Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Oconee County Issued Land Disturbance Permit For Expansion Of Epps Bridge Centre

Land Remains In Gordy Family Hands

Oconee County on Sept. 15 issued a permit for land disturbance activities for expansion of Epps Bridge Centre, but it has not yet issued a second permit that would allow for installation of site infrastructure.

The county permit followed approval on Aug. 18 by the Oconee River Soil and Water Conservation District of an erosion and sediment control plan submitted by Oconee 316 Associates LLC and developer Frank Bishop of Atlanta for the 54 acres for the shopping center expansion.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Oconee County Seeking Easements From Property Owners For Sewer Line Along McNutt Creek

Following Jennings Mill Settlement

Oconee County, having reached a settlement with Jennings Mill Country Club over easements for the McNutt Creek Sewer line from Jimmy Daniell Road to Jennings Mill Road, is now turning its attention to the other property owners across whose land the sewer line will run.

The line will cross 17 properties not owned by Laniertindall LLC, owner of the country club.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Construction Company Clearing Land For Entrance Roadway For Epps Bridge Centre Expansion In Oconee County

Aerial Images Show

Simpson Trucking and Grading of Gaineville already has completed some of the clearing and grubbing work for Parkway Boulevard Extension, which will serve as a major entranceway for an expanded Epps Bridge Centre.

The company also is putting in temporary erosion control measures, according to Oconee County Public Works Director Emil Beshara, and plans to begin moving direct in the next couple of weeks.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

State House Minority Leaders Tells Oconee County Democrats To Focus On Voter Registration And Turnout

Says State Already Blue

Stacey Abrams, minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, gave a rousing calls to action to a gathering of Oconee County Democrats this (Sunday) afternoon, telling them to get people of all races registered and to get people of all races out to vote starting next month.

“Georgia is already blue,” Abrams said at the outset.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Oconee County Board Of Commissioner Candidates Asked About Power Of Commission Chairman During Election Forum

100 Turn Out

Robert Wyatt of 1090 Apalachee Trace in the Lane Creek subdivision in the west of the county, asked the first question at the Oconee County Election Forum on Thursday night, and he found discord among the three candidates for the open seat on the Board of Commissioners in their answers.

Wyatt noted that there has been disagreement on the Commission about the county’s organizational chart and wanted the three candidates to indicate where they stood on the issue.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Oconee County Book Sale Fundraiser for Watkinsville Library Starts Three-Day Run Thursday

Estimated 32,000 Books

Oconee County Library Friends has unpacked 1,134 boxes of books–a record number–in preparation for the book sale that will run Thursday through Saturday at the Oconee County Civic Center, 2661 Hog Mountain Road, west of Butler’s Crossing.

While no one knows the exact number of books in those boxes, book sale coordinator and Library Friends Treasurer Penny Mills said that a conservative estimate would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 32,000 books.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Oconee County Had Modest Growth In Sales Tax Revenue During Period Of Rapid Commercial Development, Tax Distributions Shows

Neighbors Gained Also

Oconee County has experienced only modest growth in revenue it receives from sales tax in the last decade and a half even with significant expansion of its commercial inventory, changes in the county’s alcohol laws, and the opening of new restaurants.

The growth in sales tax revenue in Oconee County, in fact, is not so different from the growth experienced by Athens-Clarke County, which has lost some retail outlets to Oconee County and lost its exclusivity in selling alcohol in restaurants.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Sole Scheduled Oconee County Election Forum Set For Thursday Night At Veterans Park

BOC, School Tax, Referenda

The only scheduled forum for the Nov. 8 election is to take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Community Center in Veterans Park, 3500 Hog Mountain Road.

Citizens will have the opportunity to pose questions directly to Board of Commissioners candidates Ben Bridges, Chuck Horton and Marcus Wiedower. Each candidate has been asked to make an introductory comment before the questioning.

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Oconee County Commissioners Allow Athens Technical College To Continue To Use Space In Annex Until December

Spend $425,00 On Easements

Oconee County commissioners last (Tuesday) night agreed to allow Athens Technical College to continue to offer its adult education classes in the Government Annex building until December of this year.

The commissioners took that action after Commission Chairman Melvin Davis invited three advocates for the College to speak and make the case for its continued presence in the county building, located on SR 15 on the south side of Watkinsville.

Six Candidates File To Run For Three Watkinsville Council Seats

One Without Opposition

Six candidates filed last week to run for three seats on the Watkinsville City Council in the Nov. 8 election.

Marcia Campbell filed to run for Post 3.

Monday, September 05, 2016

Oconee County Commissioners To Consider Paying $425,000 For Sewer Easements At Jennings Mill Golf Course

Rezone On Agenda Also

Oconee County commissioners tomorrow (Tuesday) night will be asked to spend $425,000 to purchase easements to build the McNutt Creek sewer line through the golf course at Jennings Mill Country Club.

The golf course straddles McNutt Creek, and the creek is incorporated into the course’s design.

Restaurant To Replace Oconee County Offices In Property On Main Street Opposite Courthouse In Watkinsville

Pour Bistro

The Watkinsville City Council at its next meeting on Sept. 21 is to take up the business license application of Edward Grenvicz, who plans to operate a restaurant in what is commonly referred to as the Dolvin building facing Main Street in downtown Watkinsville.

Pour Bistro, according to the business license application, will be an “upscale restaurant” offering beer, wine and distilled spirits as well as food.

Saturday, September 03, 2016

Oconee County BOC Chairman Wants County To Build Median Break On Mars Hill Road That GDOT Rejected

”Plan B”

Only 2 hours and 14 minutes after learning that the Georgia Department of Transportation had turned down the county’s request for a full median break on Mars Hill Road to accommodate landowner Doug Dickens, Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis turned to “Plan B.”

Davis told the Commissioners that the county can build the median break when GDOT turns the highway back over to the county.