Oconee County Plans To More Than Quadruple The Miles Of Roads Resurfaced Next Year

***TSPLOST Providing Bulk Of Funding

Oconee County plans to resurface 30.27 miles of roadway in the county from March to September of next year, more than four times what it has been resurfacing in the typical calendar year.

The road work will be paid for with a $742,287 Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) from the state, $2 million from the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and $5.7 million from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved by voters last November.

Citizens At Oconee County Town Hall Meeting Talk About Libraries, Swimming Pools, Paper Ballots, School Board, Tax Receipts

***Request For Alcohol Sales Opposite Malcom Bridge School Noted***

Suzannah Heimel asked the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to find a way to provide oversight of the county’s libraries.

Julie Mauck said she wants the county to defund the two libraries until the problems she sees “gets worked out” and then the two libraries should “pull away from the Athens Regional Library System.”

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Sharply, Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports

***Oconee, Clarke Report Decreases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 231 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 20, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 411 new cases in the week ending on Sept.13, 345 new cases in the week ending on Sept. 6, 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, and 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Cost Of Oconee County Third High School Estimated At Up To $175 Million, Not Including Land Acquisition

***High School Enrollment Now Not Seen As Problem***

The estimated cost of building a third high school for Oconee County Schools is between $150 and $175 million, School Superintendent Jason Branch reported at the Community Engagement Session held at the Civic Center on Tuesday night.

That figure does not include land acquisition, which Branch estimated to be an additional “several million."

Oconee County Citizen Asked School Board Not To Move Forward On New School Construction

***Cites Evidence Of Slow Growth***

Pam Hendrix used the public comment section of the Oconee County Board of Education meeting on Monday to tell the Board she thinks it should put a “pause” on new school construction and possibly on construction more generally.

Hendrix reminded the Board that it was told last week that enrollment is down slightly–by six students–over the start of the last school year.

Oconee County Commissioners Approve Rezone And Variance Requests In Brief Meeting

***All Recognize Diaper Need Awareness Week***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners last week gave quick approval to two rezones and two zoning variances in a meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes.

The Board approved a request by Anderson-Wells II LLC that the part of a 29.4 acre parcel on Aiken Road within the unincorporated part of the county be rezoned from agricultural use to Office Business Park use.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Up Slightly, State Department Of Public Health Reports

***Oconee Shows Increase; Clarke Decrease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 411 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 13, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 345 new cases in the week ending on Sept. 6, 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, and 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Oconee County Schools Began The School Year With Fewer Students Than Last Year

***All 12 Schools Under Capacity***

Oconee County Schools experienced a slight drop in enrollments as the school year began, according to a report given the Board of Education at its work session on Monday.

Enrollment growth has been moderate for the last five years, according to the counts from the fourth Wednesday of the new school year.

State. Rep. Gaines Says Republicans Have To Reach Out–Even To Democrats–To Defeat District Attorney Gonzalez In 2024

***Gaines Identifies Three Ways To Remove Gonzalez***

State Representative Houston Gaines has told Oconee County Republicans that they have to reach out to people they don’t ordinarily talk to if they want to defeat Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez at the ballot box next year.

That outreach includes to people who never attend Republican party meetings, to Independents, to Democrats, to students at the University of Georgia, Gaines, a Republican, said.

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Again

***Both Oconee And Clarke Show Decreases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 345 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 6, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, down from 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Oconee County Being Asked To Decide Whether To Set Up County Misdemeanor Probation System Or Join With Clarke County

***Judge Says He Will Not Renew Current Private Contract***

Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris wants Oconee County to create its own misdemeanor probation system or join with Athens-Clarke County to form a circuit wide misdemeanor probation system.

Norris told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners last week that he does not intend to allow the county to renew the contract it currently has with CSRA Probation Services Inc. for probation services.

COVID Case Count In NE Health District Declines In Department Of Public Health Data Report; Oconee, Clarke Cases Increase

***Clarke Rate Highest This Year***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 424 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 30, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23, 266 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 16, and 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9.

Oconee County’s Members Of General Assembly Sitting On Large Campaign Reserves Half Way Through Off Year In Election Cycle

***Watkinsville Will Have Two Contested November Races***

State Rep. Houston Gaines, half way through the 2023 non-election year, has $456,586 net balance on hand in his campaign account.

Half way through the 2022 election year, Gaines, who represents part of Oconee County in the General Assembly, had $251,041 net balance on hand.

On June 30 of 2021, which was not an election year, Gaines had $108,514 net cash balance on hand, or less than a quarter of what he has on hand at this time.

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Agrees To Sell Last Usable Parcel In Gateway Technology And Business Park

***IMI To Leave Watkinsville Industrial Park***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority on Wednesday agreed to sell the 52.8 acre western most parcel in Gateway Technology and Business Park to IMI Industrial Services Group, which plans to relocate to the new site from the Watkinsville Industrial Park.

The contract sets the sale price at $37,500 per acre, which, based on the existing survey, would total to $1,981,012.

The large, currently empty parcel, is the last accessible acreage in the Gateway Technology Business Park, which runs west, mostly north of SR 316, from McNutt Creek Road on the southwest side of Bogart.

COVID-19 Case Count In Northeast Health District Nearly Doubles In Last Week According To Department Of Public Health Status Report

***Oconee Cases Drop Slightly, While Clarke Cases Increase Sharply***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 519 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 23, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 266 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 16 and 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9.

Line Item Budget For Oconee County Schools Details $15.8 Million Increase In Spending For Fiscal Year 2024

***Spending For Superintendent: $284,810***

Oconee County Schools last week released a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 documenting a $3.9 million increase in teacher salaries and a $4.9 million increase in healthcare costs for certified employees.

Those increases and the others spelled out in the July 2023 Budget Report explain in detail the $15.8 million increase in spending in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget adopted by the Board in June.

COVID-19 Case Count In Northeast Health District Increases For Two Weeks Running

***Both Oconee And Clarke Report Jumps In Cases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 266 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 16, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9 and 224 in the two weeks ending on Aug. 2.

Oconee County Library Board To Consider Five Requests For Reshelving Of Books At Library In Watkinsville

***Decision Expected In October***

The Oconee County Library Board of Trustees, at its meeting in October, is expected to consider the requests of five citizens who have asked that the Oconee County Library in Watkinsville change the shelving of five different books the citizens say are inappropriate for children.

The five Requests for Reconsideration of Material currently are being reviewed by a committee of professional librarians of the Athens Regional Library System, of which the Oconee County and Bogart libraries are a part.

COVID-19 Case Count In Northeast Health District Continues To Increase

***Oconee Cases Stable; Cases In Clarke Increase***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 230 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 9, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Heath did not issue a report two weeks ago, and the number of cases added last week after a two-week gap in reporting had been 224.

Oconee County Schools Announced Community Engagement Session For September As Part Of Strategic Planning

***High School Growth Likely Topic***

Oconee County Schools will hold a Community Engagement Session from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Oconee County Civic Center as part of its new Strategic Planning Timeline, school Chief Academic Officer Susan Stancil told the Board of Education at its meeting on Monday.

Oconee County Schools also will conduct stakeholder surveys in September and October before joining with the Georgia School Boards Association to develop goals, initiatives, and action steps for review by the Board of Education in May and June of next year.

Oconee County Schools Reported To State That Six Incidents Involving Weapons Took Place At Its Schools In School Year 2022-2023

***A Single Incident Involving Weapons Reported Year Earlier***

Oconee County Schools reported to the Georgia Department of Education six incidents at its schools involving weapons during the last academic year in the required Discipline Incident Type Count due at the end of the school year.

Two of the six incidents involved knives, two involved rifles, and two involved other unspecified weapons.

Oconee County Schools has provided to the public no information on any of the incidents, though open records requests indicate that it did communicate via email internally about three of the incidents.

Oconee County Commissioners Name Planned New Park After Wendell And Betty Dawson

***Cite Service Of Couple To Nation, State, And County***

Oconee County’s planned new park on the 246 acre Land Application System site on Rocky Branch Road will be named the Wendell and Betty Dawson Park following action taken by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night.

