tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:29:45 +0000Calls Creek wastewater plantMars Hill RoadAnimal ControlBishop BypassRocky Branch LASEpps Bridge CentreDaniells Bridge RoadHard Labor Creek Regional ReservoirJamie BoswellFalls Of OconeeCaterpillarJimmy Daniell RoadOconee County BudgetNews and comments about developments in Oconee County, Georgiahttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/noreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)Blogger3101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-321862084523114530Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:11:14 +00002026-08-09T02:29:45.112-05:00***Primary Data Suggest Small Shift Democratic*** Going into the November election, when control of Congress will be decided, Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Oconee County, is in a position to be the third most competitive of Congressional races for seats currently held by Republicans in Georgia. In the May 19 party primaries, 58.2 percent of the votes cast in the 10th http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/10th-congressional-district-which.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5606064611194777565Thu, 06 Aug 2026 03:44:22 +00002026-08-06T05:24:50.713-05:00***Group Held Listening Session With Area Food Providers*** Roughly 10 percent of Oconee County residents are food insecure, and available providers are meeting the needs of only one in three of those people. Some of those who are in need are not able to gain access to the services provided, and some don’t seek help because of the stigma associated with taking advantage of existing programs. http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/citizen-group-informs-oconee-county.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1352232076945340483Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:04:53 +00002026-08-03T15:13:26.759-05:00***Other Republican Candidates Join Event*** Mack “Dutch” Guest IV used his announced Meet and Greet at Wire Park in Watkinsville on Friday evening to mingle with what seemed to be a largely supportive crowd, shake hands, talk to the children, and chat informally. The Republican candidate, who is seeking to represent Oconee County in state House District 121, wore a white polo shirt with his namehttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/08/republican-dutch-guest-holds-low-key.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4657020053588172012Fri, 31 Jul 2026 02:30:02 +00002026-07-30T21:30:02.725-05:00***Gisler Asked To Assess His Opponent In November*** State House Rep. Eric Gisler said his top priority if he is elected to return to the General Assembly in January will be to push legislation that would create nonpartisan, independent redistricting. Gisler said he thinks there may be some members even in the Republican majority in the House who are “open” to legislation to eliminate http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/discussion-of-nonpartisan-redistricting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-6884901734387817521Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:19:53 +00002026-07-30T22:04:02.996-05:00County Also Considering Traffic Calming Policy Oconee County voters will be asked on Nov. 3 to approve renewal of the county’s 1 percent Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) to generate an estimated $72 million, with $17.1 million set aside for property tax relief. Just more than 13 percent of the expected revenue ($9.4 million) will be divided among the county’s fourhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/renewal-of-oconee-county-transportation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2143472793098054783Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:37:12 +00002026-08-03T15:14:45.227-05:00***Citizens Will Ask Questions*** The Oconee Enterprise and Oconee County Observations will host a forum for candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in the U.S. Congress and in the Georgia General Assembly from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park. Citizens will pose their questions directly to the candidates, each of whom will have a fixed amount of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/forum-for-oconee-county-candidates-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-8139253844856538963Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:53:34 +00002026-07-28T10:35:15.401-05:00***Hospital Shown On Concept Plan*** The Oconee County Planning Commission last week unanimously recommended approval of a modified concept plan for the 22.6-acre commercial development between Virgil Langford Road and SR Loop 10 east of the Oconee Connector to increase the allowed square footage from 174,500 square feet to 250,000 square feet. The new concept plan for what is called the http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/oconee-county-planning-commission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3058089942958842361Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:37:50 +00002026-08-07T20:38:38.567-05:00***Wants City Solution For Traffic Problem*** Leaders of Save South Oconee, in their first public meeting last week, gave an upbeat assessment of their efforts to communicate their view that the proposed routes for a truck bypass connecting SR 15 with U.S. 441 would negatively affect the south of the county. Jason Smith, co-chair of Save South Oconee, said he and his colleagues have reached outhttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/save-south-oconee-group-meets-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2760550607591398507Sat, 25 Jul 2026 02:28:31 +00002026-07-24T21:28:31.743-05:00***Proposed Rate Higher Than Rollback Rate*** The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is scheduled on Tuesday (July 28) to hold its first public hearing on its proposed property tax rates for 2026, which will produce an increase of $788,134 in new revenue, or a gain of 4.95 percent from last year. The proposed millage rate for the majority of county properties–those in the unincorporated partshttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/oconee-county-to-hold-first-of-three.