Jasper Police Chief and Fire Chief Sworn In
City Council, Police & Government April 5, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council oversaw the swearing in of Mathew Dawkins as Police Chief and John Sherrer III as Fire Chief during their April 4 meeting. The retirement of Fire Chief Steve Roper was also recognized by the council.
Chiefs Sworn In
Mathew Dawkins, previously Interim Police Chief, was sworn in as Police Chief by Mayor Steve Lawrence. Dawkins was selected for the position during a nationwide search conducted by the city council. Noted in a press release from Mayor Lawrence, Dawkins has worked with the Jasper Police Department for 14 years, and will start as chief as soon as April 15, 2022.
Police Chief Matt Dawkins was sworn in by Mayor Lawrence.
John Sherrer III was sworn in by Mayor Lawrence.
Fire Chief John Sherrer III was also sworn in by Mayor Lawrence during the meeting. Sherrer was similarly chosen by the council after a nationwide search and will begin working with the city as soon as April 18, 2022. In a press release, Mayor Lawrence noted Sherrer’s current employment as a firefighter and Captain for the Vienna (Volunteer) Fire Department. The press release also states that Sherrer’s “extensive work experience in the areas of management and planning will assist existing staff, Council (present and future) and this community in charting the course for what Jasper has to offer.” Speaking at the end of the meeting, Sherrer said he plans to have a five-year plan ready within 90 days to “grow the department to match the city.”
Sherrer will succeed Steve Roper as Jasper’s Fire Chief. Roper’s retirement was recognized by the council, and Mayor Lawrence presented Roper with an award on behalf of the City of Jasper saying, “This is for Fire Chief Steve Roper in appreciation of 38 years with the City of Jasper and 23 years serving as Fire Chief.” Roper was also presented with a plaque that, in part, read “Steve trained and learned how to be a firefighter … moved through the ranks and was appointed Fire Chief on October 4, 1999. Steve was an advocate for the Jasper Fire Department. While Steve was Fire Chief, the Jasper Fire Department provided excellent services to the City of Jasper. This fire station is dedicated in the honor and recognition of Steve Roper’s exemplary service to the citizens of the City of Jasper, Georgia.” The plaque will be placed at the new fire station. Roper was given his helmet and the opportunity to make his last call during the meeting, signifying his official retirement. “It has been an honor to serve .. you for the better part of my life. Thank you,” Roper said before leaving the meeting for a final ride in the fire truck.
Other Business
The council also took action on the Downtown Development Authority’s planned Second Saturday events. Previously discussed during a March 2022 meeting, the DDA plans to hold an event on the second Saturdays of May, June, July, and August. The council approved a $20,000 total expenditure to be used for all four events. The expenditure would be used to cover the costs of a stage and performing bands, among other expenses.
The council approved revisions to Jasper’s alcohol ordinances in a continuation of a discussion that took place during a previous work session. During that work session, City Manager Sonia Jammes explained the purpose of the revisions is “to evaluate some of the economic needs and long-term liability and sustainability in our downtown.” The discussion at the work session was focused on two sections of the ordinance: pouring licenses for independent living facilities and food sale requirements for high-end beer service. At the recommendation of City Attorney David Syfan, the council agreed that independent living facilities should be allowed to obtain pouring licenses, but businesses planning to sell only high-end beer should have a food sale requirement.
Frank Leist updated the council on continued plans for the Veterans’ Memorial Park during the meeting. Phase two, as Leist called it, will include an expansion of the existing memorial and the relocation of a monument that is currently located at the Pickens County Courthouse. “We are going to honor the 55 Pickens County Veterans who passed away during war conflict,” Leist said of project. He also noted that fundraising is already underway, but he plans to wait for the project to be fully funded before development begins.
Council approves Jasper Police and Fire Chief selections
City Council, Police & Government April 1, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Jasper City Council held a work session on March 31. During the meeting the council discussed ordinance amendments, approved several purchases, and extended employment offers for Jasper Police and Fire Chief positions.
After a nationwide search for Jasper’s next fire chief, the council unanimously voted to extend a conditional offer of employment to John Sherrer III. Similarly, Interim Police Chief Mathew Dawkins was selected from a national group of candidates for Jasper Police Chief. The council’s conditional offer of employment to Dawkins was approved after another unanimous vote.
Councilmember Sonny Proctor complimented the qualifications of both candidates, and Councilmember Anne Sneve highlighted the number of strong candidates that were considered during the process. Mayor Steve Lawrence called the process exhausting, but said “it was well done, and I feel like, again, we have gone out nationally to get the best … person for our city. I admire this council greatly for taking that action, and a special thanks to our HR director who did such a good job setting all this up.”
After the city council work session, The City of Jasper released two press releases noting the offer of employment, for Fire Chief and Police Chief, and marked the beginning of both candidates’ commencement period.
Ordinances
The council also discussed ordinance revisions during the work session. The Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Policy Ordinance, intended to strengthen and clarify existing city policy, was approved by the council. The revision will also establish a maintenance program that will include penalties for non-compliance, according to Kim Goldener.
The council also heard from City Manager Jammes on the city’s alcohol ordinances: “In an effort to evaluate some of the economic needs and long-term liability and sustainability in our downtown, we would like to amend certain parts of the current alcohol ordinance to make some allowances for some new types of businesses that are wanting to open up in our vibrant downtown.” She also noted that the ordinance was approved during the 1970s and is outdated in some ways, specifically mentioning a restriction on happy hour specials.
The council’s discussion focused on two sections of the Alcohol Ordinance, concerning pouring licenses for independent living facilities and whether or not high-end beer service would be permitted without food sales. While the council agreed that independent living facilities should not be restricted from obtaining a license, City Attorney David Syfan raised concerns about potential ambiguity in high-end beer facilities. “I have the tendency to think if we allow a high-end beer facility, that we ought to have a food requirement,” a suggestion Syfan said would prevent possible ambiguity that could lead to bars opening downtown. Ultimately, the council gave their opinion that an amended ordinance should allow independent living facilities to obtain a pouring license, but enact a food sale requirement for high-end beer facilities.
Purchase Approvals
The Jasper City Council also approved several purchases during the meeting. Among the purchase approvals were already budgeted expenditures, like inventory parts and a lawn mower for the city’s Water Department. The council also approved the purchase of raw water pump.
Notably, the council also approved the purchase of an additional user license for the ArcGIS system, the geographic information system software used by the city of Jasper, at a cost of $27,000. City Manager Sonia Jammes, who presented the request, said “I know this comes as no shock to anyone, that the secret of Jasper is out. The jewel is out, and as such we need to prepare for future development, and we need to provide staff with the tools to prepare for that future development.” Jammes told the council that a second user license would let staff work on two projects simultaneously and increase accessibility to precise and updated information.
Other Business
Continuing the discussion on downtown bathrooms, the council discussed conceptual drawings for proposed downtown bathrooms. The council moved to create a committee to further communicate with the engineers of the project, who say the project should be ready to move forward in weeks rather than months.
Discussion on Perrow Park also continued during the work session. A cabin currently on the property will be removed at the suggestion of a steering committee, according to City Manager Jammes. She said the committee recommended removal “with a caveat that they would like to use some of the existing stone foundations to pay homage to the … original owner of the property by putting some plaques and incorporating that stone in different sites of what the vision is for the property.” The council voted to approve removal of the cabin.
Before the council began an executive session, Councilmember Kirk Raffield noted that March 31 was the last day of Women’s History Month: “We are ending Women’s History Month with a city organization being restructured where our ladies are actually leading the entire organization. I do not want that to fall on deaf ears, this is history in the making.”