The Board passed a resolution naming the future park for the Dawsons early in the meeting, citing Wendell Dawson’s service to “his country, state and county in a long and honorable career” and stating that “his wife Betty Dawson has been a constant support and help in all of his service.”

COVID Case Counts In Northeast Health District Show Sharp Increase Over Last Two Weeks

***Oconee And Clarke Report Increases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 224 new cases of COVID-19 in the two weeks ending on Aug. 2, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Heath did not issue a report last week, and the number of cases added in the  week ending on July 19 had been 63.

Oconee Board Of Education Votes To Approve Millage Rate Despite Criticism From Citizens

***Focus On Budget Surplus***

After hearing from 13 speakers who opposed the proposed 15.0 mill school property tax rate or at least the way the Board managed it, the Oconee County Board of Education adopted that rate unanimously on Monday evening.

Opponents focused on the 9.53 percent tax increase the rate represents, the way the Board handled the budget process, and questions about the need for the $34.8 million budget surplus in the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for Oconee County Schools.

Revised Oconee County Schools Budget Designed To Maintain $34.8 Million Budget Surplus

***Millage Rate Not Yet Approved By Board But Included In Mailer***

The Oconee County Board of Education and school administrators received a report on the size of the county’s tax digest in late June or early July, and they revised the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for Oconee County Schools sometime after that date.

The new budget shows a reduction of the millage rate to 15.0 from the 15.5 in the budget the Board passed on June 5.

Because of the exceptional growth in the tax digest, however, the 15.0 mills produces $2.1 million more in revenue from local property taxes than the original budget the Board approved.

Georgia Secretary Of State And Georgia Department Of Transportation Take Actions Affecting Oconee County

***Voter List, Bridge Posting***

Decisions by the Georgia Secretary of State Office and by the Georgia Department of Transportation last week have had reverberations in Oconee County.

Secretary Of State Brad Raffensperger announced on July 18 that he was sending a mailed notice to 677 registered Oconee County voters who have been on “inactive” status for two general elections and have failed to update their voting records within that time.

Oconee Commissioners Being Asked To Approve Requests For Two Gymnasiums

***Planning Commission Recommended Approval***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will hear requests from two petitioners, each seeking permission to build a gymnasium.

Core Blend Training LLC wants to change the conditions of an earlier rezone for 2.1 acres on Jamestown Road off Hog Mountain Road west of Butler’s Crossing to allow for an office building and a gymnasium.

State Planning Full Interchanges At McNutt Creek Road And Dials Mill Extension On SR 316

***Dials Mill Road To Be Closed At Highway***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has changed its plans for the three western most SR 316 interchanges in Oconee County and is now proposing to build a full access interchange at McNutt Creek Road, to close access at Dials Mill Road, and to build a full access interchange at Dials Mill Extension.

Earlier plans had called for a full access interchange at Dials Mill Road and flyovers at McNutt Creek Road and Dials Mill Extension.

Ribbon Cutting For New Oconee County Administrative Building Draws Large Crowd

***Tours Show Off New Building***

A lively crowd of local government leaders, county employees and their families, former employees, and local residents filled the atrium of the new Oconee County Administrative Building on Tuesday afternoon for the building’s official ribbon cutting.

County Administrator Justin Kirouac did the honors, at the request of County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell.

“We’re going to ask Justin to do the ribbon cutting for all of his hard work on everything he has done,” Daniell said.

Small Turnout For Oconee School Board Hearings On Tax Increase; Speakers Confront Change In Budget

***New Budget Increases Surplus***

Only four persons spoke on Monday at the first two public hearings on the proposed 9.53 percent increase in property taxes for Oconee County Schools.

All four asked the Board to reduce the millage rate below the proposed 15.0 mills.

The two who spoke on Monday evening also were strongly critical of the Board for embargoing the legal advertisements announcing the increase in the county’s legal organ, The Oconee Enterprise.

Attorney Who Sought Writ Of Mandamus Aimed At District Attorney Gonzalez To Speak To Oconee County Republicans

***District Teen Republican Chair Also To Speak***

Oconee County Attorney Kevin Epps, who has filed a writ of mandamus directed at Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, will be a featured speaker Monday at the July meeting of the Oconee County Republican Party.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Lobby Meeting Room at the main building of the Piedmont Oconee Health Campus, 1305 Jennings Mill Road. A half-hour social precedes the meeting.

COVID Case Counts Drop Just Slightly In Northeast Health District

***Oconee Reports Only Four Cases In Last Week***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 63 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on July 19, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 71.

The Department of Public Health reported no new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday.

Oconee County Schools Will Begin School Year With 126 New Hires, Including 24 Expansion Positions

***Amended Budgets Add $10.2 Million In Revenue***

Oconee County Schools begins the school year on Aug. 2 with 126 new hires, including 93 new certified employees, 78 of whom are teachers, Justin Cofer, Chief Human Resources Officer, told the Oconee County Board of Education on Monday.

More than half of those new teachers have six or more years of teaching experience, he said, and 64 percent of the certified new hires have advanced degrees.

Atlanta Political Reporter Offers Analysis, Projections At Meeting With Oconee County Democrats

***Says Kemp And Warnock Have National Appeal***

In a wide ranging talk to the Oconee County Democrats last month, Greg Bluestein, political reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reflected on his career, lamented the decline of newspapers, commented on the 2020 election, and presented an analysis of Georgia politics since that time.

He also speculated on future political developments, saying he doesn’t think Republican Gov. Brian Kemp will run for president this year but also that he doesn’t think Kemp has fully ruled it out.

Oconee County Agrees To Sell Library And Government Annex In Preparation For Move To New Administrative Building

***Citizens Voice Concern About Library Programming***

The Oconee County Library in Watkinsville featured prominently in the beginning and ending of the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

Three citizens addressed the commissioners in the citizen comment section as the meeting got underway, raising concerns about the library and its programming, all referencing the packed-hall meeting of the Library Board of Trustees the day before.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Up After Sharp Drop Week Earlier

***No New Deaths Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 71 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on July 12, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 32. That week had included the holiday. The number of added cases had been 74 the week before that.

Oconee School Board Announces Public Hearings On Proposed 9.53 Percent Tax Increase

***Announcement Includes Drop In Millage Rate***

The Oconee County Board of Education on Wednesday afternoon announced the dates for three public hearings on a proposed 9.53 percent increase in school property taxes for the current year.

The announcement includes a surprise proposed drop in the millage rate for the schools from the current 15.5 mills to 15.0 mills.

Critics, Supporters Of Watkinsville Library Pack Meeting Of Library Board; Reactions To Most–But Not All–Comments Respectful

***Board Votes To Move Book To Adult Section***

The meeting room at the Oconee County Library in Watkinsville was standing room only at 4:10 p.m. on Monday, though the meeting of the Oconee County Library Board of Trustees wasn’t scheduled to start for another 20 minutes.

By the time Library Board Chair Mark Campbell called the meeting to order, the room was filled way beyond capacity.

Oconee County Commissioners To Consider Recommendation That They Allow Rezone And Special Use For QuikTrip With Truck Fuel Bays

***Citizens Opposed Inclusion Of Truck Bays***

Eric Eberhardt, representing QuikTrip, was emphatic in telling the Oconee County Planning Commission last month that the gas station and convenience store his company wants to build opposite the intersection of North Main Street and U.S 441 Bypass north of Watkinsville has truck bays but is not a truck stop.

Ben Qualls, real estate manager for QuikTrip, told the Commission that QuikTrip knows what a truck stop is since it operates them elsewhere, and what is being proposed at that site is not a truck stop.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Sharply After Three Weeks Of Slight Increases

***Oconee Reports Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 32 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on July 5, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 74. The number of cases had increased just slightly in each of the last three weeks prior to the July 5 report.

Oconee Library Board To Decide On Citizen Complaint From March, Discuss Issues From June Program At Monday Meeting

***Town Hall Meeting Exchange Plays Role***

The Oconee County Library Board of Trustees, in its meeting on Monday, is scheduled to respond to a citizen request from March that the Oconee County Library reclassify or relabel a book because of its discussion of sex and use of language.

