Three Stores In Oconee County’s Epps Bridge Centre Closed Or Closing Since January, Reflecting National Retail Trends

***Costco Not On Horizon***

LifeWay Christian Store in Epps Bridge Centre currently is holding a going-out-of-business sale and will be the third store in the Oconee County shopping center to close this year.

Gap closed in January, and Kinnucan’s last month.

Oconee County School Board To Consider Reducing Property Tax As Part Of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal

***Board Discusses Roundabouts***

Oconee County School administrators are asking the Board of Education to approve a $82 million Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget that is based on a reduction of the millage rate to 16.5, the lowest rate for county schools since 2003.

The proposal received a positive response from the Board at its work session on Monday and is scheduled to be adopted as a tentative budget at the Board’s meeting on this coming Monday.

Oconee County Commissioners Approve Commercial Rezones At Mars Hill Road And U.S. 78 And On Epps Bridge Parkway

***Car Dealer Not Allowed***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night approved a 32-acre commercial rezone request for the northwest the corner of U.S. 78 and Mars Hill Road and a 1.4 acre commercial request on the eastern side of Epps Bridge Parkway at Pine Ridge Court.

The Commission granted in a 3 to 1 vote the rezone request of Butts County developer Bill Jones, who says he will build a JP convenience store and gas station with 20 fueling positions and a Burger King at the intersection of Mars Hill Road and U.S. 78 in the first phase of development.

Oconee County Commission To Consider Two Rezones With Regional Impact

***Shopping And Financial Centers On Agenda***

Two business rezones with regional implications for the county will be before the Oconee County Board of Commissioners when it holds it regular meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

The first and largest of the projects is a request by Butts County developer Bill Jones for a rezone of 32 acres at Mars Hill Road and U.S. 78 for a commercial development. The Board, at Jones’ request, postponed action on that rezone at its meeting on April 2.

Speakers Brief Oconee County Democrats On Status of Multi-Use Trails Being Developed And Under Discussion

***Firefly Trail And Athens Line***

Stephanie Doerr’s commitment to multi-use trails was obvious from the outset.

“For my bucket list, I’m determined to ride on every trail in every state,” Doerr told the gathering of the Oconee County Democratic Party.

Budget Will Increase By More Than Four Percent, Oconee County Finance Director Tells Commissioners

***Property Tax To Remain Unchanged***

Oconee County will see 4.2 percent growth in its General Fund budget for fiscal year 2019-2020, County Finance Director Wes Geddings told the Board of Commissioners at its budget hearing last week.

That compares with a 4.5 percent increase the year earlier and brings the total general fund budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 to $30.4 million.

Oconee County Commission Approves Time Line For Roundabout Construction At Malcom Bridge Middle School

***Responds To School Board***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to move forward with construction of roundabouts for the entrances to Malcom Bridge Middle School and to send a time line for construction to the Board of Education.

The vote was in response to action taken by the Board of Education at its meeting on April 15.