City of Thomson - Government

06/09/2026

Don't forget that fireworks and Freedom Blast are on Thursday, July 2nd at the Government Center! 250 years of independence for the United States of America!!

06/09/2026

06/08/2026

We are excited to announce the kickoff of our June Safety Month celebration!
Safety is a shared responsibility and an essential part of our workplace culture. Throughout the month of June, we will be focusing on safety awareness, education, and engagement to help ensure that every employee returns home safely each day. Join us as we work together to reinforce safe work practices, increase awareness, and celebrate our commitment to keeping one another safe every day.

05/22/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL UTILITY CUSTOMERS 🚨

We want to warn our community about a new phone scam.

Some residents are receiving text messages claiming their utility bill is past due. These text messages are NOT from the City of Thomson/McDuffie County Utility Department.
Please protect yourself by following these simple steps:
Do not click any links in those text messages.
Do not share any personal or credit card information.
Do not call any phone numbers listed in the text.
How to verify your account:
If you are ever unsure about your bill status, please call our office directly using the official phone number 706-595-1781 [email protected] found on your regular monthly bill statement.

05/22/2026

City Code Enforcement

The City of Thomson Code Enforcement is provided by Jerry Pitman. Jerry has more than 21 years of experience serving the community through code enforcement. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to maintaining the safety and appearance of the city while building positive relationships with residents. His patience, professionalism, and dedication encourage cooperation from the community and help foster trust between citizens and the department.

Jerry is a licensed Property Maintenance Inspector and holds certification through the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. He attended Augusta College and became interested in code enforcement because of his passion for writing and the opportunity for an exciting and rewarding career challenge.

As a Code Enforcement Officer, Jerry possesses specialized training in, and whose primary duties are the prevention, detection, investigation, and enforcement of violations of federal, state laws and local ordinances regulating public nuisance, public health, safety, and welfare, public works, business activities and consumer protection, building standards, land-use, or municipal affairs.

The Code Enforcement Department serves a wide range of functions, with no two days being exactly alike. When an issue is identified, the department investigates the matter thoroughly and follows each case until a solution is reached and the problem is resolved. Much of the department’s work involves detailed research, documentation, and processing to ensure city codes are enforced properly and fairly. According to -Name-, the job “is like an investigation” because of the extensive research and follow-up required to protect the safety, appearance, and well-being of the community.

Jerry is available to neighborhood associations, businesses, and individual residents to discuss and act on complaints, explain codes and ordinances, and work with businesses on sign ordinances.

05/22/2026

Street Management and Solid Waste Department

We’re proud to highlight the Street Management and Solid Waste Department led by it’s Director, Chris Hampton. Chris is a Thomson native and a 2001 graduate of Thomson High School. For the past eight years, he has served our community with dedication, bringing a strong background in operating heavy equipment including backhoes, excavators, skid steers, and tractors.

Chris has his Commercial Driver’s License and has acquired additional leadership skills by completing Supervisor Management Training, and obtaining a Leadership & Supervisor Management Certification from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. His commitment to maintaining safe, clean, and well-managed streets is at the heart of the work his department does every day.

The Street Management and Solid Waste Department is a key part of keeping the City of Thomson safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone. The team works daily to maintain the city’s streets by patching potholes, repairing erosion damage, and applying asphalt and concrete to ensure roads remain smooth and dependable for all who travel them. Their work also supports the Water and Wastewater Distribution Department by stepping in once underground repairs are complete, finishing the street restoration process, and ensuring the final asphalt surface is properly replaced.

Beyond roadway repairs, the department plays an important role in the city’s stormwater management. Crews replace aging storm drain pipes, clean ditches, and respond to stormwater issues that can cause flooding or drainage problems.

Waste management is another core responsibility of the department. Crews collect inert and bulk waste throughout the city following organized, regularly scheduled routes. They also provide recycling services, reinforcing the city’s commitment to sustainability. The intention is to complement the household waste service thereby ensuring a holistic approach to waste management is maintained throughout the city.

In addition to these essential functions, the department is behind the beautiful landscaping that makes downtown Thomson so inviting. They water plants, maintain landscaped medians, care for potted flowers, and enhance public areas with seasonal plantings. Their work contributes to the charm and curb appeal that residents and visitors enjoy throughout the year.

Their hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed.

Pictured are: Kentavis Wright, Dexter Reese, Rodmey Burnett, Quentavius Leslie, Chris Hampton, Jaden Eubank, Dextavious Reese, Jim Choice, Michael Calhoun, Edtwon Battle, and JaQuan Finley.

