Oconee And Walton Counties Waiting On Response From State To Renewal Request For Hard Labor Creek Reservoir

***Apalachee River Intake Site Not Named***

The Walton County Water and Sewer Authority is waiting on a response from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to the Authority’s application for renewal of its permits to draw water from the existing Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir as well as from the Apalachee River.

The Authority submitted its renewal request for the two permits on May 3, but, according to Jimmy Parker from Precision Planning Inc., who represents the Authority, the Georgia EPD is holding up action until the Authority acquires land for an intake facility on the Apalachee River.

Plans For Retail Projects Along Hog Mountain Road Approved By Oconee County Review Committee

***Plus Project On Virgil Langford***

The Oconee County Development Review Committee approved a series of retail projects on Hog Mountain Road and in Butler’s Crossing at its meeting last week.

The Committee voted to approve the preliminary site plan for Butler’s Crossing Professional Park on an 8-acre parcel next to Publix in Butler’s Crossing.

Oconee County Republicans Turned Out For Runoff Election Much As They Did For Primary

***Few Democrats Voted***

Turnout in Oconee County for the Republican Primary Runoff on Tuesday was only slightly lower than turnout for the May 22 party primary, an analysis of elections data by party shows.

Democratic turnout dropped dramatically, however, and overall turnout was down from 29.8 percent in May to 22.7 percent on Tuesday.

Kemp’s Margin In Oconee County Republican Gubernatorial Primary Runoff Exceeds Margin In State

***Defeats Cagle Easily***

Brian Kemp won big in Oconee County in the runoff election Tuesday, outperforming his strong-showing in the state, where he decisively defeated L.S. “Casey” Cagle for the Republican nomination for governor.

David Shafer carried Oconee County in the Republic Party primary runoff for lieutenant governor, while in the state, with 100 percent of the precincts counted, Geoff Duncan had just more than 50 percent of the vote.

Oconee County Republicans Had High Turnout In Early Voting For Primary Runoff

***Few Democrats Voted So Far***

More Oconee County voters cast Republican ballots in early voting for the runoff elections that ended Friday than cast Republican ballots during early voting for the party primaries in May.

That was true even though there was one fewer days of early voting in the runoff because of the July 4 holiday and no Saturday voting.

Oconee County Reports Sewer Spill On Tributary To Calls Creek In Watkinsville

***Flow Meter Strap Problem***

An estimated 31,250 of untreated sewage spilled into a tributary of Calls Creek on Saturday as a result of a blockage in a sewer line on Experiment Station Road near the Sheriff’s Office in Watkinsville.

Tim Durham, newly named Water Resources Department director for the county, said that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has been notified of the spill.

Oconee County Board Of Education Told High School Classrooms And Sports Fields To Be Ready For Aug. 1 School Opening

***Road Work Delays At Elementary School***

Oconee County High School will have 12 classrooms ready for use when students return on Aug. 1, rather than the eight originally scheduled to be ready for the beginning of the school year, Jake Grant, director of facilities, told the Board of Education on Monday.

Grant also said that the replacement of the tracks at North Oconee High School and Oconee County High School and the installation of artificial turf at the stadium fields for the two schools is on schedule and will be completed for the first home football games of the year.