This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County's only free online newspaper!
Photo courtesy of Brent Taylor (pictured here) with Bobby Bickley.
ZEBULON - On Monday, November 12, Bobby Bickley, the incoming county manager, was the guest speaker at the Pike County Republican Party meeting. Bobby and his wife Maryann met everyone and gave some insight to why county commissioners chose Bobby for this position in Pike County government. Bobby started out with a little of his history and why he will be an asset for the county.
Bobby was born and raised in Upson County. He has 20 years of experience in the banking industry so this is an extensive financial background. He cited that this is much the same as past county manager John Hanson. “I’m excited to try something new and excited to work for a community like Pike.”
He cited community involvement such as the Smoke on the Water festival that he and several of his friends put together as a way to give back to the community and volunteer fire departments in Upson County. “We need to be out in the community, be seen in the community, and give back to the community when we can,” he said.
He said that there is a lot of excitement ahead for Pike County with the coming Veterans Administration Clinic. Bobby said that it would bring a lot of people into Pike County and possibly more industry which will help lower taxes. “It will put Pike County on the map and bring people in to see what we have here,” he said.
Bobby said that he is accustomed to hard work and is a pretty good communicator. Brent Taylor told him, “We hope that you stick around for awhile.” This prompted a conversation about longevity and the long list of people who have served in the role of county manager in Pike County over the past 20 years.
Typically, he said, you come to learn the job and then move to a bigger county. “I’m not moving to Gwinnett County,” he said. “I’m not using you (Pike County) as a stepping stone.” Maryann said that her husband is very family oriented and that his family lives in Upson County. He isn’t leaving his family to move to a bigger position in another county.
Bobby said that he will be visiting in various meetings and with department heads between now and his December 10 starting date as county manager. He is also seeing districts with the county commissioners and working with Interim County Manager Rob Morton to get up to speed on the county manager position before he steps into it. Tourism Board member Patsy Page said that the cities are so individual and suggested trying to find a way to pull everyone together.
He concluded his time of questions and answer with those who were present by saying, “I’m a planner at heart… I’m excited about being here.”