The “Lamar Bailes Board Room”

A high honor is that which was bestowed yesterday to a Walhallan who, over nearly a half century was devoted to city and county public service.  Whenever the business of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority is conducted in its meeting room at Seneca it will officially take place in the “Lamar Bailes Board Room.”  Bailes, a retired businessman, is a former city councilman and mayor and a former county councilman and chairman.  But, perhaps, he is best known in government circles as a long-time member of the policy board of what today is the JRSA.  Bailes has often been looked to as an authority on how Oconee County got into the business of piped sewer more than 40 years ago.  After the passage of a resolution in his honor yesterday, Bailes received standing applause from his JRSA colleagues.  He is leaving the board and being replaced as a Walhalla JRSA representative by that city’s administrator, Brandon Burton.