The man who has advised North Augusta mayors and council members for half a century was lauded by city leaders past and present during the Oct. 4 council meeting. Mayor Briton Williams presented a proclamation to Kelly Zier, who has been the city attorney since Oct. 1971.
Serious and lighthearted were communicated in person and via email, including one from former councilman Ken McDowell.
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“I have known Kelly Zier for over 25 years. During those years, including as city attorney, my closing attorney, a great Sertoman, a fantastic master-of-ceremonies. And more importantly, a friend and adviser,” McDowell wrote before injecting some humor. “Kelly has always given me good advice. I once asked him how I could improve my golf game. He told me to take two weeks off and quit.”
Mayor Williams said he first met Zier more than 25 years ago.
“I did not know what the dynamic of a mayor or city attorney relationship is, and Kelly has been very open to listen to my ideas. Then very politely correcting on what we can’t do so I don’t get myself in legal trouble,” he quipped.
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Williams asked if anyone in the audience wanted to speak and the first hand that went up was longtime former mayor Lark Jones.
A word from the former Mayor Lark Jones
“Kelly kept us out of trouble, and he got us out of trouble when we wouldn’t listen to him sometimes,” he said.
Jones served on the council for 11 years and was elected mayor in 1997. He decided not to run for reelection in 2017.
“When I decided not to run for mayor after 20 years, I got a lot of people that asked who is the most qualified person to be the mayor of North Augusta,” Jones said. “It was this man right here, but he was smart enough to realize that the city attorney made about four times what the mayor did. And he stayed right where he is.”
Sen. Tom Young (R-District 24) of South Carolina and Rep. Bill Hixon (R-District 83) presented Zier with copies of resolutions that will be formally introduced in the state House and Senate when the session opens in January.
Then it was Zier’s turn to speak.
“I think the first thing I have to say is that it’s been easy,” he began. “I really don’t know that I’ve ever gotten that call that I know a lot of city attorneys have where you’re asked to do something that’s just not right. That’s because I’ve worked with good people.”
Zier said he was admitted to the bar on Sept. 21, 1971 and started as city attorney on Oct. 1, 1971. The first thing he did was to draw the contract to buy the land that is now Riverview Park.
“I’ve had a good family behind me. I’ve had good people to work with and you can’t ask for much more.”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
