Only about 20 people turned out tonight at the third meeting on proposed projects for the Oconee County 2015 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

And only four citizens spoke, with one advocating for spending for the libraries and another calling for funding for farmland protection and historic preservation.

The third speaker asked for money for renovation of the Civic Center. The fourth wanted increased spending on the courthouse.

That fourth speaker, T.J. BeMent, court administrator for the 10th Judicial Administrative District of Georgia, produced the only surprise of the evening.

BeMent told the Board of Commissioners that the $2.7 million it is considering for courthouse security improvements from the 2004 SPLOST may not be enough, and additional money may need to be taken from the 2015 SPLOST.

For more, visit Oconee County Observations.