Mayor Andy Rhodes and council members Bubba Gibbs and Jacqueline Kiker were sworn into their new City of Blue Ridge positions Monday, January 5.
In an opening address by Rhodes, he received a standing ovation from the large audience inside City Hall.
“It fills me with pride to look around this room and see so many leaders and people who have stepped up time and time again to serve Blue Ridge,” Rhodes said.
“In the past few weeks, we’ve already been to work. We’ve been busy laying the groundwork. We spent a full day of zoning training making sure that we’re making smart, thoughtful decisions for our future growth. We then dedicated three full days at a government impact conference learning every part of how our city operates from budget and infrastructure to public safety,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes went on to tell of presentations of parliamentary procedures, litigation and audits during the conference.
He also recognized the many local and state leaders and former council members that were in attendance. Some of those included Fannin County commissioners Chairman Jamie Hensley, Glenn Patterson and Johnny Scearce, McCaysville Mayor Terry Arp and Police Chief Michael Earley, state Representative Johnny Chastain, and Georgia Department of Transportation board member Emily Dunn.
Fannin County Probate Judge Scott Kiker led the swearing in ceremony and shared some advice.
He told the new leaders to be thankful and approach decisions from the citizen’s perspective while not compromising personal values.
The three new council members replace Mayor Rhonda Haight, Angie Arp and Dr. William Whaley.
Council members Bill Bivins, Christy Kay and Jack Taylor make up the rest of the council.