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NICHOLLS, Ga. (WALB) — For more than a year, Nicholls was a city caught between its past and its future.

After division over a 120-year-old charter that restricted city leadership to only white men, Governor Brian Kemp signed a brand-new charter into law on May 12, officially ending the debate on paper.

Previous Coverage: Small Town Politics: Proposed charter to change Nicholls city structure

Despite Nicholls Mayor, Tamon Frost’s opposition and attempts to delay the implementation according to sources close to the city. The Nicholls City Council is already moving forward.

On Aug. 17, the City Council took a major leap forward, officially voting to appoint the city’s very first City Manager.

Governor Brian Kemp signed Act 678, formally abolishing the 1903 rules and establishing a new Council-Manager government.

Under the newly signed charter, the executive control is stripped from the Mayor’s office and given to an appointed, professional City Manager. The Mayor’s role is reduced to a legislative presiding officer who only votes to break ties.

Sherry Grady, a longtime Nicholls Resident says this is a sign of progress for the city.

“It will hold everyone accountable for their actions,” Grady said. “I’m looking for Nicholls to improve. For the people of Nicholls to have a voice, the council to have voice, the Mayor to also have a voice. Looking for everyone to work together to better Nicholls community.”

Mayor Tamon Frost previously voiced fierce opposition to the position, telling WALB in a statement:

“The Council wants full control of hiring and firing of all City Employees, as well as hiring a City Manager which would add an additional salary giving that City Manager control of running the City in all aspects, financial etc...Realistically this City is too small of a city to have a City Manager Position.”

We’ve requested statements from Mayor Frost and Mayor Pro Tem Darrick Bonaparte since June and again this week to clarify the city’s stance on the new charter.

At the time this story was published WALB has not received a response.

Now, as the state-mandated changes finally take shape on the ground, WALB will continue to demand transparency on how your local tax dollars are being spent to fund this new transition.

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