The Fate of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission

 Mary Mellein has always been a champion of the underdog here in Oconee County, having run an unsuccessful campaign to get herself on the Board of Commissioners a few years ago. This time it is the continued clean up of our wonderful county she is trying to maintain, and Chairman G. Melvin Davis and some of the current Board of Commissioners do not seem to share the same esteem for the aesthetic of keeping Oconee County free of litter, among other things.  The following is a letter from her in an attempt to save the committee she chairs:

From: Mary MELLEIN <mrmellein@bellsouth.net>
Subject: The Fate of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission


Dear Neighbors and Friends,

 

In follow up to my earlier e-mail concerning the fate of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful (KOCB) Commission at the hands of the Board of Commissioners (BOC), the decision of the BOC did not go favorably for the KOCB commission.  To better explain the position of the KOCBC volunteer members I am sending you the following, which is a letter to the editor of the Oconee Enterprise and should appear in its July 3rd  issue.  If you value any of the KOCB commission's programs please speak up in support of your Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission by calling or e-mailing the part time BOC members. You can find their contact information on the county's Webb page (www.oconeecounty.com).

Mary Mellein

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission, is this the end?

 

I am greatly disheartened over the BOC's decision to phase out the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission's executive director's position and farm our his duties to in house staff of the Public Works Department.  The idea that staff with full time jobs and no knowledge of the Keep America Beautiful Organization can do the job of the director is just wrong. To be a Keep America Beautiful affiliate you must have a dedicated paid executive director.  This requirement is to assure that the organization is run in a professional manner.  Phasing out KOCBC well not create a savings for the tax payers.  Through grants, and community service the KOCBC brings in more money to the county than what is spent on the executive director's salary.  Last year the executive director acquired $35,000 in grants, which funded programs like scrap tire amnesty, and the sale of compost bins at cost.  The sale of these bins put $23,500 into the county's general fund.  The KOCBC's 12 volunteers last year provided 2272 hours of volunteer work providing programs such as: Christmas Tree recycling, free tree give-aways, electronics recycling, document shredding, teacher reuse store, Adopt A Mile, old phone book recycling, river clean ups, car litterbag distribution.  In addition we provided hours of education to school children and the public on recycling, water conservation, and litter prevention. What is the value to the county of thousands of volunteer service hours? Every program provided by the KOCBC results in cost savings to the citizens and helps to sustain the beauty and health of the county. 

 

In 2006 our Commission was named the Premier Affiliate Organization in the state by Keep Georgia Beautiful.  We were also recognized as second in the nation by Keep America Beautiful. Our director, John McNally, was also named the State Keep Georgia Beautiful Affiliate Executive Director of the Year.  Other counties will wonder why Oconee County does not appreciate nor support their commission.

 

Chairman Davis intended to fully fund KOCBC and he requested the part time commissioners reconsider their decision to cut the executive director.  Will their decisions result in savings to you and me the tax payers?  No, Oconee County citizens loose. 

Mary Mellein – chairperson KOCBC


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