Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Public Hearings Set For Property Tax Increases For Oconee County

Millage Rate Unchanged

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners will hold three public hearings over the next month on a proposed 4.19 percent property tax increase in the unincorporated parts of the county and 5.01 percent increase in the four cities in the county.

The property tax increases result from the decision of the Board of Commission to maintain the millage rate of 6.686 in the unincorporated parts of the county and 7.656 in the incorporated areas at a time when assessed value of property is increasing.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Justin Kirouac Says He Focused On Oconee County In His Job Search Because Of The Opportunities It Presents

County Administrator Finalist

Justin Kirouac, currently assistant manager in Johns Creek, said he was not looking for jobs generally when he applied for the position of county administrator in Oconee County.

He said he was looking for the “right opportunity, the right fit,” and he “targeted” Oconee County when the job was advertised because of the “real opportunity” the job provided.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Watkinsville Awarded State Grant To Make Harden Hill Road More Pedestrian Friendly

In City Center

The State Road and Tollway Authority has awarded Watkinsville a grant of $298,800 for the construction of sidewalks and other improvements to Harden Hill Road.

The sidewalks will connect the city’s newly developed Watkinsville Woods city park and be linked to the city’s other sidewalk network that ties pedestrian traffic to Harris Shoals Park, the city’s community center and the new Extra Special People complex.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Women Running for U.S. And Georgia Houses Generated Excitement At Oconee Democratic Party Meeting

Against Hice and Quick

The two women were not the featured speakers at the Oconee County Democratic Party meeting on Tuesday night, but they got enthusiastic responses from those present.

Chalis Montgomery, a musician and music educator from Barrow County, told the group she intends to announce her candidacy for the 10th Congressional District seat and is seeking help in forming her campaign committee.

Oconee County Review Committee Approved Site Plans For Retail Building Near Oconee Health Campus

Fire Station Moving

The Oconee County Development Review Committee has approved the preliminary site plans for an 11,500-square-foot retail building on Jennings Mill Road opposite the newly opened Piedmont Athens Regional Oconee Health Campus.

The retail building will be on one of four lots on a 5 acre parcel tucked between Jennings Mill Road and the Oconee Connector at SR Loop 10. The recently cleared land abuts another 2.5-acre-parcel at the corner of Virgil Langford Road and Jennings Mill Road.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Oconee County Announces Sole Finalist for Position of County Administrator

Justin Kirouac Named

Oconee County Commissioners, following an executive session of just less than 40 minutes, today (Wednesday) announced that Justin Kirouac, assistant city manager of Johns Creek, is the sole finalist for the position of county administrator.

The Board of Commissioners is expected to take final action on the appointment at its meeting on July 11, according to Commission Chair John Daniell.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Votes To Spend $35,000 To Explore Sewer Option For Gateway Business Park

Also Considering Buildings

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority voted last week to spend $35,000 to determine if it can run a sewer line from the eastern to the western part of its Gateway Technology Business Park on the southwest edge of Bogart

The $35,000 also is for design work if running the sewer line proves to be feasible.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Oconee County Comprehensive Plan Committee Reviews Preliminary Documents Before Public Forum

July Meeting Scheduled

Members of the Stakeholders Committee updating the Oconee County Comprehensive Plan spent two hours last week reacting to a series of recommendations on four topics that will be covered by the Plan.

The recommendations were spelled out in sheets prepared by the staff of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, which is directing work on the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, and were based on earlier meetings of the Stakeholders Committee and its three subcommittees.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Citizen Comment Sought On Removal Of Daniells Bridge Road Extension In Oconee County From Transportation Planning Documents

To Accommodate GDOT

MACORTS, the regional transportation planning organization, has begun accepting public feedback on changes to its planning documents, including the removal of the controversial Daniells Bridge Road Extension and SR Loop 10 flyover from its long range plans.

The first of three public meetings on the proposed changes in the planning documents will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 26 at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park, 3500 Hog Mountain Road.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Attorney Announces Plans To Run As Democrat For One Of Oconee County’s Two State House Seats

Seat Held By Quick

Deborah Gonzalez, an Athens attorney, has announced that she will seek the Democratic Party nomination for Georgia House District 117, which includes three Oconee County precincts.

Regina Quick, a Republican, currently represents the 117th in the Georgia House of Representatives. Quick, also an Athens attorney, has not said if she intends to seek re-election in 2018.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Oconee County Comprehensive Stakeholders Committee To Get Report On Transportation and Infrastructure

After Two-Hour Meeting

The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee working on the Oconee County Comprehensive Plan update will have a chance tomorrow (Tuesday) night to summarize its conclusions from a two-hour meeting it held late last month.

At the end of that wide-ranging discussion, Justin Crighton said the citizens had agreed that the county “needs to find a way to move truck traffic through the county without sending it downtown.”

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Brian Kemp Tells Oconee County Republicans He Can Bring Small Business Experience To Georgia Governor’s Office

Also Wants Tax Reform

Athens native Brian Kemp, seeking the Republican Party nomination in the 2018 gubernatorial election, told a gathering of Oconee County Republicans late last month that his experience as a small business owner sets him apart in the campaign.

“I have been a conservative, small business owner for over 30 years,” Kemp, who currently is Secretary of State, said. He said he is seeking the governor's office to “take that small business owner’s mentality and be the next CEO of the state.”

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Oconee County Commissioners Approve FY 2018 Budget And Deny Request For Business Use Of Agricultural Land

Revenue Sources Identified

Oconee County Commissioners last (Tuesday) night approved a $49.9 million Fiscal Year 2018 budget based on a projected increase of 6.2 percent in sales tax revenue and an 18.4 percent growth in real property tax revenue.

The budget assumes the Commission will hold its millage rate steady at 6.68 and that growth in real property value will produce the increased property tax revenue.

Sunday, June 04, 2017

Oconee County Commissioners To Approve FY 18 Budget And Consider Special Use Request For Landscaping Business

Revenue Projections Not Released

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night is expected to give final approval to a Fiscal Year 2018 budget that is 3.4 percent greater than the budget for the current fiscal year, but the county has not yet provided detailed information on how revenue will grow to meet the budget increase.

The two primary sources of funds for the General Fund Budget, which makes up 54.0 percent of the overall budget, are sales taxes and property taxes.