Elder Mill endorsement from county ignored by BOC members?
Tony Glenn and Russ Page have done a lot toward saving Oconee County's crown jewel Elder Mill Covered Bridge. Here are some of the more germane recent message exchanges.
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
To: oconee@yahoogroups.comFrom: southoconee@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:39:55 -0800
Elder Mill
To: oconee@yahoogroups.comFrom: southoconee@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:39:55 -0800
Elder Mill
At the meeting tonight I mentioned the following details regarding the County's Community Agenda, which is a component of the Comprehensive Plan. An part of the Community Agenda is the Short Term Work Program, which is a year by year (2008-2012) check list of objectives that the county sets for itself. See more below.
Tony
Tony
Subject: RE: Elder Mill
Afternoon everyone,
I want to thank Russ and the others individuals that spoke last night on
behalf of the Elder Mill and Bridge. Getting the Commissioners to publicly
state their respective position on the Mill and Bridge was helpful.
I wanted to bring everyone's attention to the fact that the County has
officially endorsed this project in a very formal way....it specifically
included acquisition of the "Bridge area" in its Short Term Work Program
(2008-2012) of its Community Agenda as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan.
This document is not binding per se, but it is a list of objectives that the
County outlines and submits to the Department of Community Affairs. I asked
Nina Butler with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission to define the
STWP, and here is what she stated.
"The short answer is that it's not "contractual,
are required by the Dept. of Community Affairs to update their comprehensive
plan, and thus their Short-Term Work Program, every five years in order to
maintain "Qualified Local Government" status. In the process of updating
it, the community and planning consultant do an evaluation of their progress
on the existing STWP. While they have to report to DCA what has and has not
been accomplished (with notes on why not, if that's the case), there are no
real negative repercussions (read: legal actions) for not accomplishing
something.
However, the STWP should have some leverage by its very nature, as the
comprehensive plan is a document adopted by the local government. I would
also say that the community at large, who were presumably involved or given
the chance to be involved in the development of the comprehensive plan, also
has a responsibility to hold the local government accountable for
accomplishing the items identified in the STWP."
If you want to see the Community Agenda for Oconee County, here is the link:
http://www.oconeeco
(Yahoo often breaks up links, so you may have to copy and paste this into your browser. It's a large PDF file.)
The Short Term Work Program for 2008-2012 begins on page 109. On page 112
you will see that the county clearly outlined "Acquire property and begin
development of new recreation facility in Elder Mill Covered Bridge area."
This objective is a line item for each of the five years covered in the
STWP. Funding is indicated to come from the General Fund ($2 million) and
SPLOST. Also notice the objective makes no stipulation regarding the
Mill...it simply says the "area" surrounding the bridge.
So while the document is not legally binding, as noted by Nina, it is a
document to which the County can and should be held accountable.
If you remember, last night Jim Luke made a point (and great photo op) of
holding up the Future Development Map. This map is another component of the
Comprehensive Plan along with the Community Agenda and STWP. The Future
Development Map can be downloaded here:
http://www.oconeeco
(again, copy and paste)
This has turned into a long email, but hopefully this info is helpful to
everyone. Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Tony
From: russpage [mailto:repropro@negia.
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:56 AM
To: Charlie Baugh2; Lee B. Becker; Glenn, Anthony; ahstoneburner; Robert
Wyatt; Dr. Rosemary Franklin; Mary Mellein; Robert Jahn;
english-smith@
Subject: Elder Mill
Friends:
Well, there was a very good turn out at the"Town Hall" meeting last
night, thanks to each of you who was able to attend. I have attached a 3
part question which I had given to each commissioner before the start of the
meeting, and which I asked at the beginning of the meeting. There were many
other questions and comments from the audience, and some supportive comments
from the commissioners.
Lee Becker filmed the meeting and will post it soon, either he or I will
send you a link to that video when available, so you can see/hear their
responses to the questions yourselves.
My take on their comments is this:
1. They want to purchase the Mill, when it becomes available.
2. They are not very concerned with protecting the surrounding area
(which in my view will make the covered bridge in jeopardy of going
away...not disappearing, but no longer being a safe ingress and egress for a
development, which would expect service from Rt. 15)
3. They have no funding now to do anything (although it is on the new
SPLOST, and Mr. Luke made reference to the ability to use it at fairly quick
notice)
4. They would support (not necessarily financially, but morally..they
would sanction) a citizen led effort to protect this area.
With these thoughts in mind, the friends of Elder Mill and Elder Mill
Bridge will be moving forward to protect as much of this area as possible.
As you know we have already submitted a nomination of this area as a
"Regionally important Resource" to the NEGRDC, and met with Lee Carmon of
that office. We have contacted the Georgia Conservancy asking for their
assistance. We have contacted Chip Chandler (who has been instrumental in
helping protect, and grow the Watson's Mill Bridge State Park). Chip came
to the meeting last night and made reference to the economic development
potential of the Elder Mill/Elder Mill covered bridge, as it has bee for
them in Madison County...my thanks to Chip for driving 40 miles after a very
busy day, just to attend our meeting and help show the importance of this
area. I also had a long interview with Ms Vinnie at the Oconee Enterprise
last week, look for an article next week on this subject.
