MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL

Meetings are the first Thursday of the Month

TOWN OF TALKING ROCK MAYOR & COUNCIL

James Bryant, Jr. ~ Mayor Pro Tem

James Bryant, Jr.

Mayor

mayor@talkingrockga.com

James Bryant and his family have lived in Talking Rock since 2012. Born in Tampa, Florida, James was raised in Pulaski County, Virginia and graduated from Radford High School in 1987. James joined the United States Army in October of 1987. In 1990, James served in Operations Desert Shield and Storm. After the war, James returned home and attended Radford University. While at Radford, James joined the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1995. James had served in several roles and been stationed in several areas throughout the United States and Overseas. James has been deployed several times to include, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. James retired from active duty in 2015 and now is working in the Public Sector. James began serving on the Talking Rock Town Council in 2017 and became Mayor Pro Tem in January 2022.

Lynda Cagle - Councilmember

Lynda Cagle

Councilmember

lcagle@talkingrockga.com

I grew up in Atlanta, was schooled there, attended UGA and over the years saw many changes.. The Buckhead area was really my home town as both of my parents had businesses in the heart of the community. Our family was well accepted by all businesses and to us they felt like family who watched us grow. My own family still enjoyed the community. Later we created businesses. The Atlanta Voice Connection and Comtel Services were both communication businesses, The last position in Atlanta was with Benefit Services Corporation as the Facilities Manager.

As the times passed Atlanta lost the community feeling to the point that my husband and I wanted to find that sense of closeness that no longer existed even in our little neighborhood. In 1997 my husband and my son found our house on a pleasure ride to North Georgia to see the area that impressed him. They stopped in Talking Rock, saw the house for sale and he felt it was the place we should move. It has been home ever since.

In 2003 my job ended in Atlanta after being sold to a large national company. Shortly after, some neighbors in town asked me to fill an opening on the town council. Later, I ran for a full term and was elected and continued until 2013. This year I was offered the opportunity to serve again. Our little community still offers the special feeling we were looking to find over 26 years ago.

Caleb Gay - Councilmember

Caleb Gay

Councilmember

calebg@talkingrockga.com

Tony Hawf - Councilmember

Tony Hawf

Mayor Pro Tem

thawf@talkingrockga.com

Tony Hawf moved to Talking Rock with his wife Mary in 2019. Living in Georgia for most of his life, he has always been passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of his fellow citizens.

After graduating from North Cobb High School and Marietta Vo-Tech (Currently Chattahoochee Tech) he has worked in the construction industry, for the Cobb County Planning Dept., served in the United States Army in Desert Storm, worked for the Cobb County Fire Dept, then back to construction where he is now a licensed contractor.

He has never lost sight of his desire to serve the community, and over the years he has volunteered for a number of local organizations and causes.

In 2020, Tony decided to take his commitment to the community to the next level by running for a seat on the Town council. He has also heavily invested time and money in the downtown business district, starting local businesses and reviving diminished areas.

Tony remains active in the community and continues to volunteer for various organizations and causes. He is a proud parent and grandparent, and enjoys spending time with his family, as well as hiking, cooking and gardening.

Tony is deeply committed to making Talking Rock a better place to live, work, and raise a family, and he is honored to serve on the council and work towards that goal.

Jason Little - Councilmember

Jason Little

Councilmember

jlittle@talkingrockga.com

TOWN OF TALKING ROCK CLERK

The Town Clerk is appointed by the Mayor and Council and is the official record keeper for the Town of Talking Rock. The Town Clerk is responsible for keeping minutes, distributing agendas, maintaining ordinances, resolutions and proclamations as well as facilitating city elections.


Phone: 706-253-5515
Email: townclerk@talkingrockga.com

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST

MINUTES


* No Meeting Held   |    C - Called   |    PH - Public Hearing  |    WS - Work Session
PDF files above open in new window

TALKING ROCK CALENDAR

The next regular scheduled meeting for the Talking Rock Council is on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 7 pm.
Work Session precedes the meeting at 5:30 pm.