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3013071895402176888Thu, 23 Jul 2026 02:24:39 +00002026-07-22T21:24:39.238-05:00***Spending Held To Budgeted Level*** Oconee County Schools took in $1.8 million more in revenue than budgeted for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, with $1.1 million of that from higher local tax revenue. The $1.8 million in unbudgeted revenue also included $0.7 million more in investment and interest income than was expected. Spending in Fiscal Year 2026 was at the budgeted $120.5 http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/oconee-county-schools-amended-fiscal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5841344145841488125Sat, 18 Jul 2026 20:08:55 +00002026-07-18T15:20:39.827-05:00***Say Their Resources Are Limited*** In a time of diminished resources, journalists need to collaborate more and reach out to their communities as they go about their work, the journalists assembled last month for a panel to celebrate the First Amendment said. The number of journalists coving local news has decreased, they acknowledged, making cooperation rather than competition more importanthttp://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/journalists-on-media-panel-call-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-7518163731504216590Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:35:14 +00002026-07-12T17:35:14.180-05:00***Lone Citizen To Speak Raised Concerns Over Change*** On Sept. 1, the 3.6 acres on which the Oconee County Civic Center sits at 1661 Hog Mountain Road will be reincorporated into the surrounding campus of Oconee County High School, with the Oconee County Board of Education having full control over operation of the facility. Both the Board of Education and the Oconee County Board of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/new-intergovernmental-agreement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2302565149413108853Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:20:26 +00002026-07-06T17:25:03.242-05:00***Bridge Work At Both Roads Visible Underway*** The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), in its update last week on construction on SR 316 in the county, said bridge construction is actively underway at the Jimmy Daniell Road interchange and crews have begun constructing mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls to support the new roadway structure. Significant earthmoving operations http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/georgia-transportation-department.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-487433685414473584Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:57:10 +00002026-07-04T10:05:55.635-05:00***Joint Meeting Set For July 6*** The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday (June 30) cleared the way for approval on July 6 in a special meeting with the Oconee County Board of Education of transfer of ownership and operation of the Civic Center to Oconee County Schools. In a brief discussion at the end of its agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday, Board members reviewed the details of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/07/oconee-county-commissioners-clear-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-723409615360472554Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:46:25 +00002026-07-11T07:47:54.387-05:00***Agreement To Be Discussed Prior To July 6 Joint Board Meeting*** Oconee County Schools will take over full administration of and ownership of the Oconee County Civic Center as of Sept. 1 of this year, even gaining the right to change the name of the facility, according to a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement released by the county on Friday afternoon. In return, Oconee County will assume http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/oconee-county-releases-details-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1130270634432148052Fri, 26 Jun 2026 21:39:04 +00002026-06-26T16:39:04.162-05:00***Final Bill Removed Mandate*** The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration, meeting on Monday (June 22) for certification of the June 16 Primary Runoff Election, voted to tell the county’s two representatives in the Georgia House of its opposition to legislation passed in the Senate a few days earlier. The Senate had passed Senate Bill 3 EX on Saturday (June 20) that would have http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/oconee-county-election-board-urged.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2519153559974325415Sun, 21 Jun 2026 04:58:36 +00002026-06-21T00:07:37.573-05:00***Only Five Citizens Spoke*** The Oconee County Board of Commissioners will have a draft of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Board of Education spelling out the details of transfer of the Civic Center to Oconee County Schools at its June 30 meeting, Commission Chair John Daniell said on Tuesday (June 16). The Board of Commissioners will discuss the agreement at that meeting, http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/announcements-at-oconee-county.