credit rating and very
solid financial standing
according to our auditors.
We were able to quit the
long standing practice of
having to borrow money
each year to pay our bills,
saving the county $50k per
year for the last few years. It
has truly been an honor to
serve this community and
to be a part of its growth
and its history.
That said, it is with some
what of a heavy heart that
I announce that I will not
be seeking re-election this
year. I will faithfully serve
out my duties to the end of
my term and then I will be
taking a break to focus on
my family and my busi
nesses. I’m excited to spend
more time with my wife
Denise and my three chil
dren: Baylor (9th grade),
Maddie (11th grade), and
Mara (freshman at UGA),
my friends, and my Church
family. I look forward to
being a faithful and actively
involved member of this
incredible community...
though in a different way.
But... my work is not
done! My main goals for
my final year will be to
help clean things up in my
district, finish the zoning
overhaul, get my High Falls
Fire Fighters their new sta
tion built, get a deal lined
up to serve the GA Power
customers with high speed
internet... while keeping
your taxes as low as pos
sible!!!
I would like to thank
our county manager
Jim Hedges, our finance
Director Lorri Robinson,
our HR Director Janet
Abbott, Kelsey Fortner,
Richard Dumas, Jr Watts,
JeffWilson, SheriffBrad
Freeman, each member of
the school board, the City
Mayor and Council, Janice
Hall, and the rest of the
staff at our offices and each
of our department heads
and employees with the
county. Thank you to our
state representatives Robert
Dickey, Susan Holmes,
Dale Washburn, and Sena
tor John Kennedy. They
truly do support our efforts
and are among the best in
the state at what they do.
Also a special thank you to
my fellow commissioners
for everything. I tip my hat
to each of you and wish
you the best going forward.
Lastly, I want to thank my
God. I was a trainwreck as
a youth and statistically was
not supposed to “make it”
in life. To HIM I give any
credit of any success I’ve
ever had.
It was important to me
to get this announcement
out in enough time so as to
allow as many other quali
fied candidates to run for
office as possible. We need
strong leadership locally
and the decisions will only
get more difficult as we
grow in population. I want
to offer to help answer any
questions from anyone
who seeks this office and
who may be thinking about
running. I will not endorse
a candidate because Mon
roe County is smarter than
me. But I will help anyone
who asks me and will be
happy to guide or train
anyone running in order
to help there be a smooth
transition.
As always, thank you for
the incredible opportunity
and for your trust. It’s been
an incredible honor and
I’m grateful to have had the
opportunity.
It was important to me to get this an
nouncement out in enough time so as
to allow as many other qualified candi
dates to run for office as possible. We
need strong leadership locally and the
decisions will only get more difficult as
we grow in population.’
- Commissioner George Emami
Nathaniel Persky Invites Forsyth
to a Crypto Meet and Greet
Nathaniel Persky has issued an open invitation
to the town of Forsyth for citizens looking to
learn more about the developing crypto mining
farm project that was announced for the town
earlier this year.
Community members are invited to join Persky
on February 6, 2022 at the La Quinta Inn and
Suites by Wyndham Forsyth 400 Russell Pkwy,
Forsyth, GA 31029 for the 4 hours window that
we are using for the conversation, extending
the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to
the project, meet Nathan, and learn more about
the crypto mining industry and what this could
mean for the town of Forsyth.
Coffee and doughnuts will be provided for all
attendees. This is an open invitation, with no
ticket or follow up necessary.
“We want to ensure that the community knows
we hear them, and that their feelings and
opinions matter in our decisions regarding the
development of this project.” This is an informal
event that will run from 2PM to 6PM, prioritizing
open conversation and informed involvement.
As for any public event, safety is a number one
priority. Attendees are encouraged to wear
masks or non-medical face coverings and the
number of attendees within the location may be
limited and regulated to ensure proper
social-distancing practices can be applied.
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B. MONROE
BOUTIQUE
IQ E. JOHNSTON STREET FORSYTH
o FOXe tITY
O nmnaBREWINGCODiran
Saturday 2/12 — Valentine's Day 2/14
Appetizers:
Creamy Shrimp Rangoons with chili sauce.
Wonton Salad
(Another possible appetizer addition TBD)
Entrees:
Seared Duck Breast with a red wine and orange
glaze, side of 7 purple mashed potatoes and ginger
slaw.
Blackened Redfish on a bed of wild rice pilaf and
grilled asparagus.
To advertise your business, call Donna Wilson
at 478-993-5085, or e-mail her at ads@mymcr.net.