Board Chair Mark Campbell also anticipates that the Board will discuss possible responses to a controversy regarding programming at the Watkinsville Library in June that included a reading from the children’s series Little People, Big Dreams about RuPaul.

Oconee County Commissioners Set To Approve Big Cut In Property Taxes

***Drop Greater Than Promised Before Sales Tax Referendum***

Oconee County commissioners are set to approve a new millage rate for the vast majority of property owners in the county that represents an 8.4 percent cut in property taxes.

The millage rate of 4.824 reflects a larger cut than the 1 mill drop in property taxes the commissioner promised when voters approved the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax last November.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Shows Small Increase For Third Week Running

***No Deaths From Disease Reported In District***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 74 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on June 28, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 42. The number of cases has increased in each of the last three weeks.

Updated Comprehensive Plan Includes Statistical Description Of Oconee County

***Appendices Paint Picture Of County***

Median household income in Oconee County in the last Census was $95,064, up from $74,352 in 2010.

A third of those 16 years and older in the county holding jobs were in professional and related occupations (33.4 percent), up from 30.1 percent 10 years earlier.

Only 190 of the employed in the county were in farming or forestry (1.0 percent), but the figure was an increase from 96 (0.6 percent) in 2010.

COVID Cases in Northeast Health District Increase Just Slightly; Oconee Shows Tiny Increase; Clarke Reports Drop In Cases

***No Deaths From Disease Reported In District***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on June 21, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 39. The number of cases has increased just slightly in both of the last two weeks.

QuikTrip Seeking Approval Of Rezone For New Gas Station And Convenience Store On U.S. 441 At Intersection With SR 15

***Requests Includes Diesel Truck Refueling Bays***

QuikTrip wants to open a new gas station and convenience store with bays for truck refueling on U.S. 441 west of the exiting RaceTrac and across U.S. 441 from the Oconee County Administrative Building now under construction north of Watkinsville.

Access to the proposed gas station and convenience store would be via a fourth side to the existing three-sided traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 441 and SR 15 (North Main Street).

COVID Cases Slightly Up In Northeast Health District, Including In Oconee And Clarke

***No Deaths From Disease Reported In District***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 39 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on June 14, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier in the Northeast Health District had been 17. The number of cases added had fallen four weeks in a row prior to the increase in the report released on June. 14.

Oconee County Schools Receives High Marks In Accreditation Review, School Board Told

***30 Criteria Used In Evaluation Leading To Accreditation***

Oconee County Schools has received accreditation with glowing scores, Susan Stancil, Chief Academic Officer for the school system, told the Board of Education at its final meeting of the year last week.

The accrediting body Cognia assigned Oconee County Schools an overall score of 326, considerably above the score of 300 that signifies a system meets expectations for accreditation.

COVID Cases Continue To Fall In NE Health District; Oconee County Reported No New Cases In Week Ending On Wednesday

***Oconee Reports New Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 17 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on June 7, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

None of those cases was in Oconee County.

This is the first time that the Department of Public Health has not reported a COVID-19 case in Oconee County since the Department began releasing weekly rather than daily reports in April of 2022.

Oconee County Commissioners Say Two Lots On Mars Hill Road Should Remain Residential

***Budget, Comprehensive Plan, Joint Use Agreement Approved***

Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night turned down two requests to convert residential lots on Mars Hill Road to commercial development.

The Board of Commissioners, in a 3 to 1 vote, turned down a request to rezone 6.0 acres at the corner of Mars Hill Road and Julian Drive for an office park.

In a 2 to 1 vote, the Board rejected a request to rezone 3.1 acres on Mars Hill Road at Hollow Creek Lane for a dental office.

Board Of Commissioners, School Board To Consider New Joint Use Agreement Dropping Fees For Use Of School, County Sports Facilities

***Commissioners Already Given Preliminary Approval***

Oconee County commissioners and Board of Education members seem to have worked out an agreement for use of county and school sports facilities that basically rolls back the arrangement between the two governing bodies to where it was in 2010.

Neither Oconee County Schools nor the county will charge the other for use of its sports facilities.

COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District Drop Sharply; Two Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported

***Oconee Case Count Remains Unchanged***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 22 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on May 31, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 42. The number of cases added has fallen three weeks in a row.

Oconee County Schools Construction Spending Outstripping Ability Of Local Education Sales Tax To Cover Costs

***Burden Will Shift To Property Taxes***

Oconee County Board of Education Member Tim Burgess, in discussing earlier this month the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget the Board is expected to adopt on June 5, expressed concern about the “substantial debt” Oconee County Schools is facing.

Burgess praised Chief Financial Officer Liz Harlow for setting aside $11 million in the Budget to help retire the bonds the Board of Education sold in 2021 to build a new middle school, add classrooms at three elementary schools, and build a new administrative building.

State Department Of Public Health Reports Drop In COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District For Second Week

***One Confirmed Death From Disease Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on May 24, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 65. The number of cases added on May 10 had been 84.

Large Number Of Citizens Turned Out For GDOT Meeting On SR 316 Improvements, But Little New Information Provided

***No New Details Provided On Bogart Intersections***

More than 100 people turned out for what the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) had billed as a Public Meeting on SR 316 at the Bogart Community Center on Thursday.

No seating was provided, and no one from GDOT gave a presentation, though a large number of representatives were present to answer questions.

Georgia Department Of Transportation Partnering With State Road And Tollway Authority For SR 316 Projects In Oconee And Barrow

***No Tolls To Be Collected***

The Georgia Transportation Board last week approved a Joint Resolution with the State Road and Tollway Authority for construction of three bundles of road projects along SR 316, including the Oconee County interchanges at Jimmy Daniell Road, Virgil Langford Road, and the Oconee Connector.

While the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) is a state-level, independent Authority created by the Georgia General Assembly to operate tolled transportation facilities within Georgia, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials told the Transportation Board no tolls will be collected for the SR 316 projects.

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports Slight Drop In COVID-19 Cases In Northeast Health District

***Clarke Records 252nd Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 65 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on May 17, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 84. The number of cases has been up and down slightly in recent weeks.

Oconee County Planning Commission Recommends That Board Of Commissioners Deny Request For Dental Office In Mars Hill Subdivision

***Commission Approves Two Other Commercial Projects***

The Oconee County Planning Commission, in a 4 to 2 vote Monday night, recommended that the county commissioners reject the request by Dr. Brent and Mary Lynn Nail that they they be allowed to move their dental office to a 3.1 acre residential lot in the Oakridge subdivision on Mars Hill Road.

Commission Member Chris Herring, who made the motion to deny the request, said the county should not allow the Nails to tear down an existing home on the lot so they can build a commercial facility particularly when other commercial property is available to them.

Movement Of Drivers Services, Georgia State Patrol To Oconee County Likely To Bring Additional Benefits

***Donated Land Key To Shift From Clarke To Oconee***

When the Oconee County Industrial Development Authority decided late last year to donate 13 acres on McNutt Creek Road south of SR 316 to the state, it set in motion a series of events likely to have significant positive impact on the county.

The Industrial Development Authority said at the time that the state Department of Driver Services would build a new Customer Service Center on the property, but soon the Georgia State Patrol was interested in relocating to the property as well.

COVID Cases In Northeast Health District Increase Slightly In State Public Health Report; One Confirmed Death From Disease Listed

***CDC No Longer Reporting Community Data***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 84 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on May 10, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 60. The number of cases has been up and down slightly in recent weeks.

The Department of Public Health reported one new confirmed death from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday.

The Department of Public Health had reported two new deaths in the Northeast Health District on Wednesday of last week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has discontinued its reporting of community level COVID-19 data, such as Transmission Rates.

Weekly Report

Although the Department of Public Health is releasing a report only weekly, it is gathering data on a daily basis, and the weekly report includes a data file containing case counts each day, ending on a Wednesday.