We will be seeking grants from various sources. Your continued support
and ideas are welcome, and needed,
Please call or email me at any time. If you have sent out information
to your email list, please keep them informed and solicit their help and
ideas for this project.
Thanks again,
Russ 706-769-0797 or cell 706-540-0979
Afternoon everyone,
I want to thank Russ and the others individuals that spoke last night on
behalf of the Elder Mill and Bridge. Getting the Commissioners to publicly
state their respective position on the Mill and Bridge was helpful.
I wanted to bring everyone's attention to the fact that the County has
officially endorsed this project in a very formal way....it specifically
included acquisition of the "Bridge area" in its Short Term Work Program
(2008-2012) of its Community Agenda as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan.
This document is not binding per se, but it is a list of objectives that the
County outlines and submits to the Department of Community Affairs. I asked
Nina Butler with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission to define the
STWP, and here is what she stated.
"The short answer is that it's not "contractual,
are required by the Dept. of Community Affairs to update their comprehensive
plan, and thus their Short-Term Work Program, every five years in order to
maintain "Qualified Local Government" status. In the process of updating
it, the community and planning consultant do an evaluation of their progress
on the existing STWP. While they have to report to DCA what has and has not
been accomplished (with notes on why not, if that's the case), there are no
real negative repercussions (read: legal actions) for not accomplishing
something.
However, the STWP should have some leverage by its very nature, as the
comprehensive plan is a document adopted by the local government. I would
also say that the community at large, who were presumably involved or given
the chance to be involved in the development of the comprehensive plan, also
has a responsibility to hold the local government accountable for
accomplishing the items identified in the STWP."
If you want to see the Community Agenda for Oconee County, here is the link:
http://www.oconeeco
(Yahoo often breaks up links, so you may have to copy and paste this into your browser. It's a large PDF file.)
The Short Term Work Program for 2008-2012 begins on page 109. On page 112
you will see that the county clearly outlined "Acquire property and begin
development of new recreation facility in Elder Mill Covered Bridge area."
This objective is a line item for each of the five years covered in the
STWP. Funding is indicated to come from the General Fund ($2 million) and
SPLOST. Also notice the objective makes no stipulation regarding the
Mill...it simply says the "area" surrounding the bridge.
So while the document is not legally binding, as noted by Nina, it is a
document to which the County can and should be held accountable.
If you remember, last night Jim Luke made a point (and great photo op) of
holding up the Future Development Map. This map is another component of the
Comprehensive Plan along with the Community Agenda and STWP. The Future
Development Map can be downloaded here:
http://www.oconeeco
(again, copy and paste)
This has turned into a long email, but hopefully this info is helpful to
everyone. Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Tony
From: russpage [mailto:repropro@negia.
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:56 AM
To: Charlie Baugh2; Lee B. Becker; Glenn, Anthony; ahstoneburner; Robert
Wyatt; Dr. Rosemary Franklin; Mary Mellein; Robert Jahn;
english-smith@
Subject: Elder Mill
Friends:
Well, there was a very good turn out at the"Town Hall" meeting last
night, thanks to each of you who was able to attend. I have attached a 3
part question which I had given to each commissioner before the start of the
meeting, and which I asked at the beginning of the meeting. There were many
other questions and comments from the audience, and some supportive comments
from the commissioners.
Lee Becker filmed the meeting and will post it soon, either he or I will
send you a link to that video when available, so you can see/hear their
responses to the questions yourselves.
My take on their comments is this:
1. They want to purchase the Mill, when it becomes available.
2. They are not very concerned with protecting the surrounding area
(which in my view will make the covered bridge in jeopardy of going
away...not disappearing, but no longer being a safe ingress and egress for a
development, which would expect service from Rt. 15)
3. They have no funding now to do anything (although it is on the new
SPLOST, and Mr. Luke made reference to the ability to use it at fairly quick
notice)
4. They would support (not necessarily financially, but morally..they
would sanction) a citizen led effort to protect this area.
With these thoughts in mind, the friends of Elder Mill and Elder Mill
Bridge will be moving forward to protect as much of this area as possible.
As you know we have already submitted a nomination of this area as a
"Regionally important Resource" to the NEGRDC, and met with Lee Carmon of
that office. We have contacted the Georgia Conservancy asking for their
assistance. We have contacted Chip Chandler (who has been instrumental in
helping protect, and grow the Watson's Mill Bridge State Park). Chip came
to the meeting last night and made reference to the economic development
potential of the Elder Mill/Elder Mill covered bridge, as it has bee for
them in Madison County...my thanks to Chip for driving 40 miles after a very
busy day, just to attend our meeting and help show the importance of this
area. I also had a long interview with Ms Vinnie at the Oconee Enterprise
last week, look for an article next week on this subject.
We will be seeking grants from various sources. Your continued support
and ideas are welcome, and needed,
Please call or email me at any time. If you have sent out information
to your email list, please keep them informed and solicit their help and
ideas for this project.
Thanks again,
Russ 706-769-0797 or cell 706-540-0979
__._,_.___
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