Sunday, March 12, 2023

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.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

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.

Friday, March 10, 2023

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.

Thursday, March 09, 2023

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.

Wednesday, March 08, 2023

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.

Tuesday, March 07, 2023

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.

Saturday, March 04, 2023

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.