Oconee County Board of Commissioners' Candidates' responses to question on Barber Creek monitoring

The following is Lee Becker's excellent reporting on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners' candidates and incumbents responses (or in at least one instance, non-response) to a question of supporting Oconee County's waterways. ~ Oconee Democrat

Dear Friends,

 

Five of the 10 candidates for the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, representing one candidate each for the five open slots, have committed to work with Friends of Barber Creek to establish independent monitoring of the outflow of the Rocky Branch sewage treatment plant into Barber Creek.

Sarah Bell, a candidate for the chairman post, stated support for working with the group on monitoring, as did Johnny Pritchett (Post 1), John Daniell (Post 2), Margaret Hale (Post 3) and Chuck Horton (Post 4).

Incumbent Chairman Melvin Davis did not respond to two email messages on the issue. Incumbent Post 1 Commissioner Jim Luke said he was undecided. Incumbent Post 2 Commissioner Don Norris did not respond. Esther Porter, seeking Post 3, said she did not have enough information to offer an answer. Mike Maxey, seeking Post 4, said he was opposed.

Independent monitoring of the outflow of the Rocky Branch plant is important because the state Environmental Protection Division does little more than file the reports given it by the plant operator.

For more details, go to my blog at http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/

Please pass along this message to your friends and neighbors. Encourage them to think about Barber Creek and to vote on July 15.

Thanks

Lee