SPRINGFIELD — Things took at ugly turn during Thursday’s Exchange Club of Effingham meeting at Renasant Bank.

One of the primary topics the featured speaker discussed was abandoned and blighted properties in his city and what is being done about them.

“You all know that there are a number of places in Guyton that have kind of fallen by the wayside,” Guyton Mayor Jeff Lariscy said. “There is one on Highway 17 by the old bank that is now the hardware store that we are really working hard to try to figure out what to do with. Of course, the courts have to be involved and the property owner has to be given certain rights and notices, so I think we are in the process of getting that one taken care of.”

Guyton officials would prefer to avoid legal proceedings.

“We have several properties that have fallen into neglect and we just need the owners to come back in and get them up to snuff or they just need to be removed or sold to someone who can spruce them up,” he said.

The mayor said one blighted building in Guyton — an old log cabin — was recently removed on Cherry Street.

After receiving a reminder from Guyton Mayor Pro-Tem Dr. Franklin Goldwire, Lariscy mentioned an old city-owned property that is expected to be revitalized soon.

“Our old gymnasium was in a little bit of disrepair. As a matter of fact, there were some safety concerns in electrical and broke panes,” Lariscy said. “It just needed a lot of TLC. It’s one of those buildings that we are talking about that needs sprucing up.”

City officials are trying to obtain a Community Development Block Grant to help pay for the gym project.

“We feel like that property has a historical value and a value to the community as a meeting place,” the mayor said.

Early in his address, Lariscy mentioned a couple of key additions to the City of Guyton’s staff — namely Tom Werth as city manager and Alison Bruton as city clerk.

Werth came to Guyton from the City of Nahunta.

“It really worked out well because — as city manager there — he was also public works superintendent so he knew a lot about a lot,” Lariscy said. “He’s working well for the city doing a lot of things on the public works side of things.”

Bruton ascended to her position after starting with the City of Guyton in the fire department. She is reviewing city ordinances for the city council so that outdated ones can be removed from the books.

It has been a year since Guyton had a permanent public safety director. Stacy Strickland has filled that role on an interim basis.

In January, Lariscy recommended that Strickland have the interim tag removed. The city council never voted on the suggestion, however, after Post 1 Councilman Steve Collins’ motion to approve it didn’t receive a second.

“... I haven’t opened that up again, yet,” Lariscy said.

Another early topic Lariscy broached was the construction of roundabout at the intersection of Highways 17 and 119.

“... The research is that it’s the safest mechanism for an intersection,” he said.

The mayor also said Guyton’s water treatment facility is working well. During the 30 years prior to 2017, Guyton’s wastewater was treated at the City of Springfield’s wastewater facility.

The mayor opened his remarks with an acknowledgement of the recent passing of Merrill “Bubba” Riggs, a longtime Exchange Club member. 

“I reflected on that event and decided and I’d start by saying, ‘What’s going on, Bubba?, because that’s a cheerful refrain that I’ll always remember from Mr. Riggs,” Lariscy said. “Whenever I saw him, he’d say, ‘What’s going on, Bubba?”

Other memories of Riggs were shared by club members before, during and after the meeting.