Overview of the secret moving plans for the Oconee County Courthouse

This is a very good comprehensive overview of the supposedly secret nightmare for the City of Watkinsville that has been the County Government attempts to begin the process of moving the Courthouse to some new location despite more than 10 acres of land available adjacent to the current historic location.  This is the smoking gun, the albatross and the reason to toss at least three incumbents (Davis, Luke and Norris) out of office.

Woven brightly,
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.


Citizens
Following is the text of a message from AVOC, Inc,  an alternative news source for county and regional issues run by Mr. Wendell Dawson, former Chair of the Board of Commissioners.  Mr. Dawson has a vast amount of experience in county affairs and often offers a different perspective on county issues and much more useful background information than you will find in either local paper.  You can use these links to go to the site and read about the secrete efforts of the current chairman to move the courthouse out of Watkinsville.  You can also glean a great deal of background information on a number of issues from the blog archives.  Mr. Dawson was blogging before blogging was cool.

Charles Baugh


CLICK ON:
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AVOC
 
6-25-08 The Oconee County Courthouse should stay on Square in Watkinsville – Part 2
 
There is land available (at least 11 acres) adjacent to the Courthouse Parking Lot that consists of most of the next city block north of the courthouse parking lot.
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AVOC
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June 24, 2008
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The Oconee County Courthouse should stay on Square in Watkinsville – Part 2
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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc
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Recent media articles have dealt with the need for space at the Courthouse and helped publicize secret plans to move the courthouse.    There is space available and a parking deck can be built to accommodate parking.
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Citizens are ridiculing the idea of moving the courthouse.  Apparently, Commissioner Norris (who advocated the move in his announcement) has said no in a recent forum when asked about the relocation.   A little Sunshine or Open Government can influence County Affairs!    However, if the majority is re-elected, we can expect the matter to rear its head.  See 12-7-07 Madison Retreat Minutes    (Note Library Expansion Item too).
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The commissioners have talked about cost of land near the courthouse being high.    However, they did not hesitate to spend $ 10-12 Million on a new jail; $ 12- ? Million on the Park that was $ 2 Million over budget at last report.    They have also spent $ 6 Million on Right of Way for the Oconee Connector.   The county has a large surplus.   The whole thing involves priorities and a lack of appreciation for history and tradition in our community……………………………….
For Pictures and Maps, see
 
AVOC
6-25-08 The Oconee County Courthouse should stay on Square in Watkinsville - Part 1
 
AB-H – June 21, 2008 - Officials were able to keep the 2005 study under wraps at the time because it identified land the Board of Commissioners was considering buying, said county Administrative Officer Alan Theriault.
 
AVOC
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June 24, 2008
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The Oconee County Courthouse should stay on Square in Watkinsville - Part 1
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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc
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http://www.avoc.info/info/images/site_images/OCONEE%20/FACILITIES/Oconee.Courthouse.Main.St.RED.Post.98.jpg
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Oconee County Courthouse site is more than 200 years old.  It was the original Clarke County Courthouse site.
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The Saturday Article on Oconee Courthouse space in the Athens Banner-Herald confirmed what close observers have known for sometime.   The current BOC, or a sizable part of it, is "working on" moving the Courthouse from Downtown.   The City of Watkinsville should be concerned and should have seen it coming.  The signs have been obvious for sometime.   The AB-H article confirmed a "secret study" done in 2005.  It is amazing how such things stay so secret in Melvin Davis' administration.    The media has been asleep at the wheel on this like some other things.
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For three or more years, land totaling 10-11 acres has been available next to the courthouse complex.   Such availability does not happen often – it is a generational thing.   Signs about the sales (Estates) have been posted on Water Street for years now.   It is obvious that the County is not buying or planning to enlarge the courthouse complex.   In addition, there have been creditable reports of exploration of moving the courthouse to the Watkinsville By-Pass.  
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The Chairman and Mayor apparently had some disagreement over the design plans for the Experiment Road and Old US 441 Intersection.   Reportedly, Mr. Davis just "showed the Mayor" by shifting the priority for Experiment Road-Mars Hill Road improvement project to the Oconee Connector Development Road.    
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CLICK ON:
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AVOC

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