On Sept. 1, the 3.6 acres on which the Oconee County Civic Center sits at 1661 Hog Mountain Road will be reincorporated into the surrounding campus of Oconee County High School, with the Oconee County Board of Education having full control over operation of the facility.
Both the Board of Education and the Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved the transfer unanimously in a joint special meeting at the Oconee County Schools Instructional Support Center on Monday (July 6).
The newly approved Intergovernmental Agreement brings to an end a 1992 Agreement whereby the Board of Education transferred to the county the 3.6 acres so the county could build a theater and ballroom facility to serve the needs both of Oconee County Schools and of the county. The 1992 agreement specified that Oconee County Schools had priority use of the facility.
School officials said on Monday that full ownership of the Civic Center will allow the Board of Education to pay for costs of future renovations of and modifications to the facility from the current and future Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) revenues.
The Board also will be able to apply for state funding for renovation and modifications of the building in the future, they said.
Having full control over the facility, the school leaders said, also will allow Oconee County High School to expand its fine arts programming and create greater facility equity with North Oconee High School.
The county will receive 42.7 acres of undeveloped land north of Bishop in return. Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell said at the meeting on Monday that the county has no current plans for use of the land, but a future park and station for the county’s EMS program are possibilities.
John Webb, the only citizen who spoke at the meeting on Monday, applauded the cooperation between county and school officials that led to the 1992 agreement and asked that the Board of Education at least commit to keeping the Civic Center name on the facility.
No one from the Board of Education responded to Webb’s request, nor did Superintendent Melissa Butler or her staff.
Special Meeting
The Board of Education and Board of Commissioners had announced the special meeting on Monday in separate news releases on June 9.
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| Screen Shot Of White And School Board, Board Of Commissioners 7/6/2026 |
The meeting was held at the Oconee County Schools Instructional Support Center, 71 North Main Street in Watkinsville, but not in the Board Room on the first floor but in a larger meeting room on the second floor where a long table was set up to seat the five member of each Board.
Only Commissioner Mark Saxon was not in attendance.
The initial eight minutes of the 25-minute-long meeting were highly choreographed, with Education Board Chair Michael Ransom calling forward three school administrators for presentations.
“Good afternoon and thank you all for being here today,” said Ryan White, Chief Operations Officer for Oconee County Schools, when he stepped to the podium at Ransom’s invitation.
“We appreciate the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Education, for taking the time to meet jointly. We are here to discuss a proposed intergovernmental agreement that involves two important public properties, a Board of Education owned property (and) the Board of Commissioners’ Civic Center.”
“In the simplest terms,” White continued, “the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement would exchange unused Board of Education property for the county owned Civic Center.”
“In 2007, the Board of Education purchased approximately 42.7 acres just north of Bishop along Highway 441,” White said. “Since that time, the property has not been occupied or developed by the school system.”
“In 1992, the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners entered into a Memorandum of Understanding related to the construction and use of the Civic Center. The facility is located on 3.64 acres and includes a theater, banquet hall, and related support areas,” White continued.
The school system is the primary user of the Civic Center, White said, and “The Civic Center is used for theatrical production, parent and student meetings, awards ceremonies, future educator meetings, ceremonies, district-wide strategic planning, performances, teacher of the year banquets.”
Question And Answer
White then turned to a rehearsed question and answer exchange, posing “questions that we have received from the community” to himself, to Jennifer Whitaker, Oconee County Schools Chief Academic Officer, and to Chief Financial Officer Peter Adams.
“So, our first question is, when will Oconee County Schools students use the theater and for what purpose?” White asked Whitaker.
“The Civic Center's proximity to the high school allows students to access the facility throughout the school day, making it a true extension of the school's instructional campus rather than simply a venue for performances and special events,” Whitaker read from her prepared response.
“As the school continues to expand its fine arts programming, the auditorium will serve as a dedicated daily instructional space where theater classes can meet in a professional quality performance environment,” she continued.
“The facility will also enhance learning opportunities across multiple content areas, clubs, and provide flexible spaces that support instructional activities not easily accommodated in traditional classrooms,” she continued. “Student organizations, leadership groups, and academic teams will also be able to use the facility for meetings, competitions, and collaborative learning experiences.”
Whitaker said the Civic Center also will expand opportunities for elementary and middle school students “by providing a venue for programs and performances that often exceed the capacity of individual school facilities.”
In response to a second question from White, Whitaker said having the Civic Center fully under control of Oconee County Schools “creates greater parity between the district's two high schools by providing Oconee County High School students with learning, rehearsal, and performance spaces comparable to those available at North Oconee High School.”
White And Adams
In response to a question White posed to himself, he said the school system currently uses Facilitron to manage facility rentals across the district, and “Under the proposed agreement, the civic center would remain available for rentals in both the banquet hall and the theater.”
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| Notice On County Web Site 7/12/2026 |
At present, Oconee County manages the Civic Center, with county employees handling all scheduling, giving priority to all requests of Oconee County Schools.