Click To Enlarge

The Department of Public Health switched to weekly, rather than daily, case counts in April of last year in part because of a concern that its counts under-represent the actual number of cases.

At-home test results are not included in the electronic reporting system.

The average number of added cases per day in the last seven days ending on May 10 in the Northeast Health District was 12.0, up from 8.6 last week.

Oconee County added five new case in the seven days ending on Wednesday. The county had added seven new cases in the seven days ending on May 3.

Clarke County added 22 new cases in the seven days ending on May 10. It had added 15 cases in the week ending on May 3.

The unstandardized rolling average of added cases in Oconee County on May 10 was 0.6. It had been was 0.4 on May 3.

The unstandardized seven-day rolling average of added cases in Clarke County on May 10 was 2.7. It had been 1.9 on May 3.

Deaths

The confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in the May 10 report was in Jackson County.

The Northeast Health District now has recorded 1,759 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 since February of 2020, or 331.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

Clarke County has the lowest rate of deaths per 100,000 population among the 10 counties in the Northeast Health District (195.1), followed by Oconee County, with 253.6 confirmed deaths per 100,000 population.

The Northeast Health District reported 195 “probable” deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, the same as last week.

The Georgia Department of Public Health’s 10-county Northeast Health District includes, in addition to Oconee and Clarke counties, Barrow, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oglethorpe, and Walton.

Oconee County Planning Commission To Hold Hearings On Three Rezones To Convert Residential Land To Office And Business Districts

***Dentist Office Request On List***

The Oconee County Planning Commission on Monday will hear three rezone requests for property in the northeast of the county where the owner is seeking to convert parcels currently zoned for residential use to office and business uses.

Dr. Brent and Mary Lynn Nail are seeking to rezone a 3.1 acre single family residential lot on Mars Hill Road near its intersection with the Oconee Connector so they can remove the existing residence and build a new dental office.

Oconee County School Board Approves Tentative Budget For Fiscal Year 2024 With Large Increases In Revenue And Spending

***Public Hearings Set For May 17 And 22***

The Oconee County School Board on Monday adopted a tentative Fiscal Year 2024 General Fund Budget that shows a 13.0 percent growth in revenue over the budget the Board adopted a year ago and a 17.5 percent growth in expenditures.

The revenue growth includes 11.0 percent growth in local funds, including a projected 11.1 percent increase in Property and Ad Valorem Taxes and a 14.8 percent growth in state revenue for Oconee County Schools, including for teacher pay.

COVID Cases In Northeast Health District Show Slight Decline; Two Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported

***CDC Rates Oconee Transmission Rate As High***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 60 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on May 3, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 76.

Oconee County Commissioners Approve Rezone For Oconee Crossing Shopping Center On U.S. 78 At Hog Mountain Road

***Affirm Vote To Settle Lawsuit***

Opponents of the court settlement allowing for construction of Oconee Crossing Shopping Center turned out in the Commission Chamber at the Oconee County Courthouse on Tuesday night, but they didn’t change the minds of the needed two commissioners.

After detailed arguments by two residents of Oconee Crossing subdivision, the vote was unchanged from March 7.

Oconee County Schools Releases Tentative Fiscal Year 2024 Budget That Holds Millage Rate At Current Level

***Budget Projects Large Increase In Tax Digest, Likely Producing Tax Increase***

Oconee County Schools released its tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2024 on Monday, showing revenue of $103.9 million, up from $91.9 million in the current fiscal year, and expenditures of $106.0 million, up from $90.2 a year ago.

The revenue projection is based on growth in the tax digest of 7.3 percent and an unchanged millage rate of 15.5 mills.

The tax digest grew by 15.4 percent last year, and 5.6 percent the year before that.

Oconee County Commissioners Face Agenda With Five Rezone Requests, Agreement With School Board On Sports Facilities Fees

***Oconee Crossing Likely To Dominate***

Opponents of the new plans for the Oconee Crossing Shopping Center are hoping that their presence, their arguments, and their red T-shirts on Tuesday will persuade at least two members of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to change their minds.

Commissioner Chuck Horton is seeking another opportunity to voice his opposition to the plans by the Oconee County School Board to increase the fees it charges the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department for use of school sports facilities.

Oconee County Sheriff James Hale Responds To Request To Put Deputies In Oconee County Schools

***Elaborates On Comments At Oconee GOP Meeting***

Oconee County Sheriff James Hale is not in favor of putting deputies in Oconee County Schools.

He does not rule out changing that position in the future, but he does not believe the current situation in Oconee County Schools warrants inclusion of a security officer.

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports Slight Uptick In COVID Cases In NE Health District, Two New Confirmed Deaths From Disease

***Oconee County Added Only One New Case***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 76 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on April 26, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of cases added a week earlier had been 67.

Local And State Young Democrats Offer Advice At Oconee County Democratic Party Meeting

***Suggest Issues That Need More Attention***

Young Democrats from Oconee County High School, North Oconee High School, the University of Georgia, and the state, in their meeting with Oconee County Democrats last week, had some tips for those in the audience less young than they are.

They said that the party should pay more attention to gun control, to climate change, to affordable housing, to issues facing the LGBTQ+ community--and to them.

New Site Plan For Oconee Crossing Shopping Center Moves Grocery Store, Increases Buffer

***Grocery Still At Rear Of Shopping Center Near Residential Lots***

The new site plan released last week for the Oconee Crossing Shopping Center on U.S. 78 at Hog Mountain Road moves the proposed grocery store and increases the size of the buffer with the adjoining Oconee Crossing subdivision.

It also reduces the number of drive-through restaurants and moves the car wash.

Oconee Commissioners Delay Decision On Renewal Of Agreement With Oconee County Schools For Joint Use of Sports Facilities

***Comprehensive Plan Sent To State For Review***

Oconee County Commissioners on Tuesday night delayed until next week a decision on and further discussion of an agreement with the Board of Education on the increased fees Oconee County Schools wants to charge the county for use of school sports facilities.

The Commissioners delayed the decision at the request of Commissioner Chuck Horton, who said he probably will support the agreement but he wants to discuss it further at the next Board meeting before doing so.

Public Hearing On Comprehensive Plan Update On Agenda For Board of Commissioners Meeting On Tuesday

***Fees Charged For School Sports Facilities Also To Be Considered***

In preparing the five-year update to the county’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the Oconee County planning staff has conducted 11 focus groups, with five to 10 participants each.

The staff held a Kick Off Meeting at the June Town Hall Meeting, another Kick Off Meeting Public Hearing in July, and a Future Land Use charette in December of 2022.

COVID Case Count Drops In NE Health District After Slight Increase A Week Earlier

***Transmission Rate In Clarke County Now Low***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 67 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on April 19, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of cases added a week earlier had been 80. The week before that it was 58.

Steering Committee For LifeWise Religious Program, Advocates For School Safety Officers, Address Oconee County Board Of Education

***Opponents Of LifeWise Also Spoke Up***

All six members of the local steering committee asking Oconee County Schools to set aside an hour in the school day for independent, off-campus religious instruction appeared before the Oconee County Board of Education on Monday.

They offered consistent but somewhat different arguments for putting the issue on the agenda for future discussion by the Board or simply for adopting the plan and Bible-based curriculum developed by LifeWise, an organization in Ohio.

Will Dollar General Be Coming To Manders Crossing? Developer Tells Oconee County Planning Commission He Doesn’t Know The Answer

***Planning Commission Recommends Rezone Approval***

The 10,600 square foot building proposed for the vacant lot at Manders Crossing on Cliff Dawson Road and Mars Hill Road could house retail stores.

The three separate units shown on the site plan also could be medical offices.

The building could have three tenants, as shown, or two tenants, or one.

And a single tenant could be a Dollar General store.

Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Oconee County Library At Wire Park Highlights Plans For New Facility

***State Added $500,000 To Cover New Components***

Groundbreaking events are always ceremonial and symbolic.

Even by that standard, as Mark Campbell, Chair of the Oconee County Library Board of Trustees, had announced in advance, the Friday Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Oconee County Library at Wire Park in Watkinsville was unusual.

