Help Preserve the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission

Mary Mellein is a friend of mine who has run for office before and been involved in numerous Oconee County residents' efforts, and I generally support just about everything she does. I do not want to see the elimination of the Keep Oconee County Clean and Beautiful Commisson either and urge you to let your Commissioners know of your decision to support this important citizens committee. I also do not want to the Board of Commissioners jack up the registration fees for the Recreation Department activities either. I am afraid that is what they are going to do. Sounds like it is a job for our concerned voters to voice their opinions as soon as possible. The following was written by her:


--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Mary MELLEIN <mrmellein@bellsouth.net> wrote:

From: Mary MELLEIN <mrmellein@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Help Keep the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission
To: mrmellein@bellsouth.net
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 2:49 PM

Dear Friend,

 

I am writing to make you aware that our county Board of Commissioners will be voting next week, Tuesday, June 23, at its agenda setting meeting, on whether to reduce the county budget by $35,000.  This decision would eliminate the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission for which I am currently chair.  It is the work of this commission, which consist of an executive director and 12 volunteer member, that is responsible for the following programs:   Christmas Tree recycling Bring One for the Chipper, Old Phone Book Collection, County Litter Index, Adopt-A-Mile, Great American Cleanup, Adopt-A-Spot, Free Trees, Drive-In Litter Bags, Rivers Alive Clean up, Compost Bin Sale, Scrap Tire Amnesty, Electronics Recycling, Teacher Reuse Store, and Document Shredding.  

 

For Oconee County to have a KOCB Commission it must be an affiliate of the National Keep America Beautiful Inc.  To be an affiliate of the National we must have a fulltime executive director.   Currently, Mr. John McNally serves as Oconee County's executive director at a cost to the county of $35,000.  Last year the executive director's efforts brought $36,000 of grant money to our county.  The commission's compost bin sales brought in approximately $23,500 to the county.  These compost bins are sold at less than cost, resulting in a $30 to $50 savings to Oconee citizens.  It was Mr. McNally who was responsible for the development of the county's blue bag and recycling program.  This method of handling solid waste and recyclables has served as a model for a number of other counties in the state and reduces our county's landfill cost. 

 

The director and the commission provide numerous educational efforts including library displays, fall festival displays, and educational brochures on recycling, composting, water conservation, and litter prevention.   Also Mr. McNally and commission volunteers provide hours of education to school children and public organization on these same subjects as well as other volunteer work all of which benefit the county. 

 

With this email I am asking that if you value these programs to contact our BOC and let them know and come to the BOC meeting, June 23, in the county court house first floor.  Commission meetings start promptly at 7:00 pm.  The cost savings, the grants, and various program and services provided by our KOCB Commission more than cover our executive director's $35,000 salary.  These are hard times but, will eliminating this useful commission help or make anything better?  On the contrary, our county will lose.   Please help me fight for our Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission.  If you have questions or comments you can e-mail me or call me at 706-769-4236.

 

Mary Mellein

Chairperson Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jeff Dantzler's arrests may be the best thing that ever happened to him

THis has next to nothing to do with Oconee County with the possible exception of the location of his former office, but a former colleague of mine on the radio got popped today for four counts. Any one who has listened to 960 the Ref AM sports talk radio or heard the UGA Lady Dawgs or men's baseball team has surely heard the encyclopedic knowledge of one Jeff Dantzler. Jeff and I are pretty much diametrically opposed poltically, but today he was arrested on four counts including DUI. I hope he gets the help he needs following his incarceration. I work for a lawyer who could help him out if he does not having someone already representing him. This man is a great broadcaster and I hope this arrest serves as a wake-up call for him and his rock and roll lifestyle. I live a far from perfect life myself but long ago and far away I learned how and when not to drink. Now we will be without he dulcet tones on Lady Bulldog broadcasts as well as on Georgia baseball games and also on the after...
Read more

A deep wound waiting to be healed - restoring order and dignity in the city cemetery

Image
The Watkinsville City Cemetery is an oasis amidst the houses on the east side of the municipality, near the neighborhood once called Sidney. There is a large section of the cemetery that remains a mystery, but perhaps we can work together to dignify the eternal resting spot somewhat better than the current neglected and forgotten (not to mention unmarked) graves of 70 people, more than likely of African-American descent. They deserve to be honored as well. An effort has been undertaken to repair the graves with fill dirt to stop the continued erosion amongst the graves. The most recent grave and bench belong to Larry Sheats,  and as any one who played basketball at Herman C. Michael Park or knew him otherwise  can attest, he was among the best people this county has ever seen. Larry was always ready to help. Now it is our turn to help. Do it for someone you knew there, maybe the Hardens, or the Downs, or any number of other people, but allow me to reminisce about how L...
Read more

I strongly disagree with the impending demolishing of the iconic Watkinsville Water Tower

Image
I know the Watkinsville Water Tower near where the "Big Spring" of what was one called Big Springs, Georgia serves no functional purpose anymore. I know it is a hazard. I know it is rusty and old and past its usefulness for the most part. I see a purpose beyond the aesthetic and instead as a possible financial benefit.  I know there is a way to keep it and make money for our municipality. I wonder who is doing the seemingly shoddy job of removing it (or at least preparing to raze it) and who stands to make money off that?  The dismantling of the Watkinsville Water Tower has already caused one gas leak and I can only imagine what problems await the demolition of the dinosaur.  If it is only because a group of kids have been crawling up it, then build a fence around it. I would think the City of Watkinsville would benefit and making monthly lease fees if they would instead do what about 90% of these abandoned water towers do and that is become a cellular telephone tow...
Read more