Arnoldsville mayor Danny Morcom (Top Left), Lexington Mayor Evelyn Reece (Top Right), Maxeys mayor Edward Toledano (Bottom Left), Crawford mayor Alan Erwin (Bottom Right).
Oglethorpe County’s four mayors are navigating various challenges and establishing goals for their communities at various points in their terms.
While each city has its own priorities, the mayors — Arnoldsville’s Danny Morcom, Crawford’s Alan Erwin, Lexington’s Evelyn Reece and Maxeys’ Edward Toledano — share a common focus of strengthening their towns and providing long-term stability.
Those goals include improving infrastructure, financial stability and attracting new business. They said collaboration and teamwork is essential for overcoming obstacles and making progress.
Here’s a look at what’s going on in the county’s four cities.
Arnoldsville
Danny Morcom, who began his term in 2024, said he views his role as a continued commitment to community service.
Arnoldsville is the only city in Oglethorpe County with no state routes running through it, which limits the amount of state funds available for road maintenance, Morcom said.
His top priority is the city’s water system, which serves more than 700 customers.
The city plans to build a third water tank within the next few years, and it has been trying to drill a new well. This process has been met with challenges, as one failed attempt cost the city about $38,000 earlier this summer.
“Our biggest asset is the water department,” Morcom said. “We’ve got to constantly keep updating it.”
Beyond water, the city paved the last remaining unpaved street in March.
Morcom said he is proud Arnoldsville has achieved a level of financial stability. The city paid off the mortgage on City Hall, which was built in 2019.
Crawford
Alan Erwin started his two-year term in January. He ran for mayor hoping to improve the city he lived in for most of his life.
He has focused on major renovations to the water plant and repairing various infrastructure.
Erwin said one of the immediate challenges involved fixing numerous water meters and leaks that had been neglected. He highlighted one instance where a cable company fixing fiber optics caused 10 leaks in a week.
Erwin said he is excited about the revitalization that is happening in Crawford.
Paul “Stags” Oristaglio plans to open The Waypoint at 1147, a cafe-style restaurant and hospitality space in downtown Crawford. Erwin added Blake Arnold has improved the city with projects, such as Crawford Pizza.
Plans include improving sidewalks and focusing on the older parts of the city. He hopes to replace aging water lines near the old mill and install substations to help pump water more effectively toward the Wolfskin area.
Erwin attributed Crawford’s progress to a dedicated staff, highlighting clerk Amy Wall-Lance and water superintendent Donny Faust.
Lexington
Evelyn Reece, who began her two-year term in January, felt her background as a city planner, National Park Service architect, grant writer and more helped put her in a position to address Lexington’s needs.
Her decision to run followed a two-year pro bono project to make the city eligible for federal grants, which Reece wanted to pursue.
She emphasized that through teamwork, the city works on road projects, improves the water department by installing filtration tanks and highlights Lexington’s history by restoring historic properties.
Additionally, Reece aims to host more community events to attract visitors and raise funds.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating and bringing together the different groups within government, such as the city council and the Downtown Development Authority. Communication can get lost, she said.
Reece added the city can optimize its results through proper communication and working together.
She is especially proud of the city’s ability to follow through on its promises. This commitment has resulted in two preservation grants that total $30,000 and the installation of new water filtration tanks.
Reece said the city is focused on roadwork, well filtration tanks, Beth Salem building repairs and organizing several upcoming community events.
In an email she wrote that she aims to “ignite and renew a sense of the darling community.”
Maxeys
Edward Toledano took office in January 2025 after serving on city council for four years.
His primary goal was to bring the city back into financial compliance.
Maxeys had not filed the required financial reports in the eight years prior, leaving the city ineligible for federal and state grants. Toledano said addressing the issue was important because small, rural towns rely on these funds for projects beyond basic operations.
He confirmed Maxeys successfully regained compliance last August, and the city has received about $23,000 in GDOT and LMIG grants for street repairs and improvements. Construction on those projects are expected to begin in September, Toledano said.
Additionally, Toledano said the pace of government can sometimes be a challenge. However, he emphasized the work of city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker and the city council for working efficiently and well together as a team.
“The government requires you to ask the left leg for permission to move on from the right leg,” Toledano said.
Toledano plans to continue applying for grants for other projects, especially updating the community center and playground equipment.
His focus remains on the longevity of Maxeys and said he hopes future administrators inherit a town that is financially sound and functionally improved.