Oconee County Development Authority Agrees To Spend Up To $4 Million On Turf Fields At Future Dawson Park To Support Sports Tourism

***Presbyterian Homes Seeking Help With Expansion***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) agreed on Tuesday to spend up to $4 million from its reserves to cover the added costs of using synthetic turf rather than natural grass on eight fields at the future Dawson Park on Rocky Branch Road.

The IDA is using this investment in what it is calling sports tourism to bring in out-of-county visitors for tournaments and other sporting events who will stay in county hotels, patronize local restaurants, and spend money at retails outlets in the county.

Oconee County Commissioners Vote To Put SPLOST On May Ballot

***Revenue To Be Shared With County’s Four Cities***

Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night voted to ask the county Board of Elections and Registration to place on the May 19 General Primary and Nonpartisan Election ballot a referendum for renewal of the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

If voters approve the referendum, which is expected to generate conservatively $75 million in revenue, the county will spend $13.3 million of that amount to pay off debt from construction of Oconee Veterans Park and from construction of the county Administrative Building.

GDOT Public Information Open House On Detour At Jimmy Daniell Road During SR 316 Construction Attracts Large Crowd

***Trough Traffic On SR 316 Will Continue ***

More than 130 people turned out last week for the Public Information Open House held by the Georgia Department Transportation (GDOT) and contractor Archer Western on the proposed six-month closure of the interchange of Jimmy Daniell Road with SR 316.

Attendees had the opportunity to view two sets of easels with maps of the proposed detour and of the design for the grade-separated diamond interchange already under construction.

Republican Party Congressional District 10 Candidate Says He Wants To Take His Record Passing Legislation In Georgia House To D.C.

***Candidates Seeking To Replace Gaines Also Speak***

Houston Gaines, who represents part of Oconee County in the Georgia House of Representatives, updated Oconee County Republicans early last month on his campaign for the party nomination for the 10th Congressional District as well on as his plans for the legislative session now underway.

Gaines said he has no announced opponents in the May primary but “We are running as though 25 people are running against us.”

Oconee County Planning Commission Rejects Developer Request To Eliminate Conditions On Rezone Request On Daniells Bridge Road

***Special Use Gets Nod For Jimmy Daniell Road Project***

Over the objections of the developers of 8.1 acres on Daniells Bridge Road, the Oconee County Planning Commission on Tuesday night voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve a new concept plan for the property with the conditions recommended by the county planning staff.

Kris Robinson told the Commission that he and business partner Joe Polaneczky objected to five of the 13 conditions that the county planning staff said should be applied to their request for approval of their plan for a seven-building office/ warehouse/ flex space complex.

Oconee County School Superintendent Has Identified System Strengths And Areas In Need Of Improvement In Her First 90 Days On Job

***Lists Improved Communication, Transparency As Goal***

Oconee County School Superintendent Melissa Butler found both strengths and areas for improvement in her 90-day assessment of the school system she took responsibility for on Oct. 14.

In a report she released last week, Butler said community members and faculty and staff said Oconee County Schools has high quality educators and staff, a positive school culture, and academic rigor.

Oconee County Planning Commission To Consider Zoning Requests For Properties On Daniells Bridge Road, Jimmy Daniell Road

***Warehouses Part Of Both Requests***

The owners of 8.1 acres on the north side of Daniells Bridge Road east of the curve at SR Loop 10 are scheduled to be before the Oconee County Planning Commission on Tuesday night seeking permission to radically alter the concept plan for that property approved by the county in 2008.

Krojo LLC is asking that it be allowed to put seven office and warehouse buildings on the property instead of the single large office building approved by the Board of Commissioners in 2008.