At the first structure subcommittee meeting, members came armed with opinions but also an eagerness to look at research in determining what alternative to a sole commissioner government would be best for Pickens County.
In a two-hour meeting Monday where most points were discussed at length, the group made no firm decisions on how to proceed but agreed they needed to look at what works in other counties. Chairman John Foust said they were able to do what they thought was best for Pickens, but quoting legendary football coach, Bear Bryant, they might steal a play that works in another county.
While no vote was taken, the group (meeting with Phil Anderson, chairman of the whole Citizens Advisory Committee) appeared to favor presenting information on five basic forms of county government during public input meetings in July. Next they will incorporate feedback from those meetings to narrow their opinions down to a single recommendation on the form of government they believe would best serve this county.
Several members of the group said, at this point, their task is to look for the best alternative to a sole-commissioner government, not to debate sole commissioner government versus multi-man.
Subcommittee member Bill Murphy said the non-binding resolution in the November election showed 70 percent of voters in favor of at least gaining the opportunity to vote on an alternative.
After disclaimers by several group members who said they hadn’t formed a definite opinion, an early poll was taken. Results showed all members were, at that point, leaning towards a five member commission.
But, as Foust said several times, his views had already changed since he began doing research on multi-man commissions. Foust originally favored a three-member commission, he said.
The subcommittee asked the research group to gather information on forms of county government for every county in Georgia with a population within five percent larger or smaller than Pickens County.
There was some debate among members on whether they should look at information from just nearby counties or consider those “below the gnat line.” And they also wanted some supporting information about the per capita income, utilities available and other factors that might affect the style of government in other counties.
Member Bob Hayles said they needed to consider what was proposed on the unsuccessful 1992 ballot in Pickens County to move to a multi-man commission. The binding vote was defeated in a lopsided election at that time.
“We need to keep in mind that in 1992 the legislature had approved it, and the voters turned it down,” he said. “If the voters turned it down, it must have had some bad, but if it got that far, it must have had some good.”
Melanie Whitt countered that while that information might be helpful, with the influx of new people into the county, “it’s a new day and time.”
Foust closed the meeting by encouraging members to remain “open-minded” as they review the research.
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