Newly Elected State Rep. Gisler’s Town Hall Meeting Draws Large Crowd, Results In Two Hour Exchange On Large Number Of Issues

***Gisler Says He Met With Local Leaders To Prep For Session***

The more than 100 people who turned out at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park on Saturday for newly elected State Rep. Eric Gisler’s Town Hall meeting engaged in a dialogue on topics ranging from affordable housing, school safety, the costs of medical care, and cell phones in classrooms.

Gisler began the two-hour session by talking about what he has done since his election on Dec. 9 to prepare himself for the legislative session that begins tomorrow (Monday), saying he has talked extensively with government and civic leaders in both Oconee and Clarke counties.

Attorney For Property Owner At Oconee Connector Proposing A Shopping Center With Publix Rejects County’s Alternative Rezone Plan

***Says County Proposal Is Unconstitutional***

Attorney Jeffrey DeLoach, speaking to the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night, rejected the county initiated rezone plan for the 33.7 acres on the Oconee Connector between SR 316 and Mars Hill Road.

DeLoach said his client, Deferred Tax LLC, was interested in a settlement of the lawsuit Deferred Tax had filed against the county, but not in the proposal the county was offering through its rezone.

Oconee County Election Board Considering Adding Second Early Voting Site To Increase Voter Turnout Heading Into May Primaries

***Final Decision Likely In February***

The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration decided on Monday to explore adding a second venue for early voting in the May 19 Party Primary Elections to increase turnout in the Oconee Northeast Precinct, which includes Bogart.

Board Chair Jay Hanley said he had been approached by candidates who are running for House District 120 and are concerned about turnout in the Northeast Precinct, which falls in that District.

Oconee County Democrats Join In Protests In Athens Against Strikes In Venezuela; Oconee Republican Party Facebook Page Includes Praise

***Two Rallies Planned By Democrats***

The Oconee County Democratic Committee announced on Sunday afternoon that it is joining two protests on Monday in Athens of Saturday’s aerial invasion of Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.

The “Hands Off Venezuela” protests are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Alps Road and Baxter Streets and at 4 p.m. in downtown Athens outside the UGA Arch on Broad Street.

Oconee County Commission To Consider Rezones For Grocery Store And Gas Station, Large Residential Subdivision, Shopping Center

***County Initiated Rezone For Shopping Center***

Oconee County commissioners face an agenda with a long list of rezone requests in their first meeting of the New Year on Tuesday night, including three with the potential to have significant impact on development in the county in the coming years.

Members of the Bishop family, who own 17.8 acres stretching from Experiment Station Road along the east side of Bishop Farms Parkway to the Oconee Campus of the University of North Georgia, are seeking to rezone 4.8 acres at the corner of Bishop Farms Parkway and Experiment Station Road for a small grocery store, restaurant, and gas station.

Oconee County Democrats Introduce Candidates for Congress, State Senate, State House In Runup To May Primaries

***Candidates Upbeat After Electoral Successes***

Oconee County Democrats used their meeting last month to introduce the declared candidates for U.S. Congressional District 10, for Georgia Senate District 46, and for Georgia House District 120 in the May primaries next year.

The candidates were buoyed by the party’s success in the statewide Public Service Commission races on Nov. 4 as well as by Democratic successes that same day in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey.

GDOT Proposing To Fully Close Jimmy Daniell Road Interchange With SR 316 For Six Months During Construction Of New Roadway

***Public Hearing On New Plan Scheduled***

Archer Western Construction and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) have determined that a full closure of the Jimmy Daniell Road intersection at SR 316 for approximately six months is needed during construction of the new interchange.

The proposed detour would route traffic along Atlanta Highway and Mars Hill Road to access SR 316 and US 78.