“Reservations that have already been received would continue to be honored,” White said. “Future reservations will be managed through Facilitron with all the current services continuing to be available including lighting, sound, table setup and take down, linens, custodial services, and catering.”
“Our goal is to add in the Civic Center to our current facilities use process,” White said in responses to another question he posed to himself. “This includes a continued hierarchy of Oconee County Schools having first priority, followed by the Board of Commissioners, then the general public.”
“How will this transfer benefit Oconee County taxpayers?” White asked Adams.
“Currently Oconee County Schools pays 50 percent of the Civic Center maintenance and capital costs,” Adams said, “and we have to use General Fund dollars to pay those costs. “General Fund dollars are primarily supported by your (local) tax dollars (and money) that we get from the state,” he continued
“Because the district doesn't own the facility, these costs can't be paid with ESPLOST dollars,” Adams said. “Ownership would allow those eligible costs and capital improvements to be funded through the ESPLOST, and ESPLOST is funded by 1 percent sales tax paid on eligible goods throughout Oconee County.”
Adams said many of the sales tax monies come from people who live out of the county.
According to the Intergovernmental Agreement, the Board of Education currently owes the county $459,229 for Reroofing and Exterior Renovation that are underway and $287,770 for Camera/Card Access facilities.
“And then one other thing for us in the future,” Adams said, “and we talked about parity and equity. We would not have to build another auditorium for Oconee County as we have at North Oconee.”
County Response
When White finished, Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair Daniell said “we'll run through a few things as well from the county side. One thing I understand is school system policies will apply. So no alcohol, no firearms, is kind of the big change.”
The Intergovernmental Agreements before the two Boards states that “No event shall permit the possession, service, sale, distribution, or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises. Tobacco, vaping, illegal drugs, weapons, firearms, and other prohibited items shall be governed by applicable OCS policy, state law, and federal law.”
“Those priority usages, Board of Education, Board of Commissioners, and community, that's exactly the same as we have it set up now. So no change there,” Daniell said.
“Board of Commissioners usage includes, but is not limited to, our election process, 4-H, Friends of the Library, Region 10 EMS, Sheriff's Office training, State of the County, our county fire rescue banquet, and employee Christmas lunch,” he said.
The Board of Commissioners does not pay a rental fee under the agreement, “but we will pay any direct costs,” Daniell said.
“We've created a list of items we're taking from the Civic Center that's been reviewed by the school system,” he said. “We're all good there.”
“This is a five-year agreement,” Daniell said. “Then it's going to be wrapped up into our school use agreement that we have for all schools” after that point.
The termination agreement does not affect elections, he said. The county will continue to have access to the Civic Center as long it wants it for elections.
The county currently uses the Civic Center as the polling location for its largest precinct, Oconee Central, and "the use of the facility for elections shall have priority over all other uses to the extent possible,” according to the proposed agreement.
“We have no definite plans for the 42 acres at this point,” Daniell said of the land it will receive in the property exchange. “We're holding it for a future park and maybe, since we're taking over EMS, there may be an EMS station in the end there to help serve the southeast communities.”
Daniell talked a little more than a minute before turning the program back to Ransom.
Citizen Comment
Following Board of Education policy, citizens who signed up in advance were allowed to talk for three minutes. The Board of Commissioners does not limit citizen comment at its meetings.
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| Civic Center Picture From County Web Site |
Webb, the only one who had requested to comment, has spoken frequently at Board of Education and Board of Commissioners meeting, usually on tax related issued.
At the meeting on Monday, Webb spoke for just more than three minutes and raised three concerns.
“In 1992 and (199)3, under the leadership of Wendell Dawson and some other really forward thinking people, this Civic Center came into being,” he said, referring to former Board of Commissioners Chair Wendell Dawson.
“And we were really proud of this in Oconee County because our neighbors to the north thought they were hot shots, and we had a Civic Center before they did,” Webb said. “We had a real nice one before they even thought about what they were going to do.”
“So, I have a lot of pride in that Civic Center,” Webb continued. “And so, it concerned me that the Board of Education may consider changing the name from Oconee County Civic Center to something else.”
“That was a concern to me because it's always been the Oconee County Civic Center, and I think it should remain the Oconee County Civic Center, and maybe add some additional wording for the school district.”
The agreement before the two Boards states that “Following acquisition or operation by OCS, the facility may be renamed, rebranded, or incorporated into OCS’s broader facilities program.”
“The second thing I think has been answered by our chairman, Mr. Daniell,” Webb said, “is that I'm so glad that he didn't box this in saying that this is acreage that the county would have in the swap would not be just dedicated to a park.”
“The other thing that I wanted to find out,” he said. “This is addressed to both the Board of Education and the Board of Commission.”
“Is each entity getting the true value for what they're giving up?” Webb asked. “Is the Board (of Commissioners) getting enough in that acreage to compensate us for the giving up of the Civic Center? And is the Board of Education getting what they feel like is a fair value for giving up that property for the acquisition completely of the Oconee County Civic Center?”
