Governor-Elect Kemp Gets Frequent Mention In Oconee County Commission Session With Incoming Legislators

***Comments Turns Partisan***

Brian Kemp, the Governor-elect of Georgia, was not invited to and did not attend the pre-legislative session held late last year by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for the county’s delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.

But Kemp’s presence at the gathering was strong nonetheless.

In closing the session, Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert said “the most interesting thing about this session” is going to be seeing how the personalities of Kemp, newly elected Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and House Speaker David Ralston “mesh” and how their goals “match.”

Houston Gaines from House District 117, said he and Marcus Wiedower in House District 119 defeated the two incumbent Democrats in November in part because of their relationships with Kemp and other state officials.

Oconee County Reports Major Spill Of Wastewater Into Barber Creek

***Cites “Pipe Fatigue”***

Oconee County, on the first day of the year, had its first major sewer spill for 2019.

A break in a forced sewer line on Malcolm Bridge Road resulted in a major sewer spill of approximately 65,000 gallons of wastewater into Barber Creek, according to a news release issued by the county on Jan. 2.

Board Of Regents Recommending $1.9 Million In State Funding For Watkinsville Library Expansion

***County Ready To Provide $1.1 Million***

Three years after the state provided $1.8 million for the renovation and expansion of the Bogart Library, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is recommending that $1.9 million be included in the Fiscal Year 2020 state budget for expansion of the Watkinsville Library.

The Board of Regents action follows the recommendation of the Georgia Public Library Service, which put the Watkinsville Library project at number five on a list of 13 Georgia Public Library projects for funding by the state.

Watkinsville Apartment Complex On Hold Until City Decides On Request For Building Permits

***Sewer Capacity Part Of Issue***

Chuck and David Williams ended the year without a resolution to their efforts to move the proposed Wisteria Ridge Apartment Complex on North Main Street in Watkinsville from dormant to active.

Ken Beall, representing the Williams brothers, appeared before the Watkinsville City Council in November with the request that the city issue building permits for a sampling of the 103 residential units in the 15-building complex.

Oconee County Election Director Told Republicans She Does Not See Evidence of Voter Fraud Or Voter Suppression

***Says System Secure***

Fran Davis, director of Elections and Registration, told Oconee County Republicans that she does not believe voter fraud exists in Georgia, based on her experience in Oconee County.

She also said she believes the election system is secure because of the “checks and balances” built into it.

Defeated Oconee County State House Representative Told Fellow Democrats Of Positive Outcomes Of Election

***Cited Better Understanding Of Community***

Jonathan Wallace gave Oconee County Democrats a decidedly upbeat assessment of the Nov. 6 election in which he was defeated in his bid to retain his House District 119 seat.

Wallace confessed he was not excited about “the actual outcome of the election,” which he lost to Republican Marcus Wiedower, but he said “There is a lot to be proud about.”

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Issues Bonds For Presbyterian Village Athens

***County Grants Initial Building Permits***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority on Wednesday issued $127.8 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds for construction of Presbyterian Village Athens on U.S. 441 at Hog Mountain Road.

The issuance of the bonds followed a Nov. 15 ruling by Oconee County Superior Court Judge Lawton E. Stephens that the Authority had properly entered into an agreement with Westminster Presbyterian Homes Inc. of Quitman to pay off the bonds.