Decision on Jarrett Annexation Delayed Until November 14

The owners of Jarrett Foods will have to wait a little longer to find out whether the Lavonia City Council will approve their request for annexation of the new plant they’re building on Highway 17.

At last week’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, several citizens spoke against the annexation because of potential heavy traffic and the company’s plan to eventually have some 300 employees.

That, plus the truck traffic in and out of the plant on the corner of Hwy 17 and Grady School Rd were the biggest concerns.

After hearing from citizens, a motion was made to approve the annexation request but it died for lack of a second.

The City Council was expected to vote on the annexation at tonight’s regular meeting but City Manager Charles Cawthon said Friday that there will be a special called session on Tuesday, November 14 at 6p due to the lack of a quorum at tonight’s meeting.

Jarrett Foods is a custom poultry processing plant operation that does not kill birds but receives the birds from larger poultry producers according to company president Terry Willis.

Renovations along with new additions to the existing 44,853 sq. ft. facility are already underway.

Willis tells WLHR News the projected completion and grand opening of the new 53,972 facility is expected to be at the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Jarrett Foods will initially invest $14 million dollars and bring 70 immediate jobs with approximately 300 jobs by March of 2025.