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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - No one disputes that the campaign signs located on the right-of-way on County Farm Road were mowed over by a county mower, but it’s what happened after that incident that prompted a phone call to Pike County Times because the employee has been fired.
That phone call began an investigation that included a series of open records requests for written documentation as well as a request to review the cameras at Public Works.
The employee driving the mower has been fired and has placed an appeal with the County regarding his termination.
Termination
Reggie Corley worked for Pike County Public Works from November of 2024 until April 20, 2026. One of the jobs that he worked was on the mowing crew for the County. On a day that he was cutting the grass along County Farm Road, some of Commissioner Tim Guy’s re-election signs were mowed over while maintaining the grass on the county right-of-way.On April 15, 2026, Corley met with County Manager/Attorney Rob Morton and Public Works Director Chris Goodman to discuss the incident. Corley told Pike County Times that he apologized in that meeting for accidently hitting the campaign signs and said that he would be willing to pay for the signs.
Corley also gave a written statement to the County describing what happened. He stated that the signs were in a line where the County has to cut the grass, and that he cut them down while trying to miss them.
He alo wrote that if there are signs on the right-of-way where the County has to cut the grass, they need to be kept cut around or moved while they are cutting. He ended his statement by saying that the crew already had enough “cut around” work without adding more.
During that meeting, Corley was advised that he was being given a separation notice for involuntary resignation from the County and time off from work until the County could make a decision on the matter.
On April 20, 2026, County Manager/Attorney Morton sent a letter to Corley thanking him for meeting with him and Public Works Director Goodman. Morton advised that “his investigation had substantiated that you (Corley) intentionally mowed over signs while mowing the county’s right of way” which was “contrary” to the instructions given to Corley by his supervisor and “your actions demonstrated inefficiency or incompetency related to the mowing of the rights of way.”
Morton then went on to say that Corley admitted to mowing over signage previously, and because of these reasons, he was being terminated from employment with the county effective April 20 based on insubordination from Section 36.20(B)(6) and inefficiency or incompetency from Section 36.20(B)(7) of the Pike County Code of Ordinances.
Corley was advised in this separation letter that he had a right to appeal the termination as written in Pike County Code of Ordinances in Section 36.20(C)(5) of the Personnel Policy.
When questioned by Pike County Times about Morton's accusation of previously mowing over campaign signs, Corley strongly denied previously mowing over campaign signs as well as pointing out that he apologized and offered to pay for the signs. He also said that he had no disciplinary actions in his personnel file.
Open Records Requests - Paper
Pike County Times placed several open records requests related to this incident and received written documentation pertaining to the termination.
Pike County Times asked for written documentation such as an ordinance or a mowing crew rule that this termination was based on and was advised that no documents exist related to an ordinance or mowing crew rule.
Pike County Times asked for a copy of any write ups or terminations from the past 5 years for anyone on a mowing crew with regard to campaign signs and was advised that there are no write-ups or terminations within the past 5 years for any employee on a mowing crew concerning campaign signs.
At this point, Pike County Times noted to the County that there was no previous written documentation in Corley’s personnel file and expressed concerns to the County of a precedent that is being set with this case.
However, it should also be noted that according to state law, Georgia is an “at-will” state. So even without Corley being written up in the past, even without there being a written policy for mowers with regard to campaign signs, and even without anyone being disciplined or terminated for a similar offense in the past 5 years, his employment can be terminated at any time unless there is a contract for a specific term of employment with the county.
But to complicate matters, Pike County Times received information that Tim Guy, the sitting commissioner whose signs were mowed over, drove out to Public Works on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 to possibly confront the employee that mowed over his signs.
Open Records Requests - Video
An open records request was made for a copy of any and all videos from Public Works and/or the gas tanks that show Commissioner Tim Guy entering and leaving Public Works to discuss his yard signs including audio if it was available.
The first reply advised that Wired Technology and the Director of Public Works “did not find any records responsive to your request.” However, Pike County Times requested to review specific video footage pertaining to this incident and was advised that on site video was available for viewing with the oversight of the County Clerk.
It was noted during this viewing of video footage that there was a difference of 42 minutes on the time stamp on the videos from the actual time. The representative from Wired said that the time on the video was 42 minutes slow. This means that the truck and trailer were shown on the video at 14:53 (2:53 p.m.) rather than closer to the actual time of the incident around 3:30 p.m. which matches the time that had been given to Pike County Times in the tip. The time difference explained why the footage was not seen when it was originally viewed.
