County Manager Thomas Sauls explains discrepancy in Pierce County-City of Blackshear code enforement split
Editor, The Times, I am writing in response to the City of Blackshear being responsible for permits and enforcement within the city limits. First, let me say that the Pierce County Planning and Codes Department is following the directives and mandates of the State Georgia. There appeared to be some concern from (Blackshear Mayor Keith Brooks) that we (the county) were not providing a good “product”; however, I feel that we are providing a better service to the taxpayers of Pierce County since my taking the position of Interim County Manager. The City of Blackshear had some issues with the services for which they were receiving, and I have addressed them and we have made some very productive changes. In fact, the Mayor and Chief of Police of Blackshear met with myself, the Chairman and District 4 Commissioner and I informed them to give me some time to make some corrections, and I did what I said.
In response to the
remark of 'what, if anything, occurred to cause the seeming disconnect between Sauls’ projected July 1 start date and the city's more recent announcement of August 3 is unknown, but as far back as March, Blackshear Police Department (BDPD) Chief Chris Wright had advised the officers doing enforcement for Blackshear would not be ready until the end of July.' An important note to be made, no one from The Blackshear Times called and questioned me as to where I obtained the date of July 1, 2026.
Just for simple clarification please read the attached Resolution 20261 0 signed by the city Mayor of Blackshear on March 10th, 2026. Note in section one that the “Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to provide written notice to the Pierce County Board of Commissioners, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Amending Resolution and any associated intergovernmental agreements, stating the city's intent to assume responsibility for building permitting and inspection duties within the municipal boundaries of the City of Blackshear.”
In the second section of the resolution, one will read “The City’s assumption of permitting and inspection duties shall become effective in July 2026, on a specific date to be coordinated with Pierce County to ensure an orderly and cooperative transition.”
With that noted, Chairman Neal Bennett and Members of the Pierce County Board of Commissioners, did receive a notice of assumption of building permitting and inspection duties dated March 10, 2026. In the first paragraph of said notice of assumption one will see the wording as “this letter shall serve as formal written notice of the City of Blackshear’s intent to assume responsibility for building permitting and inspections within the corporate limits of the City of Blackshear.”
Also, please note in the letter Dated March 10, 2026, one will see that the intent was removed as to when the city would assume said responsibilities by the information that was provided to the Pierce County Board of Commissioners in the second paragraph that reads “on March 10, 2026, the Mayor and Council of the city of Blackshear adopted Resolution No. 2026-10 authorizing the Mayor to provide this notice to coordinate the transition of these duties with Pierce County. Effective July 1, 2026, the city of Blackshear will assume the following responsibility for: Issuance of building permits within the municipal limits; conducting inspections required under the State Minimum Standard Construction Codes; and Issuance of certificates of Occupancy and Completion for construction occurring within the city.”
This is the only written notification for which the Pierce County Board of Commissioners has received and it is clear that the Mayor signed a letter of intent to begin July 1, 2026; therefore, I did inform the Pierce County residents of said action that was being implemented by the City of Blackshear and to inform them as to what they would need to do.
I found out on today’s date, July 28, 2026, that the City of Blackshear would be assuming said responsibilities effective on August 3, 2026. Thankfully, I was informed by several people as to what was going into effect because neither the Chief of Police nor the Mayor of Blackshear never informed the Pierce County Board Commissioners of said information in a newly revised formal written notice with an effective starting date of August 3rd.
In closing, I would like to let the citizens of Pierce County know that I work for the people of Pierce County and I have been a public servant for years and I will continue to do so. Some of my decisions may not always be liked by some, but I will do what is in the best interest of Pierce County.
If you live anywhere in Pierce County and you would like to continue receiving permits and inspections from the Pierce County Planning and Codes Department, know this, we are here to serve you. We do not have any intergovernmental agreements with any city within Pierce County that will prevent us from serving you when it comes to building permits and inspections. However, we do have a zoning/land use ordinance for Pierce County and the cites of Blackshear, Offerman and Patterson that was approved November 10, 2020 with the assistance by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission.
Please see attached RESOLUTION 2026-10 please see attached letter of formal written notice I respectfully request that the attached Resolution 2026-10 and Letter of Formal Written Notice be included as exhibits in The Blackshear Times to clarify and document the basis for the July 1, 2026, date referenced in this matter.
(Editor’s Note: Due to space constraints a full reproduction of the documents referenced in the county manager’s letter have been uploaded to The Times’ Facebook page.)
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