Blog Topic: Government

In the Loop: ACC Is Coming for Your Garbage

By Blake Aued | February 14, 2014 10:40am

Athens-Clarke County has resumed trash and recycling pickup today in the wake of the Icepocalpyse.

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In the Loop: ACC: Beware of Ice

By Blake Aued | February 13, 2014 2:04pm

A tauntaun is no longer necessary to get around Athens.

The worst of the Icepocalypse passed about 30 miles south of us, and Athens is starting to thaw out, but Athens-Clarke County officials are still urging people to stay off the roads and be careful when walking.

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In the Loop: No-Bid Contracts Granted for Caterpillar

By Lee Becker | February 11, 2014 1:47pm

The industrial development authorities of Oconee and Athens-Clarke counties in early 2012 granted two no-bid contracts totaling $870,079 to Williams and Associates land planners of Oconee County for engineering services for the Caterpillar project.

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In the Loop: School Closings Friday, Feb. 14

By Blake Aued | February 13, 2014 6:33pm

The following schools will be closed Friday, Feb. 14. Check back for updates.

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In the Loop: UPDATE: Trucks May Be Detouring Through Athens During the Ice Storm

By Blake Aued | February 11, 2014 11:18am

Trucks headed to Atlanta might be rerouted through Athens during the ice storm that's expected to hit North Georgia tonight.

Public Safety Commissioner Mark McDonough said his department is considering two alternate routes for trucks that ordinarily would be passing through Atlanta (not those that are making deliveries in Atlanta): U.S. Highway 441 and U.S. Highway 27, which runs along the Alabama state line.

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In the Loop: Oconee SPLOST Requests Top $100 Million

By Lee Becker | February 10, 2014 11:14am

Chief Superior Court Judge David Sweat wants a $25 million judicial facility added to the list of projects to be funded by Oconee County’s 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

Oconee County Coroner Ed Carson wants $55,000 for a transport van.

These two requests bracket $100.2 million in requests that will be summarized in a public hearing with the Oconee County Board of Commissioners that will start at 6 p.m. today at the Civic Center on Hog Mountain Road.

The Commissioners have to pare that list down to about $38 million before they vote on March 4, as they are expected to do, to put the issue on the May 20 ballot.

The meeting tonight is the second and final chance for citizens to publicly express their feelings about the proposed projects and which ones will likely lead them to vote in favor of the tax at the May election.

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In the Loop: Magazine: Paul Broun Is a Moderate

By Blake Aued | February 6, 2014 3:11pm

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens) is the 196th most conservative House member out of 435, according to the National Journal, a conservative political magazine.

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In the Loop: Warm Reception for Downtown Watkinsville Plan

By Lee Becker | February 5, 2014 1:44pm

Judge David Sweat discusses the Watkinsville plan at a Sunday, Feb. 2 meeting.

Architect Robert Smith got a warm reception Sunday afternoon from the 35 people who turned out for his second presentation of his plan for a revitalized downtown Watkinsville centered around the existing courthouse and a new, nearby government building.

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In the Loop: Athens Partners with Geelong, Australia

By Blake Aued | February 5, 2014 11:15am

The Athens-Clarke County Commission approved an agreement Tuesday night with the Australian city of Geelong that could bring down-under biotech companies to Athens.

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In the Loop: Few Answers on Future of Lyndon House

By Blake Aued | February 4, 2014 11:50am

Dozens of people crowded into the lab at Ciné to press Athens-Clarke County officials Monday night on the future of the Lyndon House Arts Center at a Federation of Neighborhoods forum. They left with few more answers than they came with.

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