Austell has a new mayor due to the resignation of long-time mayor Joe Jerkins due to health problems.
That person is Ollie B. Clemons Jr. who was chosen by Jerkins to be the mayor pro tem in December 2014 after Clemons was elected as an at-large councilman from Post 1, the city’s first black elected official.
As mayor pro tem, Clemons has been presiding in place of Jerkins at City Council meetings and special events such as ribbon cuttings.
Jerkins has not attended an Austell City Council meeting since August and did not have plans to seek re-election this year.
Until then during his 30 years as both mayor and city manager, Jerkins had missed only two meetings of around 750 - one pre-agenda meeting and one City Council meeting around Thanksgiving 1998 when he broke his back, Jerkins had told the AJC.
Jerkins told the AJC it was cheaper for the city for him to serve as both mayor and city manager.
Among Jerkins’ achievements have been:
- the city's purchase of the Threadmill complex,
- provision of both fire and police departments,
- the city's settlement with Norfolk Southern Railway to build the John Whitaker Intermodal Facility at U.S. 278 and 6000 Dr. Luke Glenn Garrett, Jr. Memorial Highway and
- use of annual interest from that $5 million settlement to benefit many families in need in Austell.
From the settlement, last November’s interest was $97,700 with annual recommendations given to the Council through the Austell Area Community Improvement Commission (AACIC).
For instance, through a program established by Jerkins, each year money is given to help Garrett Middle School students, who have truancy problems, which might mean providing them with eyeglasses or meeting family needs to help the students stay in school.
Information: AustellGa.gov
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