Oconee County, GA Politics

John Joyner addressed the BOC. (photo by Dan Matthews). The Oconee County Board of Commissioners met in their regular Tuesday night monthly meeting March 29, 2011 in the Commission Meeting Chambers of the Oconee County Courthouse. Chairman Melvin Davis always runs a very entertaining and efficient meeting, and this one was no different.  He had a very busy meeting with lots of important decisions to be made, some discussed here, others reported elsewhere. The meeting began with honoring Henry Hibbs, retiring Oconee County Extension Director, from a former extension service worker in Davis himself. Then the Board of Commissioners planned to present new Federal Judge and recent Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Steve Jones, who was absent and could not attend. They are planning for a future ceremony where the resolution can be read. A community service board report came from Kate McDaniel about Advantage Behavioral Health System, which is the mental health, dev...

Farmington deserves our support. Please attend this meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Farmington Community Center. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 09:07:23 -0700 From: southoconee@yahoo.com Subject: Farmington Community meeting & BOC news To: aglenn@uga.edu Hello all, A Farmington Community meeting has been called for next Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Farmington Community Center. My understanding is that the main objective of the meeting is to address how the Farmington Community Center is currently managed and operated.  That's all I know at the moment. Since this facility is used by many individuals and groups throughout Oconee County, I encourage everyone to attend if possible. On another note, many of you may be interested in reading Lee Becker's current blog post concerning recent county government meetings that occurred without required public notice. http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ Regards, Tony Glenn

Lee and Tony are good people and their opinions should be held in high esteem and regard. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:22:49 -0700 From: southoconee@yahoo.com Subject: SPLOST vote To: aglenn@uga.edu I'm chiming in with some others to remind everyone to vote on the SPLOST referendum.  If you haven't voted already, please do so tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th.   If you want to review some details associated with the SPLOST, I point you to Lee Becker's blog: http://www.oconeecountyobservations..blogspot.com/ .  Lee references other sources of info as well.   Here are some relevant details I've taken from Lee's posting on this issue.   -  County voters first approved SPLOST taxes in 1985, after the Georgia General Assembly authorized the tax that year, and they have approved renewal taxes in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003.   -  These monies have been used for Heritage Park on U.S. 441 in the sout...

Tony Glenn sent this and I am relating it to you as well. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Contrary to what you may have read in the papers, the issue of Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) is still very much alive within Oconee County.  Please mark your calendar for this event.  TDRs are one strategy for helping to preserve greenspace and the rural atmosphere within South Oconee.  Here's a chance to learn more. See the attached flier. Transferable Development Rights Educational Summit Sunday, February 22, 2009 5:00 p.m. Watkinsville Library Auditorium. Russ Page and other TDR committee members will be available to describe TDRs and answer questions. Transferable Development Rights (TDR) Educational Summit Sunday, February 22 at 5 PM Watkinsville Library Auditorium Landowners, homeowners and all Oconee County residents are invited to listen to a presentation and ask questions about Transferable Development Rights. What are Transferable Development Righ...

Dr. Glenn says go, and that is good enough for me (although I have plans already) please let me know you impressions of what happens if you attend. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:20:09 -0800 From: southoconee@yahoo.com Subject: BOC meeting tonight: SPLOST and other agenda items To: aglenn@uga.edu I apologize for the short notice, but hopefully you've seen some of the press coverage concerning the SPLOST renewal that the county is considering.   The actual vote on the SPLOST by the citizens of Oconee County will come in March 2009, but the allocation of the revenue generated from the six-year S pecial P urpose Local O ption S ales T ax will be decided now by the Board of Commissioners. Below is the agenda for tonight's BOC meeting.  There are several items on the agenda of long-term impact in addition to the SPLOST (waste water treatment, Daniells Bridge Road concept plan, ambulance service). If you haven't followed the SPLOST ...

I'm forwarding this email from Lee Becker regarding the contested Post 5 seat on the Oconee County Board of Education. As you likely know, this is the only local election that has carried over to the November 4th general election. Rich Clark (Dem.) is challenging Tom Breedlove (Rep.) for this open seat on the BOE. Be sure to read Lee's blog at http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ for more details on the candidates. Pay particular attention to the details of their campaign contribution disclosure reports. Regards, Tony Glenn From: Lee Becker Reply-To: Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:50:47 -0400 To: Subject: BOE Post 5 Dear Friends, The two candidates running for the Post 5 seat on the Oconee County Board of Education said they learned similar lessons from the recent revelation that the outgoing Board asked former Superintendent Tom Dohrmann to retire, contrary to the earlier announcement that Dohrmann initiated the resignation. "I've learned that the public...

