Friday, February 24, 2023

Georgia Department of Public Health Reports Increase In COVID-19 Case Count For NE Health District And Death From Disease In Oconee

***Transmission Rates Oconee, Clarke Remain High***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 470 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 22, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases a week earlier on Feb. 15 had been 353.

Both Oconee County and Clarke County reported an increase in cases.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Republican Party Appointee To Oconee County Election Board Wants To Revisit Petition Procedures For Independent Candidates

***Unhappy With Procedures Used Last Year***

Kirk Shook, the Republican Party representative on the Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration, told his colleagues that he wants to review the policy and procedures that resulted in the Board voting to put the names of two Independent School Board candidates on last November’s ballot.

Shook said “it was a big shock” for him to be asked back in July of last year to vote to allow Ryan Repetske and Melissa Eagling to run following a review by the staff of the Office and Elections and Registration and County Attorney Daniel Haygood of the separate petitions submitted by the two Independents.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Department of Public Health Reports Drop In COVID-19 Case Count For Northeast Health District

***Clarke Reports Two Additional Deaths From Disease***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 353 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Feb. 15, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

That number of added cases on a week earlier on Feb. 8 had been 400.

Both Oconee County and Clarke County reported a decrease in cases.

Self-Storage Units Proposed Instead Of Business Park At U.S. 441 And New High Shoals Road

***Three Buildings On Site Plan***

In 2015, Halloran Masonry, an Athens construction contractor, told the county it planned to move its corporate offices to one of three lots in a business park it proposed to develop at the southwest corner of U.S. 441 and New High Shoals Road.

Halloran Masonry has changed its plans, and now it wants to build a self-storage facility consisting of up to four interior or external loaded building that could be up to two stories in height.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Dove Creek Elementary School To Receive Largest Number Of Students Through School Choice

***Students Leaving High Shoals, Malcom Bridge Elementary***

One in five of the Oconee County students who requested a different school assignment for next year from the one they were given through redistricting opted to move to Dove Creek Elementary School.

Nearly the same ratio opted not to attend High Shoals Elementary School and not to attend Malcom Bridge Elementary School, as they would have under the new redistricting plan adopted last year by the Oconee County Board of Education.

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Proposal To Freeze Oconee County School Property Taxes Not Well Received At School Board Retreat

***Focus On Fiscal Year 2024 Budget***

About halfway through her hour-long presentation to the Oconee County Board of Education, Oconee County Schools Chief Financial Officer Liz Harlow paused and asked a question.

Harlow had just reviewed the current fiscal year budget and presented a slide showing the calendar for the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.

“Are there any goals that the Board would like to consider for the FY 24 Budget?” Harlow asked.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board Moves Forward With Water Treatment Plant, Issuing $8.3 Million Design Contract

***Plans For Intake On Apalachee Also Progressing***

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board on Monday approved an $8.3 million proposal from Jacobs Engineering Consulting Group Inc. of Atlanta for design of the water treatment plant at the reservoir jointly owned by Oconee and Walton counties.

The Board also agreed to shortlist and request competitive pricing from the three highest ranked firms for engineering design services for the transmission system from the plant to Walton County’s currently existing water distribution system.