Blog Topic: Oconee Observations

In the Loop: Voice Your Opinion About Oconee SPLOST

By Lee Becker | April 28, 2014 10:57am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Bubber Wilkes, who's running against Commissioner Margaret Hale, says a vote for Bubber is a vote for tennis courts.

Oconee County citizens get another chance tomorrow night to tell members of the Board of Commissioners what projects they want on the referendum for the 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

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In the Loop: Oconee Challengers Favor Liquor Sales

By Lee Becker | April 25, 2014 11:57am

John Larkin. Photo credit: Lee Becker.

Oconee County voters will get a chance to vote on liquor by the drink if two of the challengers to incumbents John Daniell and Margaret Hale are successful in the May 20 Republican primary.

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In the Loop: Oconee Overhauls Farmland Protection Program in Secret

By Lee Becker | April 21, 2014 6:21pm

Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis. [credit: Lee Becker]

When the Oconee County Board of Commissioners began its overhaul of its farmland protection program 15 months ago, it did so, County Attorney Daniel Haygood said at the time, to make the process more transparent and to make sure the county was following state open records and open meetings laws.

Since that time, the board assembled two different committees, one of which replaced a citizen committee that had been screening farms for the county’s program.

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In the Loop: Watkinsville: Keep Oconee Offices Downtown

By Lee Becker | April 16, 2014 3:44pm

The Watkinsville City Council last week interjected itself into the ongoing discussion about what to do with the existing Oconee County Courthouse by unanimously passing a resolution, authored by Brian Brodrick, stating that it believes county offices should remain in downtown Watkinsville.

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In the Loop: Falls of Oconee Plans Revised

By Lee Becker | April 13, 2014 2:40pm

The future site of The Falls at Oconee (now with 100 percent fewer falls). Photo credit: Lee Becker.

The developers of The Falls of Oconee project on Old Macon Highway have submitted revised preliminary site plans to the Oconee County Planning Department that eliminate access to the falls and the creek below it.

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In the Loop: Oconee Cancels Easter Egg Hunt

By Lee Becker | April 12, 2014 2:17pm

Oconee County rather quietly has cancelled its Easter Egg Hunt originally scheduled for Apr. 19—the day before Easter—at Oconee Veterans Park.

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Grub Notes: Cheddar's Casual Cafe Coming to Epps Bridge Centre

By Lee Becker | April 8, 2014 3:02pm

C&P Company of Macon has submitted preliminary site plans to the Oconee County Planning Department for a Cheddar’s Casual Cafe on Epps Bridge Parkway as part of Epps Bridge Centre.

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In the Loop: Oconee Farmers Market Opens

By Lee Becker | April 7, 2014 10:52am

Twenty-nine vendors offering eggs, goat milk, pies, cakes, meats, boiled peanuts, herbs, landscape plants, fresh greens and more set up booths in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville yesterday for the launch of the 11th season of the Oconee Farmers Market.

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In the Loop: GDOT Rep Jamie Boswell's Roadside Signs Are Illegal

By Lee Becker | April 6, 2014 2:21pm

Oconee County granted permits in August of last year for signs on two undeveloped pieces of land at the busy intersection of SR 316 and the Oconee Connector.

The signs are for land offered for sale by Boswell Properties, owned by Jamie Boswell, Athens real estate broker and, since early 2013, District 10 representative to the 14-member State Transportation Board.

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In the Loop: Three Candidate Forums Set in Oconee

By Lee Becker | April 3, 2014 11:25am

Oconee County citizens will have at least three opportunities in April to put questions in open meetings to the five candidates seeking two spots on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

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