Citizens Ask Oconee County Commissioners For Help In Answering Questions About Proposed Truck Bypass South Of Watkinsville

***Commissioners Also Set Millage Rates For 2026***

Jeff Wilkes, speaking on behalf of the citizen group Save South Oconee, asked Oconee County commissioners on Tuesday night to help with a series of questions Wilkes said have not been answered about the proposed truck bypass to link SR 15 with U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville.

Even after the hour-long meeting the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) held last week with the Commissioners and other government leaders, Wilkes said, he and others in the county still don’t know why a route within the city boundary is not being considered.

State Transportation Department Announced Sept. 14 Start Of Detour At Jimmy Daniell Road And SR 316, With Meriweather Drive Closure

Changes Made After Public Information Open House

The previously announced closure of access to SR 316 at Jimmy Daniell Road and resulting detour is scheduled to begin on Sept. 14 and remain in place for approximately six months, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has announced.

The intersection of Meriweather Drive and Jimmy Daniell Road also will be closed, GDOT has said. Previous discussion of the closure and detour did not include that feature.

Georgia Transportation Department Poised To Select Close-In Alternative For SR 15 Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville

***Details To Be Released At Future Public Information Open House***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is considering a route just south of the city limits of Watkinsville as the recommended alternative for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 to reduce traffic along Main Street inside the city.

Consultants for GDOT have considered and rejected a route inside the limits.

Republicans Lead Democrats In Funding For Races For Oconee County Seats In State General Assembly

***Democrats Get More Of Funding From Individuals***

The three Republicans seeking to represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly in January begin the fall campaign season with a significant financial advantage over the three Democrats seeking those same seats.

In the Senate District 46 contest, Republican Marc McMain reported in his July 31 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report that he had a $124,111 Ending Monitory Balance, compared with $16,001 for Democrat Ray Smith.

Oconee County Provides Virtual Link To GDOT Stakeholders Meeting On Proposed Truck Bypass Linking SR 15 With U.S. 441

***Called Meeting Of Commission Announced***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is treating the previously scheduled stakeholders meeting with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) representatives to discuss a proposed truck bypass of SR 15 as a called meeting of the Commission.

That means at least a quorum of the commissioners--three members–is expected to attend and discuss official business. By state law, such a meeting must be open to the public.

Oconee County School Board Officially Set Millage Rate For 2026 At Rollback Rate Based On Tax Digest Of More Than $4 Billion

***Opting Out Of Floating Homestead Exemption Increased Tax Revenue***

The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday night officially adopted a property tax millage rate of 13.836 for 2026, down from 13.962 for 2025, but up slightly from the 13.813 originally proposed in May.

The adopted rate of 13.836 is the rollback rate, calculated to offset growth in the county Tax Digest due to reassessment of unchanged property. The Tax Digest is the total assessed value of property in the county.

10th Congressional District, Which Includes Oconee County, Third Most Competitive U.S. House District Now Represented By Republicans

***Primary Data Suggest Small Shift Democratic***

Going into the November election, when control of Congress will be decided, Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Oconee County, is in a position to be the third most competitive of Congressional races for seats currently held by Republicans in Georgia.

In the May 19 party primaries, 58.2 percent of the votes cast in the 10th Congressional District were in the Republican Primary, with 41.8 percent in the Democratic Primary.