Saturday, December 07, 2024

Oconee County Elections Board Begins Process Of Reducing Number Of Precincts In County From Eight To Four

***Board Tables Action On 75 Voter Challenges***

The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration has taken the first steps to consolidate the current eight precincts in the county into four.

Dark Corner and Colham Ferry precincts would remain unchanged in the proposed consolidation, but Bogart and Marswood Hall precincts would be merged into one precinct called Oconee Northeast.

Wednesday, December 04, 2024

Oconee County Commissioners Make Library Board Appointments, Bypassing Library Critics And Those With Strong Links To Library

***Approve New Alcohol Ordinance Without Discussion***

Oconee County Commissioners on Tuesday night reappointed three current members of the Oconee County Library Board and filled two other vacancies with a housewife and community volunteer and with a retired university education professor.

Forty-seven citizens had applied for the five openings, and the commissioners passed over people who have been vocal critics of the Oconee County Library and its programming as well as those closely associated with the library.

Sunday, December 01, 2024

Oconee County Commission Has Long Agenda For Last Meeting Of Year, Including Alcohol Ordinance Revisions, Zoning, Appointments

***Also Employee Health Plan Renewal***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has a full agenda for its meeting on Tuesday night, the last meeting of the year.

The Board is scheduled to hold a second hearing and vote on revisions to the county’s Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance that will slightly expand the service area, allow for brew pubs, and relax restrictions on sale of alcohol in University 16 Cinemas in Epps Bridge Centre.

Georgia Transportation Department Has Chosen Right-In, Right-Out Intersection At McNutt Creek Road And SR 316

***Full-Access Interchange Listed As Nonpreferred Option***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is going forward with plans for a right-in, right-out interchange for SR 316 and McNutt Creek Road with the complete elimination of cross traffic on McNutt Creek Road.

Oconee County officials have expressed a preference for a grade-separated interchange, citing the negative impact the proposed design will have on Fire Station No. 7, on traffic on local roads, and on the Gateway Technology and Business Park.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Townley Family Partnership Asking For Rezone For A Large Subdivision On Hog Mountain Road At Hodges Mill Road

***Access On Rocky Branch And Hodges Mill Roads***

Townley Family Partnership LLLP is planning an 120-lot residential subdivision on what is now farmland bordered by Hodges Mill Road, Hog Mountain Road, and Rocky Branch Road in the northwest of the county.

While some of that acreage is inside the unincorporated Eastville community and is already zoned Agricultural Residential, the bulk of the 299.9 acres planned for the subdivision currently is zoned Agricultural.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board Approves $122 Million Contract For Construction Of Water Treatment Plant In Walton County

***Oconee County Contributing $12 Million***

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board on Tuesday agreed to a $122 million contract with Archer Western Construction for a 12 million gallon per day water treatment plant on the Walton County reservoir.

The cost for construction of the plant is an increase from the estimated projected cost of $114.6 million the Board had received in June based on completion of 60 percent of the design work and an increase from $104.8 million at conceptual stage in September of 2023.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Georgia Transportation Department Awards Contract For SR 316 Interchange Improvements In Oconee County

***Construction Scheduled To Begin In 2025***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) last week awarded a $139.4 million contact with Archer Western Construction LLC and Heath & Lineback Engineering Inc. for reconstruction of the SR 316 interchanges with Jimmy Daniell Road, Virgil Langford Road, and the Oconee Connector.

The existing at-grade intersection at Jimmy Daniell Road will be replaced with a a grade-separated, diamond interchange with a single-lane roundabout at the northern ramp and another single-lane roundabout at the southern ramp.