Year in Review: Lavonia starts the new year with a new mayor

Continuing our look back at the top local stories in 2020, Lavonia starts the new year with a new mayor.

 

Former Lavonia Mayor Ralph Owens formally handed over the reins to new Mayor Courtney Umbehant in January. 

 

After the swearing in, Umbehant officially assumed his mayoral duties by taking his seat on the City council bench.

 

Umbehant  wasted no time getting up to speed on the issues in Lavonia, meeting with Owens, City Manager Charles Cawthon, and Lavonia Police Chief  Bruce Carlisle, among others. 

 

In an interview with Umbehant shortly after his election, the new mayor said he plans to stick to his platform of bringing in more workforce housing and developing the downtown area.

 

However he said a top priority was to come up with a long-range action plan for Lavonia’s future.

 

Umbehant said while working to develop the coming Bypass is important, the continued revitalization of the downtown area and attracting new businesses there is another goal of the mayor-elect.

 

 

Another new face on the Lavonia City Council this year was City Councilman Andrew Murphy who took over the Post 4 seat.