Commissioner Tim Guy - Statement
On May 11, 2026, Pike County Times contacted Commissioner Tim Guy to ask whether he wanted to answer the question of why he went to Public Works on the day prior to Corley being placed on administrative leave or give any type of written statement to Pike County Times. The following is Guy’s statement verbatim:
“While traveling on County Farm Road, I found that five of my campaign signs, containing wire stakes, had been mowed over that morning. When I discovered this, I called Chris Goodman with Pike Co. Public Works Department to express my concern. Mr. Goodman invited me to come by and speak with him. I went to the department and had a conversation regarding the incident with Mr. Goodman. The employee who mowed down the signs had left early for the day, and was not present upon my arrival. That same employee later admitted to purposefully mowing the signs down. Understand this, I have a good relationship with the Public Works employees and they do a great job for the county. As far as the employee’s termination, to my knowledge that is under appeal at this time and I have no further comment.”
Code of Ordinances
Pike County’s Code of Ordinances can be read in full by going to the county website at www.pikecoga.gov, clicking on Resources at the top of the page, and then going down to “Other Links” to click on Ordinances & Unified Development Code (UDC) which can also be accessed here: www.pikecoga.com/ordinances--unified-development-code.html.
Disciplinary actions are listed in Section 36.20 and take intent into account. “…The severity of the disciplinary action imposed should be related to the gravity of the offense, the employee’s record of disciplinary action, and the disciplinary action imposed in similar cases. Any disciplinary action imposed shall be for just cause…”
Causes for disciplinary action include “Insubordination or serious breach of proper discipline” and “Inefficiency or incompetency” that the county has charged Corley with as a basis for his termination from employment.
Types of progressive disciplinary action that are provided as alternatives when disciplining an employee include oral and written reprimands.
Oral reprimands can be used for incidents which do not warrant more severe disciplinary action. Oral reprimands are required to have written documentation in the employee’s personnel file stored with Human Resources.
Written Reprimands can be used for incidents where the incident does “not initially warrant a more severe type of disciplinary action,” and this “can be issued for first or second offenses, including unauthorized absences more than three days, abuse of leave privileges, vacating job duties during regular working hours, frequent unexcused tardiness, inattention to duty, insubordination, improper conduct, or less or destruction of property.” Written reprimands are required to be written by the department head of the employee and forwarded to Human Resources to be stored in the employee’s personnel file.
Suspension and demotion are other options that are available according to Pike County’s Personnel Policy.
Campaign Signs and Right of Way
Pike County’s Sign Ordinance states that no signs are permitted within any street or highway right-of-way in Section 2507(b). This includes temporary signs which is the classification for campaign signs. At least some of what is written in the County right-of-way and utilities regulations mirrors Georgia Department of Transportation with the Director of the Pike County Public Works Department having the authority “to administer the requirements, standards and restrictions of this chapter within county road rights-of-way, and in accordance with any requirements, standards and restrictions,” but there is no written policy for mowing during campaign season where large and small signs are often placed in the right-of-way where county employees have to mow the grass.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has put out a notification to the political candidates and campaigns not to place signs on state right-of-way during this campaign season advising that signs on the right-of-way will be removed by Georgia DOT maintenance crews. This can be viewed at: www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/Rightofway.aspx
The small signs that were mowed over on the right-of-way have been replaced with a large campaign sign that will likely be removed by the candidate before mowers come back to this section of the county.
Appeal
Corley has filed a written notice with the County that he is appealing his termination from employment. This will mean going before an Appeals Board for a final decision on his termination.
Pike County Times asked for a list of those who will be on the Appeals Board and the date of the hearing, but it has been advised that there are no public records that are available at this time that are responsive to this request.
Procedure is being followed by the County with this appeal.
When more information is available, Pike County Times will update this article.
Background Information on This Article
How did Pike County Times get this article? Pike County Times received a phone call. "Who called you?" is a question I get so often that it is on the back of my t-shirts.
Why is this article being posted during an election? I'm in a difficult position as a hometown reporter. If I post this before the election, I'm the bad guy because I'm against the incumbent and I'm supporting the challenger. If I sit on this until after the election, I'm protecting the incumbent. So I handled this situation like I do any other hard situation that I write on. I did the research over the past several weeks, contacted the commissioner who is involved for a statement, and then wrote everything up including county ordinances for readers.
Pike County Times is a hometown newspaper that began as a blog for the Pike County Commission in November of 2006 that has grown into a newspaper with an emphasis that has remained on the Pike County Commission. Pike County Times turns 20 this year, and I have been attending Pike County Commission Meetings here in Pike County since 2000.