Blog Topic: Government

In the Loop: Oconee County Is Close to Finalizing a $65 Million SPLOST List

By Lee Becker | May 28, 2020 10:57am

Commission Chairman John Daniell hears from Animal Services manager Crystal Berisko.

Oconee County voters in November will be presented with a $64.6 million wish list of projects to be funded by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax if the Board of Commissioners accepts a staff proposal given it last week.

Included on the list is $14.4 million for roads and bridges, $7.5 million for water and sewer projects, $6.9 million for a library and government administrative building, and $6.3 million for county broadband.

The list also includes nearly $9 million for the county’s four cities to use for their own projects.

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In the Loop: Budget Calls for Eliminating 400 UGA Jobs

By Blake Aued | May 26, 2020 3:10pm

The University System of Georgia's proposed fiscal 2021 budget calls for eliminating 394 positions at the University of Georgia to meet Gov. Brian Kemp's order for state agencies to cut 14%.

The proposed budget was obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For all of the USG's 26 institutions combined, it calls for laying off 735 people and freezing another 1,341 open positions. Along with cuts to travel and other expenses, that would save $361 million.

UGA appears to be cutting mostly administrative and support staff, sparing faculty. Those administrative cuts, however, would "lead to a severe disruption in service," USG wrote, including delays in hiring, accounting and processing student accounts. In addition, workers making over $35,000 a year would be furloughed anywhere from four to 16 days, depending on their pay. UGA's current $421 million budget would shrink by $59 million.

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In the Loop: Some Parks Reopen, Early Voting Starts Today

By Blake Aued | May 18, 2020 12:35pm

In-person early voting started today across Georgia, and Athens-Clarke County is reopening some parks as well.

Ben Burton, Memorial and Virginia Walker (formerly Trail Creek) parks have partially reopened, and Sandy Creek Park will do so on Tuesday. Click here for information on what activities are allowed and which facilities remain closed at each park. Gatherings are limited to 10 people, and masks are recommended.

In addition to the previously mentioned parks, Dudley Park, Firefly Trail, the Greenway and trails at Sandy Creek Nature Center remain open.

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In the Loop: Kemp Orders Bars to Stay Closed Through End of May

By Blake Aued | May 13, 2020 1:13pm

Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order Tuesday telling bars, nightclubs and live performance venues to stay closed at least through May 31.

"I know this extension is difficult for many Georgia business owners and communities that have music venues," Kemp said. "However, we believe that waiting a little bit longer will enhance health outcomes and give folks the opportunity to prepare for safe reopening in the near future."

Kemp closed bars, restaurants and many other types of businesses on Apr. 2 as the coronavirus pandemic spread (pre-empting an earlier local order in Athens that was passed Mar. 19). He allowed some—including restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and hair and nail salons—to reopen late last month, if they took safety precautions.

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In the Loop: EMS Oversight Committee Stops Meeting Rather Than Meet in Public

By Chris Dowd | May 12, 2020 5:36pm

ACC Attorney Judd Drake.

The EMS Oversight Committee has held closed door meetings in violation of the Georgia Open Meetings Act since its inception. That’s based on Athens-Clarke County Attorney Judd Drake’s legal opinion, which he delivered to the committee in December.

After hearing Drake’s opinion, the EMS Oversight Committee stopped meeting altogether, even virtually, rather than allow visitors to attend their meetings.

This means throughout the coronavirus crisis, National EMS, the for-profit EMS provider in Athens, has had no formal oversight of its performance whatsoever.

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In the Loop: Kemp Will Lift Stay-at-Home Order, but Don't Think We're in the Clear

By Blake Aued | April 30, 2020 4:39pm

Photo Credit: Savannah Cole/file

Gov. Brian Kemp has lifted the statewide shelter-in-place order effective Friday, even as hundreds of new COVID-19 cases are being reported daily, and Mayor Kelly Girtz and medical professionals warned that Georgia is not out of the woods yet.

The shelter-in-place order restricting travel except for essential business has been in place since Apr. 3. Last week, Kemp allowed certain businesses—including nail and hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys—to reopen, and restaurants could reopen their dining rooms starting Monday, although many have chosen not to do so. Today, he extended safety guidelines for reopened businesses, such as requirements that employees wear protective gear and limit capacity, through May 13. He also ordered the elderly and “medically fragile” people to stay at home through June 12.

“What we’ve done has worked,” Kemp told the AJC. “It’s given us time to build our hospital infrastructure capacity, get ventilators and ramp up testing. That’s what really drove our decision.”

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In the Loop: ACC Names New Transportation and Central Services Directors, Sustainability Officer

By Blake Aued | April 27, 2020 5:12pm

Mike Wharton.

Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams tapped a recently retired traffic engineer to head the county's Transportation and Public Works Department, promoted the county sustainability officer to lead the Central Services Department and named a longtime county employee as the new sustainability officer in a flurry of personnel moves last week.

New Transportation and Public Works Director Steve Decker was ACC's head traffic engineer for 10 years until retiring in 2017. He has also worked for the Florida Department of Transportation and as a bike planner in Albuquerque, among other posts.

"During his previous time with Transportation and Public Works, Steve demonstrated an enthusiasm for safety, innovation, and collaborative projects that are still paying dividends today," Williams said in a news release. "He brings over 40 years of experience in both local and state government transportation departments that gives him a unique perspective that will serve this community well. Steve knows this community and its transportation systems. We look forward to welcoming him back to ACCGov."

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In the Loop: Athens for Everyone Grades Mayor and Commissioners

By Blake Aued | April 24, 2020 10:31am

Commissioner Mariah Parker.

The progressive political group Athens for Everyone gave high marks to Athens-Clarke County commissioners Tim Denson, Mariah Parker and Melissa Link in recently released report cards for the ACC mayor and commission.

According to the organization, the grades were based on how commissioners' votes aligned with A4E's positions, as well as subjective factors like "public statements, perception of priorities and stated stance on issues including the Linnentown Resolution." The commission's response to COVID-19, which A4E said has been "sound and humane, especially in contrast with decisions on the state level," was not considered.

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In the Loop: Mayor Girtz Urges Athens Residents to Stay Home

By Blake Aued | April 21, 2020 1:02pm

Photo Credit: Chris Scredon

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz is urging local residents to keep sheltering in place and businesses to stay closed despite Gov. Brian Kemp saying that some businesses can begin to reopen later this week.

Girtz appeared on CNN this morning to discuss Kemp partially lifting his statewide shelter-in-place order.

"I'm exhorting everybody in this community to continue sheltering in place. Do not reopen," he said. "It's like telling your quarterback, 'We don't have a helmet for you, we don't have pads, but just get out on the field and try not to get sacked.'"

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In the Loop: Kemp Says Businesses Can Start Reopening This Week

By Blake Aued | April 20, 2020 6:44pm

Gov. Brian Kemp.

Gov. Brian Kemp will start allowing some businesses that have been shuttered since his shelter-in-place order Apr. 2 to start reopening over the next week.

Gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, hair salons and massage studios can re-open Friday, as long as they practice social distance, follow hygiene guidelines, Kemp announced at a news conference this afternoon. Restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters will be allowed to open next Monday if they follow rules Kemp said his office will release later this week.

Kemp's order came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia approached 20,000, with 733 reported deaths as of noon. The head of the World Health Organization warned earlier today that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still ahead, and many public health experts believe .

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