Monday, April 25, 2016

Oconee County Still Waiting On Details Of Route For Proposed Calls Creek Sewer Line

Three Meetings Upcoming

Oconee County is still waiting on a report from the firm it hired to do survey work for the route of the proposed sewer line down Calls Creek, county Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie said today.

Haynie told Jim McGarvey from Friends of Calls Creek that no additional information on the route of the proposed sewer line likely will be available before the meeting the group has called for 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Library in Watkinsville.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

First Oconee County Forum Separated Supporters From Critics Among Board of Commissions Candidates

Who Is Incumbent?

In the Candidate Forum on April 14, Oconee County Board of Commission candidates Sarah Bell and Penny Mills took the position of outsiders and critics.

In their opening comments, Bell said the county does not have a “Commission that listens well,” and Mills said the Commission “needs to be more proactive about transparency.”

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Oconee County Utility Department Budget Does Not Include Water And Sewer Rate Increases–For Now

Rate Study Underway

Oconee County water and sewer customers likely will get a reprieve, at least temporarily, from the annual water and sewer rate increases of recent years.

Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie told the Board of Commissioners at a budget hearing last week that he is not asking for a rate increase as part of his budget request.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

More Than 100 People Turn Out To Hear From And Question Oconee County Candidates

For May 24 Primary

Oconee County Board of Commissioners candidates Penny Mills and Sarah Bell stated unambiguous opposition to the proposed pipeline down Calls Creek, while candidates Mark Thomas and Mark Saxon took more nuanced positions on the issue Thursday night.

The four were speaking in the first of two candidate forums to be held before the May 24 election. More than 100 people turned out for the meeting at the Community Center in Veterans Park.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Proposal For Calls Creek Sewer Pipeline Indicates Shift In Oconee County Sewer Plans

Documented In Letters

Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie has said in recent meetings that the proposed sewer line down Calls Creek is not a new idea, and he is right.

The county has had that sewer line in its long-range plans since at least 2005.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Growth And Infrastructure Strain Lurking As Issue In Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Election

Calls Creek Example

The county’s proposal to run a sewer pipe down Calls Creek through a string of residential neighborhoods has become a prominent issue in the May 24 Board of Commissioners election, since the Commission will have to make the final decision on whether to go forward with the project.

Behind this specific concern, however, is the larger issue of how the county–and the commissioners in particular–should handle growth.

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Boswell Commercial Appaiser Advises Oconee County Residents Of Potential Negative Impact Of Calls Creek Sewer Line

Offers Expert Advice

David Titshaw, a commercial appraiser with The Boswell Group, has sent members of the Friends of Calls Creek an email saying that people living along the creek should be anxious about the impact of the proposed sewer line on the value of their property.

“You and your community are right to be concerned with the after effects of any proposed easement, particularly sewer,” Titshaw wrote.

Friday, April 08, 2016

Oconee County Issued A Permit For a Restaurant At Falls Of Oconee Complex Opposite Athens Ridge

Three Unoccupied Buildings

Oconee County’s Code Enforcement Office has issued a building permit for the fourth of five planned buildings at the restaurant, retail and office complex being developed on Old Macon Highway across from the Athens Ridge student housing complex.

The new building, which will overlook McNutt Creek just downstream from the old mill dam, is for a restaurant, according to the building permit.

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Oconee County Commissioners Pass Over Volunteers At Animal Shelter In Appointments To Animal Control Advisory Board

Also Rezoned Three Properties

Oconee County commissioners tonight turned down the applications for appointment to the Animal Control Advisory Board of two women who have played leadership roles among volunteers at the Animal Shelter.

The commissioners instead reappointed Janet Calpin to a two-year term on the Advisory Board. Calpin has been a critic of the Animal Control Department’s adoption program run by the volunteers.

Monday, April 04, 2016

Mars Hill Road Overlay District Proposal Joins Three Rezone Requests On Oconee County Commission Agenda

Animal Control Too

The proposed Mars Hill Road Overlay District is back on the agenda of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners tomorrow night.

The commissioners also will consider three rezone requests, two for properties in the quickly developing area surrounding the Virgil Langford Road and Oconee Connector intersection.

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Oconee County Utility Department Director Says He Understands The Reactions To Proposed Calls Creek Pipeline

Asking State For Help

Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie said he understands the negative reactions of people who live in subdivisions along Calls Creek to his plans to run a sewer line along the creek and through their yards.

If he were in their position, he acknowledged, he would be reacting in the same.

Friday, April 01, 2016

Oconee County Candidate Forums Scheduled For April 14 And April 25

Meet And Greet In May

The first of two forums for candidates in the Oconee County May 24 Republican primary will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 14 at the Community Center in Veterans Park on Hog Mountain Road.

A second forum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 25 at the North Oconee High School Auditorium, also on Hog Mountain Road.