Oconee County Utility Department Director Chris Thomas Resigns

Effect Next Week

Chris Thomas, head of Oconee County’s beleaguered Utility Department, has resigned effective June 19.

Thomas, 42, has been with the county for 17 years and has been director of the Utility Department since 2008.

Volunteer Group Reported Low Levels Of E. Coli Bacteria In Oconee County’s Calls Creek

Downstream Of Sewer Plant

Oconee County citizens and officials got some good news yesterday regarding the county’s Calls Creek wastewater treatment plant.

The Upper Oconee Watershed Network, a volunteer group dedicated to protecting water resources in the Upper Oconee basis, reported that its sampling of Calls Creek at two locations downstream from the plant on Saturday showed relatively low levels of the potentially dangerous E. coli bacteria.

Caterpillar Tax Bill Half Of What It Would Be Without Abatement Oconee County Gave As Enticement To Locate Plant Here

Debt Payments Now Due

About this time last year, the Oconee County Property Appraisal Department made its estimate of the value of that portion of the land and building inside the county that Caterpillar occupies for its manufacturing facility.

It also made an assessment of the value of the lease for the equipment inside that plant.

Oconee County Commissioners Have Known Since First Of The Year Of Serious Problems At County’s Sewer Plants

Only Took Action In Early May

Oconee County commissioners have known since at least the first of the year that the county has very serious problems with the operation of its two sewage treatment plants, but they waited until last week to give a hint to the general public of the problems the county is facing.

At the regular meeting of the Board last week, Chairman Melvin Davis said the county “had been made aware of an issue” at the Calls Creek plant a month earlier, but the Georgia Environment Protection Division told the county on Dec. 16, 2014, of a “serious violation” of its permit at the Calls Creek plant and permit violations at its Rocky Branch plant as well.

Oconee County Reported Two New Sewage Spills To The State

Calls Creek And McNutt Creek

Oconee County reported two new sewage spills to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on Friday, one of which was classified as a “major spill” and involved the discharge of sewage into Calls Creek.

The smaller spill was into McNutt Creek behind Creekside subdivision, which is on the east side of Jimmy Daniell Road at the county line.

Oconee County Senator Told Small Gathering Of Republicans Why He Voted For A Tax Increase

Other Issues Discussed

Sen. Bill Cowsert told a small group of Oconee County Republicans earlier this month that he voted in favor of the tax increases for transportation in March because the bill gave legislators more control over the Georgia Department of Transportation and “capped” the fuel tax–something the tax bill does only in part.

Cowsert also defended the $5 per night fee added to hotel and other lodging bills as part of the transportation act on the grounds that most of those paying the fee will be from out of state.

Oconee County Releases Names Of Employees Who Resigned From Troubled Calls Creek Sewage Plant

EPD Visited Plant Today

Oconee County late today identified the two employees whose resignations were accepted in the wake of the discharge of inadequately treated sewage water into Calls Creek from a county wastewater treatment plant.

They are Gene Price, wastewater supervisor, and Anthony Occhipinti, maintenance supervisor.