Friday, September 08, 2023

Georgia Department Of Public Health Reports COVID Case Count In Northeast Health District Drops Again

***Both Oconee And Clarke Show Decreases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 345 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Sept. 6, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 424 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 30, down from 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23.

Monday, September 04, 2023

Oconee County Being Asked To Decide Whether To Set Up County Misdemeanor Probation System Or Join With Clarke County

***Judge Says He Will Not Renew Current Private Contract***

Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris wants Oconee County to create its own misdemeanor probation system or join with Athens-Clarke County to form a circuit wide misdemeanor probation system.

Norris told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners last week that he does not intend to allow the county to renew the contract it currently has with CSRA Probation Services Inc. for probation services.

Friday, September 01, 2023

COVID Case Count In NE Health District Declines In Department Of Public Health Data Report; Oconee, Clarke Cases Increase

***Clarke Rate Highest This Year***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 424 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 30, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 519 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 23, 266 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 16, and 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Oconee County’s Members Of General Assembly Sitting On Large Campaign Reserves Half Way Through Off Year In Election Cycle

***Watkinsville Will Have Two Contested November Races***

State Rep. Houston Gaines, half way through the 2023 non-election year, has $456,586 net balance on hand in his campaign account.

Half way through the 2022 election year, Gaines, who represents part of Oconee County in the General Assembly, had $251,041 net balance on hand.

On June 30 of 2021, which was not an election year, Gaines had $108,514 net cash balance on hand, or less than a quarter of what he has on hand at this time.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Oconee County Industrial Development Authority Agrees To Sell Last Usable Parcel In Gateway Technology And Business Park

***IMI To Leave Watkinsville Industrial Park***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority on Wednesday agreed to sell the 52.8 acre western most parcel in Gateway Technology and Business Park to IMI Industrial Services Group, which plans to relocate to the new site from the Watkinsville Industrial Park.

The contract sets the sale price at $37,500 per acre, which, based on the existing survey, would total to $1,981,012.

The large, currently empty parcel, is the last accessible acreage in the Gateway Technology Business Park, which runs west, mostly north of SR 316, from McNutt Creek Road on the southwest side of Bogart.

Friday, August 25, 2023

COVID-19 Case Count In Northeast Health District Nearly Doubles In Last Week According To Department Of Public Health Status Report

***Oconee Cases Drop Slightly, While Clarke Cases Increase Sharply***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 519 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Aug. 23, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Health reported 266 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 16 and 230 new cases in the week ending on Aug. 9.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Line Item Budget For Oconee County Schools Details $15.8 Million Increase In Spending For Fiscal Year 2024

***Spending For Superintendent: $284,810***

Oconee County Schools last week released a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 documenting a $3.9 million increase in teacher salaries and a $4.9 million increase in healthcare costs for certified employees.

Those increases and the others spelled out in the July 2023 Budget Report explain in detail the $15.8 million increase in spending in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget adopted by the Board in June.