Response To Webb
“We definitely feel like we're getting a value,” School Board Chair Ransom said when Webb finished, “and I feel like it's a fair value for each party that's involved in it.”
“And also the historical significance of some of the Civic Center,” he continued in responding to Webb. “The name plates on the back of the chairs, the plaque on the cornerstone, we'll maintain those, and if, for some reason any maintenance needs to be done to remove those, we'll make sure to preserve those as well.”
He didn’t respond to the request that the Civic Center name be retained.
“I feel like it's equable on our end,” Daniell said.
‘I'm glad he brought up that question of the historical thing,” Commissioner Chuck Horton said. “I was elected to School Board in (19)92. So my name's on that plaque.”
According to the official county history of the Civic Center, Commission Chair Dawson led the drive for the Civic Center, working with the Oconee County Board of Education, under the leadership of Superintendent Debra Harden and Board Chair Kenneth Bridges. Horton is listed as a Board of Education member.
“They built what they could afford,” Horton said. “They worked a deal with the school system because the property was school system property. The county didn't have anything. So it seemed like it was a good trade, and over the years, it really has shown its importance.”
The original cost of the building, born entirely by the county, was $2.1 million, Chair Daniell said in an email message on July 10.
“I was arguing to build another one (Civic Center),” Horton continued, “and if I last long on the County Commission, I might would do that again,” Horton said.
Horton raised the possibility of building a second Civic Center at a strategic planning session held by the Board of Commissioners in January of 2025, but Daniell said in the email exchange on July 10 that “Dawson Park is the focus at this point. Nothing went past the discussion point on a new Civic Center.”
The county is building a new park honoring Dawson and his wife on Rocky Branch Road near North Oconee High School.
“So, I look at the value more than just a dollar value that the assessment office puts on it,” Horton told Webb. “That's not a big deal to me. So, I appreciate it and commend the Board of Education and superintendent and my Board that I sit with. I think we did a good job.”
At present, the 42.7 acres the county will receive from the Board of Education are assessed at $1.5 million. The Civic Center is assessed at $5.6 million.
More Board Response
“What I understand is this is an opportunity for the school system to improve their fine arts program,” Commissioner Amrey Harden, husband of former school Superintendent Debra Harden, said.
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| Civic Center Inside Blue Outline Surrounded by Oconee County High School Campus |
“I'm just curious that the school system put a price tag on what it would take to build a fine arts facility such as what we have now,” he said. “Has there been a price tag? Because Mr. Webb, listen, if we do this, this might save you tax money.”
“I would guess $15 million to build a whole new facility like the Civic Center,” Superintendent Butler responded. “$15 million minimum.”
“I want to say something real quick about the history piece because I was there,” School Board Member Adam Hammond said. “I remember being there like many of you the day they dedicated this Civic Center, and so many people from community went out because it was such a special day for our community.”
“But I think we have a great opportunity, Mr. Webb and community, to really educate the future of our community,” Hammond said. “When they go through there, they're going to see those names. They're going to see the name plate with Chuck's name and probably Mark's name and John's name as well. The people who came before us and really laid that groundwork for the community we have.”
Commissioner Mark Thomas was at the meeting, and he earlier served on the Board of Education, but he was not on either Board in 1992 or 1993.
“I think it could be a great educational tool for all the students that are going to go through there in the future,” Hammond said. “So, that's a pretty exciting preservation point.”
“I believe I'm really excited about this,” School Board Member Ryan Hammock said. “I think this collaboration is really good to be able to align assets to the highest and best use for each of the groups.”
“Looking at our own side with the Civic Center,” he continued. “We're also able to start earning dollars from the state for future modifications and renovations of that building–something we previously would not be able to do because it was under a joint authority.”
“So, I think this is a really great path, a really good way to help reduce budget items all while...being able to do what's best for kids,” he said.
At that point, each Board approved the Intergovernmental Agreement before it.
Returning The Acreage
The Civic Center sits on 3.6 acres surrounded by 80.8 acres that make up the campus of Oconee County High School.
So the return of the Civic Center and its acreage will return the campus of the Oconee County High School to 84.4 acres.
The Civic Center underwent extensive remodeling in 2020.
Building plans for the 2020 remodeling show a building with two roughly equal parts, connected by a shared entrance way and an atrium.
The section of the building closest to Oconee County High School consists of a large theater auditorium with a stage. Behind the stage are women’s and men’s dressing rooms. A new storage mezzanine was added in the 2020 remodeling.
The section of the Civic Center closest to Butler’s Crossing consists of a banquet hall connected to a kitchen. Mechanical rooms are behind the kitchen.
The building was first permitted in 1992 and was occupied in 1993.
Video
I was not able to attend the joint meeting of the two Boards on July 6 because of prior commitments.
The video below was recorded by Oconee County Schools and appears on the Oconee County Schools YouTube Channel.
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