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Guyton approves $2.1 million budget for 2024
Increases for police department, recreation
guyton
Published: Jul 3, 2023, 4:47 PM

By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

The City of Guyton approved its budget for fiscal year 2024 at a special called meeting on June 28. The budget includes just over $2.1 million in the general fund, just under $2.3 million in the water and sewer fund, with expenditures estimated at $2.1 million; $260,000 in TSPLOST, $590,000 in SPLOST funding,

The budget includes increased funding for Guyton Police, recreation, and the Downtown Development Authority.

“Guyton's 2023-2024 budget is an excellent example of spending tax dollars efficiently,” said Mayor Russ Deen. “This budget creates three new positions in the city, two administrative assistants, and a code enforcement officer.  These improvements will allow for faster service and will improve the appearance, safety, and quality of life for citizens in Guyton.”

In other action, the city council approved the zoning ordinance change regarding mobile and modular homes in the city, and added a recreation master plan.

 “Property owners desiring to put a manufactured or modular home on (their) property in the city limits will now apply for a special use permit with Planning and Zoning,” explained Mayor Deen. “This ordinance does not make manufactured housing or modular homes illegal. It allows the community the opportunity to participate in the future of their neighborhoods.”

The City Council voted to amend a service agreement with Atlanta-based POND Company to add a parks master plan to their economic development plan.

“We will have two stakeholder meetings where the public get to weigh in and express their desires for recreation,” said Maketa Brown, Guyton City Manager. “We will meet at the end of it all once it's completed. They will give us a detailed plan and tell us all the existing conditions of all our properties that could be used for recreation. (POND) is working with the county on a master plan there and so we hope to have our recreation items complement those of the county.”

Mayor Deen added his support for the proposal adding, “One of the biggest holdups is not having a community supported master plan. Community involvement is incredibly important with these things especially like our economic development plan.” He added that obtaining grants and other funding is much easier with community support.

“It's basically what the community wants. We want to hear from you,” Deen continued. “We want you to be a part of the stakeholder process and public hearing process. I've even reached out to Guyton Elementary School and we're going to ask the kids when they come back to school to give us their ideas because the park right across from their school.”

Dates to remember

The community is invited to the following events in Guyton:

July 8, 8 a.m.-noon, WOW Farmer’s Market on the Guyton Walking Trail.

July 15, noon-5 p.m., Guyton Leisure Services Community Picnic at the new recreation park, 718 Central Ave., Guyton. The event will have food, fun, games, contests, prizes, and other give aways, according to event organizers.

July 22, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Sale along the Trail. “The only licensed folks who are allowed to sell those booths is City Hall,” cautioned Mayor Deen. “If you are interacting with someone on Facebook who says it’s $150, they're lying. Booths are $20. No electricity, but a lot of people were averaging around 1,500 to 2,000 people for that sale. So, please come out.”
Volunteers hold 'Demo Party' to help Rincon Woman Rebuild Storm-Damaged Home
Miss Peggy
Matt Evans, owner of Centaur Home Renovations, consults with volunteer Janel Kearney while directing the demolition process. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Mya Taylor
Updated: Aug 28, 2025, 3:11 PM
Published: Aug 28, 2025, 2:43 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Volunteers attended a “demo party” over the weekend to help demolish the interior of 82-year-old Miss Peggy’s home, which was left severely damaged by a storm years ago.

A gloomy forecast and threat of rain did not deter the group from working. When the seven volunteers arrived, they were greeted by Centaur Home Renovations owner Matt Evans, who is leading the renovations. Masks, trash bags and tools were handed out as music played from a large speaker and fans helped keep volunteers cool in the summer heat. Orange arrows painted on the walls directed workers to the areas slated for demolition.

Miss Peggy
Leigh Carter strips wallpaper as part of the interior demolition of Miss Peggy’s home during a community ‘demo party’ in Rincon. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Leigh Carter, the first to arrive, was one of several who stripped walls and tore out drywall. Carter’s efforts go beyond renovations — she has also driven Miss Peggy to doctor’s appointments and helped her get rehoused last week at Family Promise of Effingham after a brief displacement.

“We want to get Miss Peggy back home in a safe place to live,” Carter said.

Volunteers spread out through the home, removing damaged drywall and hauling debris to a dumpster in the driveway.

“I decided to join because I thought helping somebody would be a good thing to do,” volunteer Sydney Kearney said. “I just thought it would be nice to volunteer.”

Miss Peggy
Grayson Heaton uses a crowbar to help remove damaged walls during the volunteer demolition day. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

Repairs underway
Michael’s Roofing of Meldrim completed the first major repair by rebuilding and installing a new roof. The previous roof had been damaged by a fallen tree, which led to water leaks, mildew and mold spreading through the home.

Now Evans and Centaur Home Renovations are leading the next phase of work. Evans joined volunteers in the demolition and said community support has been growing since news of Miss Peggy’s situation was first reported in the Effingham Herald. 

“Since the article was first published, we’ve gotten quite a few reach-outs from people willing to donate their time,” Evans said. “We’ve also had four different dumpster companies donate dumpsters for the cause as well.”

Community organizations are also pitching in. Family Promise and the Manna House Food Pantry and Thrift Store have pledged to provide furniture and other materials once renovations are complete.

The most recent setback came when the septic tank lids collapsed, causing the system to stop working. Evans said crews are now cleaning the tank and clearing the lines.

Miss Peggy
Benny Carter tosses an old mattress into a dumpster as part of cleanup efforts at Miss Peggy’s storm-damaged home. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)

What’s still needed
“After the demo is completed, we can start looking for more materials we’ll need like lumber, drywall, paint, flooring and more to get the house back together,” Evans said.

Additional materials still needed include:

  • 25 2x4x8 studs

  • Four sheets of OSB sheathing

  • Twenty 12-foot deck boards (5/4)

  • Twelve 12-foot sheets of sheetrock

  • 36-inch vanity

  • Two toilets

  • Four ceiling fans

  • Two bathroom fans

  • 60-inch vanity

  • 60-inch fiberglass tub and surround

  • 60-inch fiberglass shower and surround

  • 1,600 square feet of LVP flooring

  • 36-inch exterior door

  • Rolls of drywall tape

  • Buckets of drywall mud

  • Bags of 20-minute drywall joint compound

  • 100 linear feet of baseboard and quarter round

  • 10 gallons of Kilz or Cover Stain

  • 10–12 gallons of white paint

There is no estimated timeline for completion, as more funds and supplies are needed. The GoFundMe campaign for Miss Peggy’s home renovations has raised more than $1,400.

Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/help-ms-peggy-return-to-a-safe-home.

Miss Peggy
The interior of Miss Peggy’s home shows ceiling stripped and debris cleared in preparation for renovations. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)