05/21/2026

Thomson Maintenance Department

The City of Thomson Maintenance Department is led by Director Ron Nickles, who has faithfully served the City of Thomson for 19 years. With more than 35 years of experience in the maintenance industry, Director Nickles brings extensive knowledge and leadership to the department. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous professional certifications, including certifications in hydraulics, natural gas systems, and Caterpillar Inc. equipment operations and maintenance. His career began through family roots in the industry, helping shape the strong work ethic and dedication to public service that he continues to bring to the department today.

Ron and his team are responsible for maintaining and supporting many of the essential services and facilities that keep the City of Thomson operating efficiently each day. The department responds to work requests involving HVAC systems, electrical repairs, carpentry, plumbing, and other mechanical maintenance needs throughout city buildings, equipment, and properties. The team also follows preventative maintenance schedules to help reduce costly repairs, improve safety, and ensure that city facilities remain functional and dependable for both employees and citizens.

Pictured are Ron (Julio) Nickles and Benjamin Sturkey.

05/21/2026

Thomson Utility Billing Office

The City of Thomson Utility Billing Office is proudly led by Utility Billing Supervisor, Toni Hutchinson. Mrs. Hutchinson has faithfully served the City of Thomson for 25 years and continues to expand her knowledge and certifications to better serve our community. She holds certifications in Customer Service, Business, and Utility Billing Revenue Management.

Mrs. Hutchinson chose this profession because of her passion for technology and her commitment to continual improvement and efficiency in customer service. To further strengthen her expertise, she is continuing her education at Southern New Hampshire University pursuing a degree in Information Technology and Web Design.

The Utility Billing Department is supported by dedicated Meter Reader Technicians who collect water and gas usage information throughout the city. Once the meter readings are completed, the information is transferred into the billing system where utility bills are generated. Billing information is then updated to include the appropriate wastewater and solid waste fees before bills are prepared for mailing or electronic delivery to customers.

After customers receive their bills, the Utility Billing Department serves as a valuable resource for accepting payments, assisting with billing concerns, providing guidance for new utility services, and answering general utility-related questions.

“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Thomson each day. Our team remains committed to providing dependable, efficient, and customer-focused service to our community with professionalism, respect, and pride.”

Below is our Meter Readers and Utility Biling Team: Walter Emory, Darius Hampton, Coleman Herring, Travino Johnson, Lisa Nale, Jonathan Shaw, Ma'Tosha Murray, Chandra Hill, Kimberly Usry, Hattie Davis

05/20/2026

Thomson Water, Wastewater and Gas Distribution

The City’s Water, Wastewater and Gas Distribution Departments are led by Director Tony Daniels. Tony has only been with the City of Thomson for 3 years but brings more than 35 years of public works related experience. He has served in several capacities and held multiple professional certifications throughout his career which include: Wastewater Collection Certification, Level 1-b Inspector Red Card Certification, and Backflow Tester and Repair Certification, among others. These qualifications have enabled him to work successfully and efficiently within the water distribution field while providing dependable service to the community.

The City’s water distribution system consists of an estimated 290 miles of underground water mains in sizes ranging from 4 inches to 20 inches, along with six above-ground water tanks with a combined capacity of 1.8 million gallons. The wastewater distribution system consists of a similar reciprocating system transporting wastewater back to the wastewater plant or LAS described earlier in the week.

The Water and Wastewater Distribution Team are responsible for maintaining water lines, repairing leaking pipes, and distributing water through meters and main line pipes across the city. They also excavate and repair damaged water mains when necessary to ensure reliable water service for residents and businesses. In addition, the team remains on call for emergencies and responds immediately to urgent service issues throughout the community.

The Gas Distribution Team is responsible for repairing existing gas lines and installing new gas pipes whenever needed. The department supplies natural gas to the city through Southern National and works daily to ensure the safe and reliable distribution of gas throughout the community. All employees on the team are required to obtain their OQ (Operator Qualification) certification. With this certification, employees are trained to inspect meters, routinely monitor gas lines, and perform maintenance on underground pipes when necessary. Personnel are also equipped to detect gas leaks and conduct gas detection studies to help maintain a safe environment for residents and businesses throughout the city.

Below is our Gas, Wastewater and Water Team: Tavion Collins, Jerry Heard, Katie Palmer, ronderrius Samuels, Mark Huff, Phillip Kendrick, Keondre Strother, Alonza Usry, Corey Baxter, Naterance Gilmore, Darrius Harris, javante Lawson, Derick Martin, Jamel Smith, and Michael Washington.