No ground was broken for the 25,000 square building, which was very much in evidence behind the line of participants as they donned white hard hats, grabbed shovels with a gold painted blade, and smiled for photos.

Oconee County Responds To Lawsuit Seeking To Overturn Rejection Of Shopping Center At Mars Hill Road And Oconee Connector

***County Says Owner Responsible For Any Injury Sustained***

Oconee County filed its response on Tuesday to the lawsuit seeking to overturn its denial of a rezone request for a shopping Center at Mars Hill Road and the Oconee Connector, saying that the claims are barred by applicable statutes of limitations.

Deferred Tax LLC, which filled the suit against the county on March 6, also failed to use and exhaust remedies afforded by state law to address the claims it has made, the response by the county states.

COVID Cases In Northeast Health District Increase Slightly; Oconee And Clarke Report Slight Declines In Cases

***Clarke County Has New Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 80 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on April 12, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of cases added a week earlier had been 58.

The Department of Public Health reported one new confirmed death from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday.

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board Awards Contracts For Transmission Design, Construction Manager For Treatment Plant

***Oconee To Begin Discussion Of Bond Sales***

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board on Tuesday voted to award an $18.6 million contract for a construction manager for a water treatment plant at the Walton County reservoir.

The Board also voted to award a nearly $600,000 contract for design of the water transmission line from the planned treatment plant to Walton County’s water distribution system.

Oconee County Schools To Assume Costs Of Stationing Deputies At School Entrances

***Associate Superintendent Makes School Safety Report***

Oconee County Schools will no longer rely on the county to cover the costs of hiring the deputies who direct traffic in front of the system’s schools, but rather it will pay those expenses out of its own budget starting with the next fiscal year.

Associate Superintendent Dallas LeDuff made that announcement at the Board of Education meeting on Monday as part of his school safety update.

Public Hearings Set For Rezones Near UNG, At Manders Crossing, In Far Northwest Of County, And On Cole Springs Road

***Planning Commission Meeting Monday***

Bob Bishop wants to rezone parts of the 17.8-acre parcel he owns abutting the Oconee Campus of the University of North Georgia to create two lots for residential development.

The Brothers Company of Atlanta wants to rezone the vacant lot at the corner of Cliff Dawson Road and Mars Hill Road at Manders Crossing to build a single-story, 10,600 foot retail building serving between one and three tenants.

COVID-19 Cases In NE Health District Continue To Decline; Oconee And Clarke Counties Each Report Confirmed Death From Disease

***Oconee Transmission Rate Now Rated As Low***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 58 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on April 5, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of cases added a week earlier had been 78.

The Department of Public Health reported two new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday.

Oconee County Joins Settlement Of $20 Billion Nationwide Opioid Suit

***County Officials Say Drug Problem Increasing***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners voted last month to accept a settlement under which drug manufacturers Allergan and Teva and CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies have agreed to pay $20 billion nationwide to settle an opioid mass tort lawsuit.

The state of Georgia will receive $181 million, and Oconee County will receive a yet-to-be determined part of that amount.

Census Bureau Population Estimate For Oconee County Shows Drop In Growth Rate

***563 New Residents In 2022***

Oconee County added 563 residents from July 2021 to July 2022, according to the March 30 release by the U.S. Census Bureau of what it terms its Vintage estimates of population change.

That 563 is a little more than half the 1,102 estimated increase in the county’s population from July 1 of 2020 and July 1 of 2021.

Proponents Of Incorporating Religious Instruction Into Oconee County School Day Say They Plan To Address Board On April 17

***Board Unwilling To Place Item On Agenda***

Jeff Wilkes, having been unsuccessful in his attempt to get the Oconee County Board of Education to discuss his proposal for incorporating religious instruction into the school day, says he will next make a direct appeal to the Board at its April 17 meeting.

Wilkes said he expects others from the seven-member local steering committee championing the request to join him.

Oconee, Clarke, Northeast Health District As Whole Report Drop In COVID-19 Cases

***No New Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 78 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 29, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of cases added a week earlier had been 135.

The Department of Public Health reported no new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday.

Oconee County Commissioners Agree On Revised Funding For Sheriff’s Office Vehicles And For New Fire Truck

***Kiosks For Tax Commissioner Also Approved***

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office got eight new law enforcement vehicles, properly equipped, a year ahead of schedule.

Fire Station Number 1 will get its ordered Air Truck at an additional cost of $20,259, bringing the total cost to $269,810.

Supply chain problems forced the county to find a new supplier of the chassis for the truck, which is now being outfitted for the station on the north of Watkinsville.

Local Oconee County Legislation, District Attorney Oversight, Ban On Gas Powered Leaf Blowers, Part Of Final Days Of General Assembly

***Watkinsville Gets Authority***

In the last two days of the legislative session, which ended on Wednesday, the Georgia House and Senate agreed to create an oversight commission for district attorneys, with the support of Oconee County’s legislators, who had championed the effort.

The General Assembly didn’t agree to make district attorney races nonpartisan, to make it easier to recall the district attorney, or to move Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, perhaps putting into motion transfer of Oconee to the Piedmont Circuit.

Legislation For Oconee County Homestead Exemption Referendums Includes Complex Ballot Language

***All 10 Referendums Must Pass***

Oconee County voters will confront a hodgepodge of 10 ballot items next May when they vote on efforts to revise the county’s homestead exemptions and freeze property tax assessments for homeowners who have turned 65.

Four of the 10 items repeal or change existing laws, and six enact new ones.

Georgia Senate Has Two Days To Vote On Local Legislation For Oconee County Commissioners And Watkinsville Mayor And Council

***Bills Cleared House Last Week***

The Georgia House of Representatives passed 11 pieces of local legislation last week sponsored by Oconee County representatives Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower with votes in each case of 162 to 0.

The House sent the bills immediately to the Georgia Senate, where they have been reviewed favorably by that body’s State and Local Government Operations Committee.

Oconee County Planning Commission Approves Redesigned Research Quarter Commercial Subdivision On Virgil Langford Road

***Access To Connector Removed From Plans***

Land Planner Ken Beall, appearing before the Oconee County Planning Commission on Monday evening, told that group something that those who drive along the Oconee Connector as it crosses SR Loop 10 toward Epps Bridge Centre know quite well.

Beall said that his clients' 22.7 acre property east of the Connector between Virgil Langford Road and the Loop had been clearcut and is sitting undeveloped. The wood piles and open space are hard to miss.

Northeast Health District Reports Slight Uptick In COVID-19 Cases

***New Confirmed Death From Disease In Oconee***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 135 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 22, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of cases added a week earlier had been 105.

Oconee County Town Hall Meeting Bought Out Advocates For Wide Range Of Uses Of County Parks

***Horse Crowd Dominated***

One could score the Town Hall Meeting that the Oconee County Board of Commissioners held on Tuesday evening at the Civic Center this way:

Horses: 10 speakers

Sports Fields: 7 speakers

Pool: 5 speakers

Rails to Trails: 3 speakers

Pickleball and Oconee Parks Foundation: 2 speakers each

GDOT Reconsidering Plans For SR 316 Interchanges at McNutt Creek Road, Dials Mill Road, Dials Mill Extension, Julian Drive

***Oconee Commission Chair Reports***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is considering changes to its plans for the McNutt Creek Road intersection with SR 316, switching from a flyover to a full access multi-grade intersection.

At the same time, GDOT is re-evaluating, in response to citizen input, its proposed intersection designs for Dials Mill Road and Dials Mill Extension with SR 316.

The planned flyover of Julian Drive of SR 316 also is being reassessed.

Oconee Legislators Begin Final Days Of Deliberations In Atlanta On Bills of Local Interest

***District Attorney Bill At Top Of List***

As the General Assembly heads into its final five days on Monday, decisions on legislation for which the Oconee County delegation has played prominent roles remain to be resolved.

Included are laws designed to create an oversight body for district attorneys and legislation to legalize some form of sports betting.

