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Hammock with superintendent of Tallassee Schools Wade Shipman during ground breaking for work at Tallassee High School

Mayor enters final year of term

By Michael Butler

Three years are in the books with one more to go. And for Tallassee mayor Johnny Hammock, there is still much more to do. Hammock has announced his bid for re-election in 2020.

"I was sworn in on Nov. 7, 2016," Hammock said. "The platforms I ran on were; public safety, economic development, education, recreation and beautification."

Hammock broke down the challenges with each platform and steps taken to improve each.

"Look at our police department before. Now look at it. We've restructured. Matt Higgins, the chief and captain Todd Buce are doing an excellent job. I feel like we've got a better police department.

"When you talk about economic development, you talk about infrastructure, good leadership and workforce development. We've been working on infrastructure. On workforce development - Tallassee City Schools scores have come up. We're improving. With good civic leadership, we're getting more people involved.

"With education we have three Student Resource Officers (SRO's). We have an SRO at every campus now. We passed a sales tax for half of it to go to the new school and half to go to infrastructure.

"With recreation, of course we don't have a new rec center or swimming school, but we have made improvements to the rec center. We do have a new concession stand that we partnered with DYB on. We're writing a grant to hopefully help us build a new soccer complex. I'd like to do more if the funds are there. We have made strides.

"As far as beautification, we've torn down more houses in the last three years than they did in the past ten years. We've restructured our city ordinance. We've made improvements in East Tallassee with Carl Wayne Memorial Park. We're trying to do something in Jordanville."

Hammock said the work will continue during the final year of his term.

"We have a lot of projects with the sewer plant, the gas line replacement and you'll see utility lines replaced in downtown Tallassee with sidewalks and milling down that old busted road and repaving it. I think we're doing a lot of good with this administration.

"Like I said before, I don't want to be a good city - I want to be a great city. It takes great work ethic. I'm not the smartest person, but I won't get outworked. If somebody can come in and do this job better than me, I'd gladly step aside. But if you're not going to put 50 or 60 hours a week in like I do, I'll call you to the carpet even if you beat me."