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Royston City Manager reports staffing changes, system upgrades and project kickoffs
Summary
City Manager Lanier Dunn reported a new city-wide phone system and TruVista fiber connection to the Wastewater Plant, the retirement of Fire Chief Matt Elrod and appointment of Jon Lorentson, several hires and vacancies across departments, and pre-construction kickoffs for Raw Water Intake and Sewer Plant Filter projects.
City Manager Lanier Dunn presented the operations report for June at the July 8 Royston council meeting, detailing personnel changes, system upgrades and construction milestones.
Dunn said about 50 parcels remained delinquent in property taxes and would be turned over for further action after July 2 in anticipation of a December 2025 tax sale. A new city-wide phone system was installed by Hart Telephone Co., connecting five city locations with site-to-site calling; the Wastewater Plant was connected to TruVista’s fiber network.
Human resources updates included the retirement of Fire Chief Matt Elrod effective June 30 and the succession of Jon Lorentson as Fire Chief on July 1. The Assistant Fire Chief position has been posted with an application deadline of July 7. Dunn reported hires in the Street Department (Tony Rector and Preston Woods) and noted remaining vacancies: two patrol officer positions in the Police Department, one CDL driver vacancy in Streets, one opening in Natural Gas (trainee or technician), and one Water Department operator/operator-trainee vacancy.
Dunn said the Natural Gas Department prepared for two Public Service Commission inspections (Public Awareness Program and Drug and Alcohol Testing Program), completed a physical inventory the last week of June, and had an auditor from Rushton LLC observe the final count with no problems noted. He also reported two pre-construction kickoffs (June 11) for the Raw Water Intake Project and the Sewer Plant Filter Project; a Notice to Proceed was issued for the Sewer Plant Filter Project with a July 7, 2025 date, while the Raw Water Project’s proceed date was pending final acceptance of plans and specs by the Georgia EPD.
Why it matters: The report signals near-term operational changes and project starts that will affect staffing needs, vendor engagement and construction timelines. The council received the report; several items will require ongoing administrative follow-up.
