NOTICES

UPDATE May 28, 2025: As of 11:00 AM 5.28.2025 the multi-jurisdictional unified command is terminated. The incident has transitioned from active recovery to passive recovery (monitoring). The incident will be monitored by Georgia EPD for several more weeks and Marion Environmental will still be operating in the area to monitor and change absorbent booms as needed. The Unified Command would like to thank the Pickens County Public Works Department for their constant support including after-hours, weekends and holidays since the incident began. Also, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has provided support to command to include assigning a PIO to the command as well as security and traffic support.

UPDATE May 24, 2025: Talking Rock Road is open to thru traffic. Please use caution as cleanup crews and equipment will be in the area for several more days. Additional road closures may be required in that area next week as operations continue. Talking Rock Park will remain closed thru the holiday weekend.

UPDATE May 22, 2025: Operations within the incident area are progressing well with no major unexpected issues. Some issues have occurred with members of the public wondering into the work areas near Talking Rock Park requiring closures to be extended. Here is a summary of current operations:

· The incident area now covers 6 miles along Talking Rock Creek from the incident site to just west of Swan Bridge Road.
· 52,000 Gallons of Petroleum Contact Water (PCW) has been removed from the incident area.
· No Impact to aquatic life has been observed as of this briefing.
· No stressed vegetation has been observed as of this briefing.
· Active containment and recovery operations continue around the clock.
· Water samples have been taken upstream as the control and downstream of the incident site.
· Talking Rock Road will remain closed until further notice between State Route 136 and Old talking Rock Hwy.
· In coordination with the Town of Talking Rock, Talking Rock Park will remain closed until further notice.
These closing will remain in effect to ensure the safety of operations personnel and the public.


Ongoing Cleanup Efforts Following Diesel Tanker Spill Near Talking Rock

PICKENS COUNTY, GA — Cleanup operations continue today following a diesel tanker truck accident that occurred Monday morning on Talking Rock Highway near the Town of Talking Rock. The tanker, which was carrying a full load of diesel fuel, overturned and spilled an estimated 2,500 gallons of fuel, prompting a coordinated emergency response. Pickens County Fire Rescue, Pickens Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Public Works, and Pickens County Emergency Management were among the first on the scene. Responders immediately began efforts to contain the spill and prevent additional fuel runoff from entering Talking Rock Creek and adjacent marshlands. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) was notified and quickly deployed a representative to assess the environmental impact. An environmental cleanup team arrived within two hours of the accident and has since been working around the clock to remove contaminated material and stabilize the area. To date, more than 30,000 gallons of contaminated water have been recovered from the site. Sheen from diesel fuel has been detected in Talking Rock Creek from Downtown Talking Rock to Swan Bridge Road. However, no fish kills or signs of stressed vegetation have been observed. The Georgia EPD has now assumed lead agency responsibility for the remediation process, and monitoring of the affected areas will continue. The Town of Talking Rock Park will remain closed until further notice while cleanup operations are ongoing to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The impacted roadway near the accident site is estimated to remain closed for approximately two more days. The Georgia State Patrol is actively investigating the cause of the crash. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

A new Incident Management organization assumed command of the incident today. Unified Incident Commanders are Conti (Georgia EPD)& Westbrook (Pickens EMA).

Incident PIO: Captain Chris Leake Pickens Sheriff’s Office cleake@pickensgasheriff.com

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Notice of Call of 2025 Town of Talking Rock General Municipal Election and Notice of Qualifying Period for 2025 Town of Talking Rock General Municipal Election

The Pickens County Board of Elections & Registration, will conduct a General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., for the purpose of electing the following:

(A) The office of Town Councilmember of the Town of Talking Rock, Georgia, being Post 1, which will be elected at large for a term of four (4) years beginning on or about January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2029, with the incumbent Caleb Gay.

(B) The office of Town Councilmember of the Town of Talking Rock, Georgia, being Post 2, which will be elected at large for a term of four (4) years beginning on or about January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2029, with the incumbent being Anthony Hawf.

(C) The office of Town Councilmember of the Town of Talking Rock, Georgia, being Post 4, which will be elected at large for a term of four (4) years beginning on or about January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2029, with the incumbent being Darlene O’Connell.

The qualifying period, to qualify for the above offices, shall open on Monday, August 18, 2025, and will continue for three days through Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The hours of qualifying each day shall be from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The qualifying fee for each Council seat shall be $2.00. Prospective candidates may qualify at the administrative office of the Pickens County Board of Elections located at 3100 Camp Road, Suite B, Jasper, Georgia 30143. All qualified candidates are encouraged to run.

Advance voting for the election shall begin on Monday, October 14, 2025, and continue until Friday, October 31, 2025, including two Saturday voting days October 18th, 2025 and October 25, 2025. Advance voting will take place at the Pickens County Recreation Department, 1329 Camp Road, Jasper, Georgia 30143. Election Day, November 4, 2025, registered voters from the City of Jasper will vote at their assigned precinct location: Jasper Municipal Court Room, 55 G.G. Lovell Street, Jasper GA 30143.

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Governor Kemp has declared a State of Emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia in response to impending Tropical Storm Helene. Find Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Updates

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NOTICE: SET MILLAGE RATE 2024

The Talking Rock Council does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the Talking Rock Town Hall on September 11, 2024 at 7:00pm and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby .publish the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.

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DOWNTOWN TALKING ROCK PLAN


Larger View (PDF)

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NOTICE ON TAX COLLECTION

On June 12, 2023 the Talking Rock Council voted to allow the Pickens County Tax Commissioner to collect taxes on behalf of the Town of Talking Rock. Town of Talking Rock residents will only get ONE tax bill this year. It will come from the Pickens County Tax Office and will have both Town of Talking Rock and Pickens County taxes on the bill. The entire bill will be paid to Pickens County and they will reimburse the Town for the Town taxes.

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