AGENDA

    I. Call Meeting to Order

    II. Pledge of Allegiance

    III. Mayor Announcements

    IV. Approval of October 2024 Meeting Minutes

    V. Approval of October 2024 Financial Reports

    VI. Summary of Maintenance

    Old Business:

    A. Heritage Days
    B. Pedestrian Crosswalk

    New Business:

    A. Proposed 2025 Budget
    B. Special Projects Account
    C. American Rescue Plan Funds
    D. Updating the entrance to Town Hall to be ADA compliant
    E. Town Signs Update
    F. Storage Facility
    G. Town of Talking Bench at Pickens Memorial

    VII. Adjourn: Next Council Working session, Thursday, 5th of December 2024 at 5:30 PM, followed by the Town Council meeting at 7:00 PM.

    (Individuals with disabilities who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting, or the facilities are required to contact the ADA Coordinator at 706-253-5515 promptly to allow the Town to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.)

COUNCIL MEETING VIDEOS



Videos courtesy of KnowPickens

HISTORY

For the purpose of establishing a Town on the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad in Pickens County, Georgia, to be designated and known as the Town of Talking Rock, the undersigned owners of lands in Lots 132 and 157, in the 12th District, 2nd Section, first reserving the right of way and lands contiguous to the railroad track, which lands we have this day conveyed to the Marietta & North Georgia Railroad Company in deed bearing even date with this instrument, and as appears on this map prepared by F.S. Wallace, Chief Engineer of said Railroad Company, which map is drawn on the tracing-cloth which this instrument is written; and first again hereby dedicating to the public forever for street purposes so much of said lands as is embraced in the various roads, streets and even as shown on said map, do hereby set apart so much of our said land as is embraced in the various lots and blocks show on said map, to be hereafter known as designated by number of lot and letter of block, with metes and bounds as shown by said map, said lots, blocks, roads, streets and avenues to compromise the Town of Talking Rock; the consideration moving each of us in the establishing of this Town being the consequent enhanced value of our lands within and adjacent to said Town, and the general benefit to the surrounding country, by which we shall be benefitted. It is our wish that the Town of Talking Rock be incorporated according to the Laws of Georgia, with such regulations as the purchasers and holders of the lots may determine to be best, and that the streets and avenues become the property of the Town for the purpose designated.

In witness whereof we have hereunto signed our names and affixed our seals this 19th day of March, A.D. 1883.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of F.S. Wallace, E. Wofford, N.P, N.W. Blalock, S.L. Taylor

Recorded May 8th, 1883


DOWNLOAD Town of Talking Rock Map PDF file opens in new window

Town of Talking Rock Schoolhouse ►►►

TOWN OF TALKING ROCK DIRECTORY

Blackwater Station

Blackwater Station

4645 Hwy 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-889-0738
@blackwaterstationga

Lateral Drift General Store
& Hiking & Camping Gear

Lateral Drift

4615 Hwy 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-253-3040
lateral-drift.com

Level III Framing, LLC House Builders

Level III Framing, LLC

4679 Hwy 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
770-355-3882
EMAIL dustyetn@tds.net

Moose and Annie Mercantile Antiques

Moose and Annie Mercantile

4551 Hwy 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-253-2270
@mooseandannie

Talking Rock Brewery

Talking Rock Brewery

4500 Highway 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-253-2337
talkingrockbrewery.beer | @talkingrockbrewery

Talking Rock First Baptist Church

Talking Rock First Baptist Church

429 Old Blairsville Hwy
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-253-7733
@TalkingRock1stBaptist

Talking Rock Pottery

Talking Rock Pottery

4632 Highway 136 West
Talking Rock, GA 30175
706-253-3520
@talkingrockpottery

CONTACT

Talking Rock is located 1.4 miles east of Georgia highway 515, in beautiful Pickens County, between Jasper & Ellijay.


Town of Talking Rock

4675 Hwy. 136 W
Talking Rock, GA 30175
Phone: 706-253-5515
Email: townclerk@talkingrockga.com