Rumor has it that downtown Main Street in Watkinsville is finally going to get repaired

No longer shall trucks traveling through Main Street rattle the ceilings, walls, and floors of some downtown Watkinsville businesses if the State DOT someday does indeed repave Main Street, also known as Business Route 441.

Hopefully this will help the parking on Main Street, the business to increase in our small town Mom and Pop shops, and more people to drive slower through Watkinsville.

I would be in favor of extended rumble strips or any other traffic calming mechanism that could be engineered to get the trucks to slow down or avoid rumbling down Main Street during business hours especially. I know there are no real plans or money for a By-Pass from LAD Trucking on Barnett Shoals to the 441 By-Pass, but there should be.

I think the Watkinsville Police Department do an outstanding job of directing traffic during First Fridays and parades and what not.

Chief Lee O'Dillon and his crew have always done the most with very little resources. I know the city council approves most of his conservative budget requests quite appropriately.

The Chief and his crew do whatever is needed to be done to ensure the safe flow of traffic through our small town with emphasis on the people walking to and from the Farmers Markets or other activities in and around downtown Watkinsville.

They are greatly appreciated by the residents of the city and county in keeping people safe in the county seat.

 The city has seen some new sidewalks put in the middle of the intersection that I hope help pedestrian walk safely.

So far it kind of seems like an extension of the sidewalks to nowhere out on Daniells Bridge Road, Hog Mountain Road and on 316, but let us hope that does not remain that way forever.

I know there are specific federal and state mandates that have to be met in order to have other governments' dollars brought in for our infrastructure, and that is a small price to pay for improving the area roads.

Today the traffic lights were being rejiggered at the By-Pass where 441 Business juts off of the divided highway that I wish more trucks would take, but I understand it is not always easy getting there. I highly commend the Oconee County Sheriff's Office for taking the time to assist in this public works project. Traffic was running smoothly at noon.

I do wish we could get a few more signs around the woefully generic Oconee Connector. Drivers getting off the 10 Loop By Pass unfamiliar with the road that essentially serves as a frontage road for Epps Bridge Centre and the Parkway skirting up behind Lowe's have no idea where they are going if they have never traveled this road before.

We need much better signage pointing out our quality hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area. We need more places to stay in this area.

We are a destination now and we had better start acting like one now. Spring Hill Suites is sold out on the weekend generally speaking. Time for another Oconee County hotel? Maybe across the street?

We can always improve the tourism effort locally, but I know the folks who are doing it do the best they can with limited resources. I say its time to give them more resources, but in the meantime, put up a few more signs, OK?

I don't think we need anymore political yard signs but I know we are about to get bombarded by Jody Hice and Mike Collins signs once again. I think Margaret Hale and Bubber Wilkes will be a bit more respectful of the area sign farms.