Oconee County, GA Politics

Lee Becker lets us know once again how ethically flawed the decision making process has become in the Oconee County government. Dear Friends, The Board of Commissioners tonight approved the rezone for an office park just east of the blind curve on Daniells Bridge Road. Margaret Hale cast the only dissenting vote. Chuck Horton made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Jim Luke. Don Norris, who in May of 2007 concluded he had a conflict of interest on the same rezone and recused himself, decided tonight he was not in conflict and voted with Horton and Hale to approve the project. In May of 2007, Hale, Horton and Luke all voted against the same rezone. The developer filed suit. In closed session, the Board decided to settle the suit. The vote tonight was simply a confirmation of that closed-meeting decision. Emil Beshara, director of Public Works for the county, told the BOC the blind curve was not "dangerous" but the development would make it better because it would inc...

More shady dealings uncovered even in the BOC backing out of having a legally advertised hearing. Great reporting as usual by Lee Becker ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 11:10 PM Subject: BOC postpones again a rezone request To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The Board of Commissioners tonight voted to postpone until Dec. 2 the public hearing on the proposed rezone for nine acres just east of the blind curve on Daniells Bridge Road so the county's public works department can draw up plans showing the county's hoped for improvements of Daniells Bridge Road between the Oconee Connector and Lynn Drive, which is at the center of the curve itself. The Board took the action after the public hearing had been advertised and more than a dozen citizens showed up to speak against the rezone. The date for the public hearing also had been set in legal documents the county filed to settle a laws...