Oconee County Bus Drivers Tell School Board Their Concerns Are Not Being Heard

***Say Pay, Staffing Problems To Be Addressed***

Terry Radford, representing the bus drivers of Oconee County Schools, told the Board at its meeting on Monday that he was before them to talk about something he did not think they wanted to hear.

“We're the number one county in the state as far as the schools go,” Radford said, repeating a statement Superintendent Jason Branch makes often and made in his report to the Board at its work session a week earlier.

At Least Four Oconee County Subdivisions Hit With Anti-Semitic Flyers

***Sheriff Hale Exploring Options For Charges***

Oconee County Sheriff James Hale said on Friday afternoon his office is investigating the distribution of anti-Semitic flyers early Thursday in subdivisions in the county.

Residents of Daniell Plantation, Twelve Oaks, Lake Wellbrook, and Welbrook Farms all reported having the flyers thrown on their driveways or porches and put into the mailboxes over night.

Georgia Department Of Public Heath Reported 105 New COVID Cases In Northeast Health District, Down Sharply From Last Two Weeks

***Three New Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 105 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 15, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases each of the previous two weeks had been 165.

Oconee County reported nine fewer cases than it reported a week earlier, while Clarke County reported two more cases than a week earlier.

Oconee Representatives Can Introduce Legislation To Change Oconee County Homestead Exemptions After Thursday Legal Notices

***State Making One-Time Exemption This Year***

Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower, who represent Oconee County in the Georgia House of Representatives, will be able to introduce legislation on Monday allowing county voters to decide whether to increase the homestead exemption for county and school property taxes.

They also will be in a position to allow voters to decide if they want to freeze property tax assessments for persons once they turn 65 years of age.

Zaxby’s Plan For Corporate Campus In Oconee County Nixed As Firm Moves Corporate Offices To Metro Atlanta

***Enterprise Reports Move Expected In Early 2024***

In 2015, Zaxby’s proposed to build a $42 million corporate campus on Daniells Bridge Road just west of its current corporate offices on Founders Boulevard.

The campus was to include corporate offices, test kitchens, educational areas, a cafeteria, a Zaxby’s private restaurant, employee gymnasium, and employee daycare facilities.

Boswell Gets New Five-Year Term Representing Oconee County On State Transportation Board

***GDOT Makes Announcement***

Athens commercial realtor Jamie Boswell has been reappointed as District 10 Representative to the Georgia Transportation Board.

A caucus of state representatives and senators whose districts include at least part of the 10th Congressional District selected Boswell in a meeting on February 21 or Feb. 22.

No record of the deliberation or candidates considered is public.

Dentist To Be Displaced By GDOT Seeking To Relocate To Residential Lot On Mars Hill Road Near Oconee Connector

***Plans Not Yet Filed With County***

Dr. Brent Nail, whose existing Virgil Langford Road dental office is in the path of the planned new westbound on-ramp to SR 316 from the Oconee Connector, is holding an open house on Thursday to outline plans for his replacement facility.

The location that Nail has selected for his new office is a nearly three-acre lot at 2521 Mars Hill Road that currently has a single-family home on it and is zoned residential.

The Georgia Department Of Public Heath Reported 165 New COVID Cases In Northeast Health District–Both Last Week And This

***No New Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 165 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 8, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of added cases a week earlier–on March 1–also had been 165.

Oconee County reported adding two more cases than it reported adding a week earlier, while Clarke County reported adding 17 fewer cases.

Suit Filed To Overturn County Denial Of Rezone Request For Shopping Center On Oconee Connector At Mars Hill Road

***Suit Anticipated At Rezone Hearing***

As threatened, attorney David Ellison, representing Deferred Tax LLC, has filed suit in Oconee Superior Court asking the Court to overturn the denial of a rezone request for a shopping center with a Publix at the Oconee Connector and Mars Hill Road.

Ellison argues in the suit that Deferred Tax LLC, owned by Maxie Price, has a right to have a full commercial access to the property as a result of agreements with the county and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Bids For New Oconee County Schools Instructional Support Center Come In Much Higher Than Earlier Estimates

***Bids For Elementary School Addition Under Estimate***

Oconee County Schools Superintendent Jason Branch recommended on Monday that the School Board accept a construction bid of $14.5 million the new Instructional Support Center in Watkinsville.

The recommended bid for the Instructional Support Center is $6.2 million more than the estimated cost of the facility in 2019 and $1.8 million more than the cost estimate given to the Board in January of 2022.

Oconee Commissioners Vote To Settle Suit Filed By Landowner Who Wants To Build Oconee Crossing Shopping Center

***Rejected Rezone Will Come Back For Vote***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners, in a 3 to 1 vote on Tuesday night, approved a settlement with Donald Hammett that will allow construction of Oconee Crossing Shopping Center on U.S. 78 at Hog Mountain Road.

Hammett will have to return to the Board of Commissioners with a new concept plan for the shopping center, and the Board will have to vote again on the rezone request by Hammett it turned down in October.

Oconee Legislators Play Prominent Roles In Crossover Day Voting In Atlanta

***Gambling Bills Fail In Both House And Senate***

Oconee County Rep. Houston Gaines on Monday voted for a bill that would increase the weight of some types of commercial trucks on the local and state roads from 80,000 to 88,000 pounds, while Oconee County’s Rep. Marcus Wiedower voted against the bill.

Gaines and Wiedower voted in favor of a bill to set up an oversight commission for district attorneys and in favor of a bill limiting the ability of city and county governments to impose a temporary moratorium on zoning decisions or issuance of permits.

Oconee County Democrats Offer District Attorney Gonzalez Opportunity To Respond To Legislation Introduced In General Assembly

***Also Discusses Criticism In Media***

The dissension that has surrounded Democrat Deborah Gonzalez since she forced and then won an election for district attorney for the Western Judicial Circuit consisting of Oconee and Clarke counties in 2020 has intensified in recent weeks.

At the beginning of the current legislative session, Rep. Houston Gaines and Sen. Bill Cowsert, who represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly, co-sponsored bills that would create an oversight committee to monitor the work of district attorneys. Each bill now has received a positive vote in the respective chamber.

Department of Public Health Reports Sharp Drop In COVID-19 Case Count For Northeast Health District

***Confirmed COVID Deaths In Oconee, Clarke***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 165 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 1, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases a week earlier on Feb. 22 had been 470.

Both Oconee County and Clarke County reported decreases in cases.

Bill To Protect Okefenokee Swamp Still In House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment As Deadline For Action Nears

***Oconee Rep. Wiedower Sits On Committee***

Georgia House Bill 71, introduced on Jan. 24 by Thomasville Republican Darlene Taylor, generated a lot of attention by groups around the state seeking to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from nearby mining.

The Georgia River Network, based in Athens and with many followers in Oconee County, urged its members to write their legislators in support of the bill.

Oconee County Commission Accepts Bid For Additional Road Work At Malcom Bridge Road Elementary And Middle School Campus

***Goal Is To Remove Deputies From Roadways***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners at its agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday night decided to move forward with postponed plans to reconstruct Malcom Bridge Road at the entrances to Malcom Bridge Elementary and Malcom Bridge Middle schools.

The goal of the changes, Board Chair John Daniell said, is to remove the deputies from the roadway at the entrances to the schools for the safety of the deputies.

The project will add a median along Malcom Bridge from the roundabout at the bus driveway north and south past the entrances for the elementary and middle schools.

Oconee County Commissioners Voice Strong Opposition To House Bill That Would Greatly Restrict Local Zoning Decisions

***Watkinsville Mayor Also Opposed***

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell said on Tuesday that legislation introduced in the Georgia General Assembly last week, if passed, would “nullify” Oconee County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Oconee County Commissioner Chuck Horton called the legislation “an attack on local control.”

The two were reacting to House Bill 517, called the Georgia Homeowner Opportunity Act, introduced by Rep. Dale Washburn, Republican from Macon.

Speakers At African-American History Session Discuss Oconee County Schools And Desegregation

***History Lecture Series At Library***

Given the panel that Marvin Nunnally assembled for his presentation on Sunday on African-American History in Oconee County, it was almost inevitable that school desegregation would become the focal point of much of the discussion.

