Oconee County Industrial Development Authority To Hold Strategic Session On Future Role

***Gateway Project Completed***

The Oconee County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has decided to hold a strategic session to consider what role it can play now that Gateway Technology and Business Park on the edge of Bogart is completed and that the county has transferred development responsibility to the Oconee Chamber of Commerce.

The IDA decided at its May 9 called meeting to hold a future strategic session after approving a $100,000 budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that reflects little expected activity on the part of the Authority.

Speakers Tell Oconee County School Board They Remain Concerned About Possible Mold At Oconee County Elementary School

***Board Names Interim Director, Passes Tentative Budget***

Five speakers on Monday night asked the Oconee County Board of Education to conduct mold testing at Oconee County Elementary School, even offering to pay for an independent firm to do the work.

The five, speaking in the Public Communication section of the meeting, made their request after Oconee County Schools Chief Operations Officer Ryan White said analysis of data from moisture meters and humidity sensors indicated conditions were not sufficient for mold to grow at the school.

Consulting Agreement Spells Out What Search Agency Will Do To Help Oconee County Board Of Education Find New Superintendent

***Group Organizes Forum For Citizen Input***

The agreement the Oconee County Board of Education has signed with Georgia Leadership Associates (GLA) lists a wide range of services that the Folkston company will provide to help the Board select the next superintendent of Oconee County Schools.

The contract lists phases of the search, beginning with meeting with the Board to explain the search process, establishing time lines, developing a leadership profile for the superintendent, and then planning surveys to get public input.

Former Congressman Praises Accomplishments Of Trump In Meeting With Oconee County Republicans, Raises Concerns About Judiciary

***Other Speakers Officer Advice To Party***

Although the U.S. Constitution sets up three equal branches of government--the executive, the legislative, and the judicial--the judiciary is the “least equal” of the three, former Congressman Jody Hice told Oconee County Republicans last month.

“They’re not elected,” Hice, a Republican, said in justifying his distinction.

Oconee County Commissioners Hold Hearing On $83.7 Million Budget, Approve Rezone For Residential Subdivision on Barnett Shoals Road

***Also Seek Design For Hog Mountain Road Improvements***

Oconee County Finance Director Melissa Braswell released the first draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Budget at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night showing an increase of $694,695 in projected spending over the Amended Budget for the current fiscal year.

Revenue is projected to increase over the Amended Budget largely as the result of growth in sales tax, but the General Fund Budget requires the use of $310,000 in Fund Balance to be balanced at $45.7 million.

Oconee County School Board Selects Folkston Firm To Help With Superintendent Search

***Decision On Interim Appointment Not Yet Made***

The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday approved a contract with Georgia Leadership Associates (GLA) of Folkston to help it find the next superintendent of Oconee County Schools.

Board Chair Michael Ransom said after the meeting that he expects Allan McCannon from GLA to join the Board next week in executive session to begin the process.

Oconee County Elementary School Parents Launch Second Petition, Offering To Help Pay For Mold Testing

***Say No Response From Board After Initial Plea***

Parents of children in Oconee County Elementary School have started a second petition offering to help fund professional mold testing at the school.

Mandy Moreira, president of the Parent Teachers Organization at the elementary school, presented an earlier petition to the Board of Education at its meeting on April 21, asking the Board to conduct mold testing at the school.