Thursday, March 16, 2023

Oconee Representatives Can Introduce Legislation To Change Oconee County Homestead Exemptions After Thursday Legal Notices

***State Making One-Time Exemption This Year***

Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower, who represent Oconee County in the Georgia House of Representatives, will be able to introduce legislation on Monday allowing county voters to decide whether to increase the homestead exemption for county and school property taxes.

They also will be in a position to allow voters to decide if they want to freeze property tax assessments for persons once they turn 65 years of age.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Zaxby’s Plan For Corporate Campus In Oconee County Nixed As Firm Moves Corporate Offices To Metro Atlanta

***Enterprise Reports Move Expected In Early 2024***

In 2015, Zaxby’s proposed to build a $42 million corporate campus on Daniells Bridge Road just west of its current corporate offices on Founders Boulevard.

The campus was to include corporate offices, test kitchens, educational areas, a cafeteria, a Zaxby’s private restaurant, employee gymnasium, and employee daycare facilities.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Boswell Gets New Five-Year Term Representing Oconee County On State Transportation Board

***GDOT Makes Announcement***

Athens commercial realtor Jamie Boswell has been reappointed as District 10 Representative to the Georgia Transportation Board.

A caucus of state representatives and senators whose districts include at least part of the 10th Congressional District selected Boswell in a meeting on February 21 or Feb. 22.

No record of the deliberation or candidates considered is public.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Dentist To Be Displaced By GDOT Seeking To Relocate To Residential Lot On Mars Hill Road Near Oconee Connector

***Plans Not Yet Filed With County***

Dr. Brent Nail, whose existing Virgil Langford Road dental office is in the path of the planned new westbound on-ramp to SR 316 from the Oconee Connector, is holding an open house on Thursday to outline plans for his replacement facility.

The location that Nail has selected for his new office is a nearly three-acre lot at 2521 Mars Hill Road that currently has a single-family home on it and is zoned residential.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

The Georgia Department Of Public Heath Reported 165 New COVID Cases In Northeast Health District–Both Last Week And This

***No New Confirmed Deaths From Disease Reported***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 165 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on March 8, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The number of added cases a week earlier–on March 1–also had been 165.

Oconee County reported adding two more cases than it reported adding a week earlier, while Clarke County reported adding 17 fewer cases.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Suit Filed To Overturn County Denial Of Rezone Request For Shopping Center On Oconee Connector At Mars Hill Road

***Suit Anticipated At Rezone Hearing***

As threatened, attorney David Ellison, representing Deferred Tax LLC, has filed suit in Oconee Superior Court asking the Court to overturn the denial of a rezone request for a shopping center with a Publix at the Oconee Connector and Mars Hill Road.

Ellison argues in the suit that Deferred Tax LLC, owned by Maxie Price, has a right to have a full commercial access to the property as a result of agreements with the county and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Bids For New Oconee County Schools Instructional Support Center Come In Much Higher Than Earlier Estimates

***Bids For Elementary School Addition Under Estimate***

Oconee County Schools Superintendent Jason Branch recommended on Monday that the School Board accept a construction bid of $14.5 million the new Instructional Support Center in Watkinsville.

The recommended bid for the Instructional Support Center is $6.2 million more than the estimated cost of the facility in 2019 and $1.8 million more than the cost estimate given to the Board in January of 2022.