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.

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Considering Making $5 Million Investment In Dawson Park And Sports Tourism

***Decision Postponed Until End Of Month***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is considering spending $5 million from its reserve to put synthetic turf rather than natural grass on sports fields at the planned Dawson Park to support sports tourism in the county.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell, who is a member of the IDA, said the county is prepared to spend $25 million it has in hand to launch Dawson Park.

Publix Will Be Anchor In Shopping Center On U.S. 78 West Of Mars Hill Road, Developer Announces

***Groundbreaking Expected For This Spring***

The developer of a shopping center on U.S. 78 just west of Mars Hill Road says he has executed a lease with Publix and expects to break ground on the project this spring.

Fred Hand IV of Hand Properties Inc. of Atlanta said on Thursday that signage will go up on the property next week announcing the project.

Oconee County School Board Spends $4.6 Million In Sales Tax Monies, Hears Plans For New Digital Scoreboards At High School Stadiums

***Board Told Fund Balance Stands At $85.5 Million***

The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday voted to spend $4.6 million from the current Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) for HVAC renovation at Oconee County Primary School and Oconee County Middle School and for a replacement of its Transportation Office.

The Board on Monday also received an update from Kevin Yancey, Director of Student Services, on acquiring digital video scoreboards for the stadiums at North Oconee High School and at Oconee County High School.

Newly Elected State Rep. Gisler’s Town Hall Meeting Draws Large Crowd, Results In Two Hour Exchange On Large Number Of Issues

***Gisler Says He Met With Local Leaders To Prep For Session***

The more than 100 people who turned out at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park on Saturday for newly elected State Rep. Eric Gisler’s Town Hall meeting engaged in a dialogue on topics ranging from affordable housing, school safety, the costs of medical care, and cell phones in classrooms.

Gisler began the two-hour session by talking about what he has done since his election on Dec. 9 to prepare himself for the legislative session that begins tomorrow (Monday), saying he has talked extensively with government and civic leaders in both Oconee and Clarke counties.