The four female panel members all had links to Oconee County Schools as students, teachers, or the children of teachers.

Oconee County Commission Chair Voices Opposition To Georgia House Bill Allowing Increased Truck Weights On County Roads

***Says Increased Weight Will Add Costs To County***

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell said on Friday that he remains opposed to House Bill 189, which has been revised to allow commercial trucks with only specified types of cargo to exceed the current weight limit on roads throughout the state.

Daniell had sided with the Georgia Department of Transportation in opposing the original version of Georgia House Bill 189 that would have increased the weight limit of all commercial trucks on state and local roads from 80,000 to 90,000 pounds.

Georgia Department of Public Health Reports Increase In COVID-19 Case Count For NE Health District And Death From Disease In Oconee

***Transmission Rates Oconee, Clarke Remain High***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 470 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 22, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases a week earlier on Feb. 15 had been 353.

Both Oconee County and Clarke County reported an increase in cases.

Republican Party Appointee To Oconee County Election Board Wants To Revisit Petition Procedures For Independent Candidates

***Unhappy With Procedures Used Last Year***

Kirk Shook, the Republican Party representative on the Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration, told his colleagues that he wants to review the policy and procedures that resulted in the Board voting to put the names of two Independent School Board candidates on last November’s ballot.

Shook said “it was a big shock” for him to be asked back in July of last year to vote to allow Ryan Repetske and Melissa Eagling to run following a review by the staff of the Office and Elections and Registration and County Attorney Daniel Haygood of the separate petitions submitted by the two Independents.

Department of Public Health Reports Drop In COVID-19 Case Count For Northeast Health District

***Clarke Reports Two Additional Deaths From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 353 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 15, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases on a week earlier on Feb. 8 had been 400.

Both Oconee County and Clarke County reported a decrease in cases.

Self-Storage Units Proposed Instead Of Business Park At U.S. 441 And New High Shoals Road

***Three Buildings On Site Plan***

In 2015, Halloran Masonry, an Athens construction contractor, told the county it planned to move its corporate offices to one of three lots in a business park it proposed to develop at the southwest corner of U.S. 441 and New High Shoals Road.

Halloran Masonry has changed its plans, and now it wants to build a self-storage facility consisting of up to four interior or external loaded building that could be up to two stories in height.

Dove Creek Elementary School To Receive Largest Number Of Students Through School Choice

***Students Leaving High Shoals, Malcom Bridge Elementary***

One in five of the Oconee County students who requested a different school assignment for next year from the one they were given through redistricting opted to move to Dove Creek Elementary School.

Nearly the same ratio opted not to attend High Shoals Elementary School and not to attend Malcom Bridge Elementary School, as they would have under the new redistricting plan adopted last year by the Oconee County Board of Education.

Proposal To Freeze Oconee County School Property Taxes Not Well Received At School Board Retreat

***Focus On Fiscal Year 2024 Budget***

About halfway through her hour-long presentation to the Oconee County Board of Education, Oconee County Schools Chief Financial Officer Liz Harlow paused and asked a question.

Harlow had just reviewed the current fiscal year budget and presented a slide showing the calendar for the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.

“Are there any goals that the Board would like to consider for the FY 24 Budget?” Harlow asked.

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board Moves Forward With Water Treatment Plant, Issuing $8.3 Million Design Contract

***Plans For Intake On Apalachee Also Progressing***

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board on Monday approved an $8.3 million proposal from Jacobs Engineering Consulting Group Inc. of Atlanta for design of the water treatment plant at the reservoir jointly owned by Oconee and Walton counties.

The Board also agreed to shortlist and request competitive pricing from the three highest ranked firms for engineering design services for the transmission system from the plant to Walton County’s currently existing water distribution system.

COVID-19 Cases In NE Health District Up Slightly; Transmission Rates In District Remain High

***Clarke Reports One Death From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported three new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, including one in Clarke County.

The Department of Public Health reported four confirmed deaths from the disease in the Northeast Health District on Wednesday of last week.

Oconee County Schools Received And Granted Large Number Of School Reassignment Requests Following Redistricting

***All Requests Approved***

Oconee County Schools has received and approved a whopping 379 applications for School Choice, meaning that the student requested and was granted transfer to a different school in the system than the one assigned as a result of redistricting.

Last year, by comparison, Oconee County Schools received 84 applications and seven of those were denied because the applications were made to schools, North Oconee High School and Malcom Bridge Middle School, where no space was available.

Three Bills In Georgia House Of Representative Directed At Operation Of District Attorney Office

***Oconee’s Representatives Playing Key Roles***

Three pieces of legislation introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives could have impact on the District Attorney Office serving Oconee County.

House Bill 48, introduced on Jan. 23, would make the election of the District Attorney of the Western Judicial Circuit consisting of Oconee and Clarke counties, and all other circuits in the state, nonpartisan.

Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Turns Down Again Proposal For Shopping Center With Publix On Oconee Connector

***Focus Shifted To Legal Arguments***

Attorney David Ellison, representing Deferred Tax LLC before the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night, made it clear his client was not interested in any compromise over the rezone request for a shopping center with a Publix on the Oconee Connector at Mars Hill Road.

“You should approve the rezone as submitted,” he said several times.

Land Planner Ken Beall, also representing Deferred Tax, said the same.

The Board of Commissioners responded by voting unanimously to turn down Deferred Tax LLC, owned by Maxie Price, with no real discussion.

Oconee County’s Two High Schools Are Not At Capacity, But School Board Told To Plan For Additional Classrooms Or Third High School

***Message At Retreat***

Both of Oconee county’s high schools currently are under capacity.

School administrators are projecting, however, that North Oconee High School will be over capacity by eight students next year, while Oconee County High School will be over capacity in 2032.

In eleven years, by 2034, North Oconee High School will be 94 students over its capacity of 1,500 students, and Oconee County High School will be 99 students over its capacity of that same number, the administrators project.

It is time to make decisions about how to accommodate the roughly 200 students the existing two high school currently are not designed to accommodate, Superintendent Jason Branch and Associate Superintendent Dallas LeDuff told the Board of Education at its retreat last month.

Oconee County Schools Plans To Increase Its Charge To County For Use Of School Sports Facilities

***New Joint Use Agreement Proposed***

One of the issues that has divided the Oconee County Board of Education and the Oconee County Board of Commissioners–the joint use of athletic facilities–is about to surface again.

Oconee County Schools Associate Superintendent Dallas LeDuff told Board of Education members at their retreat last month of his plans to move ahead with charging the county’s Parks and Recreation Department the same user fee charged to nonprofits.

None of the Board members pushed back on that plan.

COVID-19 Cases In NE Health District Drop For Fifth Week; Confirmed Deaths From Disease Down As Well

***Clarke Again Reports Two Deaths From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported four new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, including two in Clarke County.

The Department of Public Health reported eight confirmed deaths from the disease in the Northeast Health District on Wednesday of last week, and seven the week before that.

The Department of Public Health also reported that the Northeast Health District added 384 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 1, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

Oconee County Sales Tax Revenue Increase Contributes To Budget Surplus, Resulting In Mid-Year Budget Amendments

***Monies Allocated For Heritage Park***

Oconee County received just less than $1.1 million in Local Option Sales Tax in December, the first time the monthly collection has exceeded the $1 million mark.

The increase in collections, attributed to the November opening of Costco, played a role at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night as the Board gave tentative approval to Fiscal Year 2023 Mid-Year Budget Amendments for $1.8 million.

Traffic Engineer Says County Should Not Allow Full Access Intersection On Oconee Connector For Proposed Shopping Center

***Also Recommends Roundabout On Mars Hill Road***

Based on current guidelines from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, a full access intersection from the Oconee Connector should not be allowed for the proposed shopping center at the Connector and Mars Hill Road.

The intersection of the Oconee Connector and SR 316 already has crash rates and injury crash rates significantly higher than the statewide average.

As a result, a full-access intersection would work against the county’s desire to maintain long-term safe and efficient traffic operation on the Oconee Connector.