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5386509315723216881Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:27:06 +00002026-06-19T21:27:06.445-05:00***Main Street Linked To Thomas Farm Preserve*** A group of children cut the ribbon on Friday (June 19) on the newly completed Watkinsville Mulberry Street Covered Bridge, reflecting the stated goal of Mayor Brian Brodrick that the structure be one that children will know and remember. “We want to build communities that our children want to come back to,” Brodrick told the more than 100 people http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/watkinsville-mayor-celebrates-children.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4945362307004472878Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:12:44 +00002026-06-18T21:12:44.354-05:00***Millage Rate Revised Slightly Higher*** The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday passed a revised Fiscal Year 2027 Budget that adds $1.2 million to the Fund Balance and is based on a slight increase in the millage rate from the budget the Board tentatively approved in May. Chief Financial Officer Peter Adams told the Board that the new budget is based on an increase of nearly $3 http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/oconee-county-school-board-approves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-1314114532806075879Wed, 17 Jun 2026 02:52:49 +00002026-06-16T22:01:41.510-05:00Only A Quarter Of Active Voters Cast A Ballot*** Oconee County Republican voters picked Walton County resident Marc McMain (61.4 percent) over Oconee County resident Doug McKillip (38.6 percent) in the runoff for the party nomination for Senate District 46. County Republicans preferred Derek Dooley (54.5 percent) over Mike Collins (45.5 percent) in the race for the party nomination for the U.S.http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/mcmain-wins-in-oconee-county-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-2065934822534509908Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:13:38 +00002026-06-16T07:24:12.933-05:00***Gisler Listed Five Topics Of Call For Session*** The outline that State House District 121 Rep. Eric Gisler gave on Saturday for the upcoming special session of the Georgia General Assembly, set to begin on Wednesday, was very sparse on details, as Gisler readily admitted. Gov. Brian Kemp has asked the legislature to “consider” changing the district maps for Congress and the Georgia Senate http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/rep-gisler-in-town-hall-meeting-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-7076897825019357540Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:14:32 +00002026-06-12T22:32:04.040-05:00***Democratic Voting Down More Than Republican Voting*** A total of 4,333 of Oconee County’s 34,000 eligible voters, or 12.7 percent, had cast a ballot in the June 16 Party Primary Runoffs as of the end of the day on Friday, the final day of Advance In Person voting. Most of those votes were cast in person, with 4,165 voters casting a ballot at the County Administrative Building north of http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/one-third-fewer-oconee-county-voters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-3312709604001172695Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:54:17 +00002026-06-11T22:54:17.028-05:00***Includes Additional Access To Apalachee River*** The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded Oconee County a $3 million grant for expansion of and improvements to Heritage Park, located on U.S. 441 south of Farmington. The county made application for the grant after agreeing last October to spend $1.91 million to acquire 110 pristine acres to expand the park. The DNR has http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/oconee-county-receives-grant-from-state.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-5696611029655977166Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:25:02 +00002026-06-12T22:00:31.970-05:00***Democrats Underperforming May Turnout Numbers*** After three days of Advance In Person voting, and with only two days remaining, 2,175 of Oconee County’s eligible voters, or 6.4 percent, have cast an In Person ballot in the June 16 Party Primary Runoff. Another 87 voters have returned an Absentee by Mail ballot, bringing the total number of votes cast by the end of the day on Wednesday to http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/early-voting-for-june-16-party-primary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714015.post-4187029125913338361Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:37:13 +00002026-06-09T22:37:13.489-05:00***Two Opportunities For Citizens To Offer Input*** In separate news releases on Tuesday, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners and the Oconee County Board of Education announced plans to transfer ownership of the Oconee County Civic Center from the county to Oconee County Schools. If the plans are approved by both Boards, the county would transfer ownership of the nearly 30,000 square foot http://www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/06/oconee-county-board-of-commissioners.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lee Becker)2