By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com

PICKENS — Less than five years after forming the Pickens Joint Regional Water System (PJRWS) along with other local municipalities and water districts, the city of Pickens has voted to withdraw from the group, citing other needs with the city’s infrastructure that have led to discolored water, water main breaks and other persistent issues, as well as higher costs to the city under the previous plan.

“Our primary goal is to ensure that the residents and businesses of Pickens have access to a reliable and sustainable water supply as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Mayor Isaiah Scipio said in a news release issued by the city. “After extensive study, we have decided withdrawing from the PJRWS is in the best interest of our community.”

The decision came with its dissenters, as Scipio and Councilman Floyd Rogers were drawn into a heated argument over whether the measure should move forward without unanimous support from city council before the vote ultimately passed 5-1 at a special called meeting on Monday afternoon.

TEMPERS FLARE

With five years of work on the planning of the local plant already completed and USDA funding for the plant expected

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