A roundabout is needed at the proposed full-access entrance to the shopping center off Mars Hill Road.

Legislation To Increase Oconee County Homestead Exemption Awaits Drafting In Legislative Counsel, County Chair Says

***Legislative Delegates Have Not Responded***

Although Oconee County’s three state legislators have been unwilling to confirm, the Board of Commissioner’s request for legislation to increase the county’s property tax homestead exemption is in the queue with the General Assembly’s Legislative Counsel, Board Chair John Daniell said on Friday.

County Attorney Daniel Haygood also said on Friday that he was aware that the request had been submitted to Legislative Counsel, but he had not yet heard from Counsel.

Owner Of Land For Proposed Oconee Crossing Shopping Center Asks Court To Set Aside County’s Denial Of Rezone Request

***Claims Rights From 1990 Rezone***

Donald Hammett, contending that the Oconee County Board of Commissioners ignored his “vested rights” in the nearly 43 acres he wants to develop as Oconee Crossing Shopping Center, has filed suit to overturn the county’s denial of his rezone request.

Hammett said that he obtained his “vested rights” to develop the property as it was rezoned in 1990 when he purchased the property on the southeast corner of U.S. 78 and Hog Mountain Road in 2005.

COVID-19 Cases In NE Health District Drop For Fourth Week; Eight Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported

***Two Of Confirmed Deaths From Disease In Clarke***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported eight new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, including two in Clarke County.

The Department of Public Health reported seven confirmed deaths from the disease in the Northeast Health District on Wednesday of last week, and seven the week before that.

Oconee Commissioners To Seek Citizen Comment On Preliminary Multi-Use Trails Master Plan

***Date For Input Still To Be Set***

Oconee County citizens will get a chance in the coming months to comment on preliminary plans for a multi-use trail system for the county that could be funded in part with money from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved by voters in November.

The centerpiece of the plan is what is termed the Main Loop that would wind around the northern part of the county, connecting Hog Mountain Road, Malcom Bridge Road, Rocky Branch Road, Mars Hill Road, and Daniells Bridge Road.

Oconee County Elections Director Reviews Recent Elections, Discusses Plans For Future

***Also Praises Staff And Voters***

Sharon Gregg, who took over as director of Elections and Registration in Oconee County in September, introduced herself to Oconee County Democrats last week with a report on the November and December elections and tips on things to come.

Gregg said the two elections took place without any glitches and that turnout was high.

“The longest anyone waited in line was 20 minutes,” Gregg said referring to the December 6 runoff. “And that is great. We had people just swarming in. I love it. I love it when people want to vote.”

Oconee Legislators Wiedower, Gaines, Cowsert Get Top Committee Assignments In Georgia General Assembly

***Okefenokee Swamp Issue Impacts Wiedower’s Committee***

Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns last week appointed Oconee County’s state Rep. Marcus Wiedower chair of the General Government subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee when he announced new committee assignments for the current House session.

Burns also appointed Oconee County’s other state representative, Houston Gaines, as vice chair of the subcommittee on Higher Education.

Oconee County Recreation Advisory Committee Approves Proposal For Upgrade To Heritage Park

***Proposal Offered For Equine Events***

Amanda McCoy says that the covered arena at Oconee County’s Heritage park is in disrepair and underutilized and that she has a plan to change that.

A self-described “horse lady,” McCoy appeared before the Board of Commissioners back in November with suggestions on how to make the facility more usable for horse events.

McCoy followed that up with a presentation last week before the county’s Recreation Advisory Committee, of which she is a member.

COVID-19 Cases In NE Health District Drop For Third Week; Seven Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported, Same As Last Week

***Two Of Confirmed Deaths From Disease In Clarke***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported seven new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, including two in Clarke County.

The Department of Public Health also had reported seven confirmed deaths from the disease on Wednesday of last week.

The Department of Public Health also reported that the Northeast Health District added 494 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Jan. 18, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

Meeting Called To Develop New Request Of Oconee School Board For Adding Religious Instruction Into School Day

***Mars Hill Baptist Church Is Venue***

Julie Mauck has called a meeting of interested local citizens for 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at Mars Hill Baptist Church to develop a new plan for incorporating Christian instruction into the curriculum of Oconee County Schools.

Working with LifeWise Academy, Mauck plans to ask the Board to allow K-5 students at Oconee County Schools to leave their campuses during regular school hours for Bible-based instruction.

Oconee County’s Republican Legislative Candidates Spent More Per Vote Received Than Democratic Candidates, Campaign Reports Show

***Republicans Also Gave Money Away***

The three Republicans who are representing Oconee County in the General Assembly session that got underway last week received just more than 63 percent of the votes cast in the three multi-county districts that selected them.

They won their seats after receiving 88 percent of the campaign funds raised during the election year in the three districts and accounting for just less than 81 percent of the campaign spending during the year in those districts.

Even with the high levels of spending, the three were so successful at fund raising that they ended the year with just a little less than 100 percent of the unspent campaign funds.

Weather Has Created Problems For Dove Creek Middle School Construction, Oconee School Board Told

***Board Also Told All Schools Under Capacity***

Fred Ricketson, Director of Facilities for Oconee County Schools, didn’t sound the alarm at the first meeting of the year of the Oconee County Board of Education.

But he did tell the Board that the weather has caused delays in construction of the system’s new Dove Creek Middle School, planned to open for the next academic year, and that “dry warm weather will do us a lot of favors.”

Ricketson’s report was one of many to the Board on Monday, which merged the usual work and regular sessions of the Board into the single meeting for the month.

COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Slightly For Second Week

***State No Longer Reporting Hospital Data***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported seven new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, up from the four reported a week earlier.

The Department of Public Health also reported that the Northeast Health District added 664 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Jan. 11, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases on Jan. 4 was 729, and on it Dec. 28 was 758. The decline is the first going back to Nov. 30.

Boswell Is Seeking Reappointment To The Georgia Transportation Board

***Oconee Legislators Will Join Caucus To Decide***

Jamie Boswell, President and owner of the Boswell Group, which includes insurance, real estate and appraisal companies, has confirmed that he will ask area legislators to appoint him to a new five-year term on the State Transportation Board.

Boswell’s term expires on April 15, and state law requires that members of the Transportation Board be elected by a majority vote of the members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate “whose respective districts are embraced or partly embraced within” the Congressional District.

Oconee County Commissioners Take First Step Toward Increasing Homestead Property Tax Exemption, Freezing Assessments At Age 65

***Legislature, Local Citizens Will Have To Approve***

Oconee County commissioners are asking the county’s state legislative delegation to help it increase the homestead exemption as a way to decrease homeowner property taxes and freeze property tax assessments for persons once they turn 65 years of age.

The commissioners passed a resolution at their meeting on Tuesday calling on the legislators to introduce bills in the General Assembly this year that would allow for a referendum in 2024 on the homestead exemption and the freezing of assessments.

The changes in the property taxes would reduce county and school revenue, and Board of Education Chair Kim Argo said the School Board does not intend to pass a resolution making the request of the legislators but it supports the changes proposed by the county.

COVID Cases At Area Hospitals Continue To Increase: NE Health District Case Count Falls Slightly

***Oconee, Clarke Report Confirmed Death From Disease***

The Georgia Hospital Association and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency reported on Friday that area hospitals had 64 COVID-19 patients, up from 52 on Friday of last week and the highest number of cases since February of last year.

The number of ICU beds in use on Friday was 76, down from 80 a week earlier, and the number of adult ventilators in use was 28, down from 32 last Friday.

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported four new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the Northeast Health District in its report on Wednesday, including one in Oconee County and one in Clarke County.

Oconee County Had Highest Turnout In State In December Runoff And November General Election

***Also Largest Gap Between Kemp And Walker Vote***

Oconee County ranked number 1 in the state in turnout in the December runoff election, as it has in the last four state-wide elections going back to November of 2020.

Oconee County retained its top ranking in terms of the percentage of active voters who cast a ballot in December despite a drop-off of 8.4 percentage points in turnout from the vote in November.