Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Watkinsville Council Candidates Agree On Many Questions Posed At Candidate Forum

***Differ On Role Of Party In Nonpartisan Race***

For 40 minutes on Monday evening, the two candidates for Watkinsville Council Post 1 in the June 15 special election responded to questions ranging from their views on managing city growth to the need for a city manager.

WGAU New Director Tim Bryant asked Chuck Garrett and Carolyn Maultsby 23 different questions in the candidate forum organized by the Oconee County Republican Party and Bethel Baptist Church.

Agreement between them was more common than disagreement.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Oconee County Planning Commission Recommends Use Of Shipping Container Shells For Outdoor Food And Retail Court

***Concerned About Lack Of Pedestrian Access To Site***

The Oconee County Planning Commission took quick action at its meeting on Monday night on a request by John and Brittany Wardlow that they be given permission to use a barn on their property on Osborne Road to house equipment from their septic cleaning service.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of Wardlow’s request, as well as a request by Tyler McClure that property he owns on Moreland Heights Drive just outside Watkinsville be rezoned for an assisted living facility and general office building.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Northeast Health District Adds 199 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week, Six Deaths From Disease

***Oconee Schools End Year With No Active Cases***

The Northeast Health District added 199 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Friday and six new confirmed deaths attributed to the disease.

The 199 added cases of COVID-19 compare with the 264 added cases and seven confirmed deaths added in the week ending May14.

The average of 28.4 new cases per day for the week ending on Friday compares with the average of 37.7 new cases per day for the week ending on May 14.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

First Hearing Set on Oconee County Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Following Outline Of Budget Plans By County Finance Director

***Tax Rate Decision Is Still Pending***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the county’s proposed 2022 Fiscal Year Budget at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday before its agenda setting meeting.

County Finance Director Wes Geddings released spending requests and recommendations for the General Fund portion of the budget at the Commission’s May 4 meeting and promised to provide additional detail at the May 25 meeting.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Watkinsville Candidate Forum Set For Monday Even With Only One Candidate For Mayor

***Republicans, Bethel Baptist Church Join As Sponsors***

Watkinsville’s nonpartisan special election on June 15 had taken on the character of an inter-party affair before the surprise announcement on Tuesday by Peter Steckel that he was withdrawing from the mayoral race.

The Oconee County Republican Party has organized a candidate forum for the election in partnership with Bethel Baptist Church for 6:30 p.m. on Monday (May 24), with Tim Bryant, WGAU news director and conservative commentator, serving as moderator.

Monday, May 17, 2021

Minutes Of Oconee County Board Of Commissioners May Meeting Take On Significance

***Rezone Vote Has To Be Finalized***

When Oconee County commissioners gathers on June 1 and approve the minutes of their May 4 meeting, they will set the parameters for any near-term plans for development of a shopping center at the corner of Mars Hill Road and the Oconee Connector.

Property owner Maxie Price has 30 days from that date to file an appeal to Oconee County Superior Court of the May 4 denial by the commissioners in a 3 to 1 vote of his request to rezone the nearly 47 acres he owns at that intersection for a large shopping center anchored by a Publix.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Northeast Health District Adds 264 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week, Seven Deaths From Disease

***One Of Deaths In Oconee County***

The Northeast Health District added 264 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Friday and seven new confirmed deaths attributed to the disease.

The 264 new cases compare with the 303 cases and two confirmed deaths added in the week ending on May 7.

The average of 37.7 new cases per day for the week ending on Friday compares with 43.3 cases per day in the week ending on May 7.

Oconee County added 11 cases in the week ending on Friday, while Clarke County added 51.