Blog Topic: Oconee Observations

In the Loop: Oconee Approves Epps Bridge Centre Expansion Despite Lack of Sewer

By Lee Becker | March 7, 2016 11:29am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Epps Bridge Centre.

Oconee County commissioners voted In May of 2014 to move $2 million out of the water and sewer account in the 2009 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax at a time when the county’s Utility Department desperately needed money for maintenance and expansion of its two wastewater treatment facilities.

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In the Loop: Oconee Commission Chairman Melvin Davis Won't Run for Re-Election

By Lee Becker | February 4, 2016 2:04pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis sent out an email message Wednesday afternoon saying that he plans to retire when his current term ends on Dec. 31 rather than seek reelection for what would be a fifth term.

Commissioner John Daniell told me in a telephone conversation that he will seek the chairmanship position.

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Grub Notes: Diablo's, Bone Island Opening at Epps Bridge Centre

By Lee Becker | January 21, 2016 2:12pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

The future site of Diablo's.

Oconee County has issued building permits for two new restaurants in Epps Bridge Centre, one for Bone Island Grillhouse and the other for Diablo’s Southwest Grille.

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In the Loop: Athens State Reps Don't Like Redistricting Bill

By Lee Becker | January 18, 2016 10:59am

Neither of Oconee County’s two members of the Georgia House of Representatives is willing to support a pair of resolutions prefiled before the current session began on Jan. 11 that would create an independent commission to create Congressional and General Assembly districts in the state.

Oconee County was split into two House districts in a special session of the General Assembly in 2011 to help the dominant Republican Party achieve a super majority. A super majority allows the dominant party to govern without minority support.

Oconee County had made up the majority of the old House 113th District.

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In the Loop: Oconee Commission Approves $4 Million Road for Potential Costco

By Lee Becker | January 10, 2016 1:20pm

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Left to right, Commissioner Bubber Wilkes, Public Works Director Emil Beshara, consultant Bill Ross and Planning Director B.R. White.

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved a $3.35 million contract on Friday with Simpson Trucking and Grading Company of Gainesville for construction of Parkway Boulevard Extension.

The three-lane road will run from the current terminus of Parkway Boulevard just west of Kohl’s department store to opposite an existing entrance to Epps Bridge Centre and is to be open by September of 2016.

Total cost for the roadway, including right-of-way acquisition, is expected to run to $3.9 million, and Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis said the county does not know at present how it is going to pay for the road project.

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In the Loop: Oconee Critic: 'I Will Not Be Intimidated'

By Lee Becker | November 9, 2015 11:12am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Sarah Bell, sporting a sticker from her run against Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis in 2012.

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis called the owner of the property where Sarah Bell plans to locate her We Care animal shelter one week after Special Master James Warnes dismissed Bell’s ethics complaint against Davis.

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In the Loop: Oconee Commissioner Wants His Own Property Rezoned

By Lee Becker | November 2, 2015 2:45pm

Bubber Wilkes.

The members of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners will be in the uncomfortable position on Tuesday evening of having to decide if a fellow commissioner should be allowed to rezone his agricultural property for commercial development.

The three voting commissioners have good reasons to turn down the request by Commissioner William “Bubber” Wilkes.

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In the Loop: Oconee Industrial Authority Gets $850,000 Blank Check

By Lee Becker | October 26, 2015 10:43am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Oconee County voters cut a nearly blank check for $850,000 to the Oconee County Industrial Development Authority when they approved the 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax last November.

The language on the resolution for the 2015 SPLOST merely said the money should be used for “Economic Development Facilities,” and the voters, probably without giving it much thought, accepted the deal.

At its meeting earlier this month, the IDA decided it was time to give some thought to what it will do with the windfall.

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In the Loop: Ethics Complaint Filed Against Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis

By Lee Becker | October 6, 2015 11:12am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Melvin Davis.

Oconee County Attorney Daniel Haygood has referred to Special Master James C. Warnes an ethics complaint that Sarah Bell has filed against Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis.

Bell contends that Davis violated at least eight sections of the county’s ethics code by “using taxpayer money to pay an employee and to prepare and purchase plans” for the reconnection of Old Mars Hill Road to Mars Hill Road proper “as a special favor for one citizen.”

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In the Loop: More Sewer Spills Reported in Oconee County

By Lee Becker | October 2, 2015 11:21am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Oconee County has informed the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of yet another problem with the operation of its Calls Creek wastewater treatment facility.

From 5–8 a.m. on Sept. 25, the plant released an estimated 50,000 gallons of discharge containing total suspended solids that exceeded the permitted level, according to the county’s report.

The county also acknowledged on Wednesday another violation of its permit for the Calls Creek facility based on data the county filed for operation of the plant in July.

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