Listen to the radio tonight if you can - Georgia Gazette comes on at 7 pm Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.  Subject: FW: Susanna Capelouto urges folks to listen to GA Gazette tonight  Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:02:49 -0400    Hi all. Sorry I've been out of contact with several of you. I was in  Mexico for the week.    Celestea's film is being profiled Georgia Public Radio! See below.    Tony    Susanna Capelouto urges folks to listen to GA Gazette tonight        Tonight on Georgia Gazette,  Our interview on Carving Up Oconee, a film about development in  rural Georgia. It's part of the upcoming Eco Focus Film Festival in  Athens.  The show airs on GPB's statewide radio network at 6 PM. It airs at  7 PM on WUGA in Athens. Always on line at GPB.org/georgiagazette.  Also, if you are not yet a member of GPB, please consider a  contribution during Georgia Gazett...

From: Celestea Sharp < celesteasharp@nyc.rr.com > Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:40 PM Subject: "Carving Up Oconee" screenings at UGA Film Festival Oct 25-26 To: Hi Dan, I have seen and appreciated your mention of my film on your blog, and I wanted to be sure that you knew that "Carving Up Oconee" will be screened twice at the upcoming UGA EcoFocus Film Festival at Ciné in downtown Athens: -- on Saturday, October 25, at 3:00 pm (panel discussion with Courtney Gale, Tony Glenn, and    Michael Reuter afterwards) and -- -- on Sunday, October 26, at 8:15 pm (Q and A will follow the film, and several film personalities    will be present). I'm hoping that the film will spark some good discussions among the audience about issues important to Oconee County residents. More information about the film and the filmmaker and crew, as well as the main characters of the film, can be found on the film website at www.carvingupoconee.com . ...

Courtney Gale, Melvin Davis, Tony Glenn and Russ Page are just a few of the familiar faces on this preview of the film by Celestea Sharp.

A couple of well written articles in the Athens Banner-Herald today Thursday, June 12, 2008 by red headed correspondent Adam Thompson involving our beloved Oconee County and the economic ramifications of the recent gas price spike for our school system as well as the move to record and disseminate taped meetings of the various agencies of the Board of Commission . I still say Tony Glenn for chairman of the Board of Commissioners, or State Representative, or Congress, or State Senate in 2010.

I apologize for not getting this out sooner. Below is info on a presentation that will take place this evening on TDRs (transfer of development rights). TDRs are a hot topic with regard to development. Try to attend if possible. Tony ----------------------------------------------- Rick Pruetz Planning Consultant from California and the most noted authority on TDR’s in the country Tonight, Thursday, August 23, 2007 7:00 PM Auditorium at the new North Oconee High School. This program is being sponsored by Oconee County's Joint Comprehensive Plan Development Committee. Transfer of Development Rights is a method that many counties around the country are using to preserve open space and/or historically or environmentally sensitive areas. His talk will be a general discussion of TDR’s, how they work, their benefits, and drawbacks. He has advised many communities on the development of their TDR programs and will be here to finalize the Newton County TDR Ordinance. This TDR pr...

Ever have a mosquito buzzing around your ear? You keep trying to swat it.......and trying...........and trying..........but it just keeps buzzing around waiting for its chance to suck your blood. Leaving you with an ugly bump that itches and irritates long after the mosquito is gone. Well our mosquito is back once more. Take a look at the front page of this week's Oconee Enterprise. Mr. Francis Williams has filed suit against the BOC for its denial of his rezone request for the corner of US441 and Branch Road. I only have time for a quick email since I am heading out the door for a weekend meeting in North Carolina. I'll be back in touch early next week. While a unanimous denial of this rezone by the BOC would on its surface appear to mean that they are willing to stand by this decision, even if sued, this may not be the case. This BOC has a history of arranging out-of-court settlements. Such settlements are another cause we must stand up and fight against. We, the citize...

WE DID IT!!! The BOC voted unanimously to deny the rezone request by Francis Williams to develop a convenience store and gas station at the corner of Branch Road and US441. After 15 months, three different plans, two withdrawals by Mr. Williams, and two denials by the Planning Commission, the BOC finally got to hear the issue. I am very proud of all of us, with a particular pat on the back to Paul Poninski. Paul spearheaded a petition drive that resulted in 205 signatures of individuals who did not want to see this type of development in south Oconee. Paul presented the petition signatures to the BOC, which clearly got their attention. Overall approximately 20 people signed up to speak against the rezone. We provided them with our own personal assessments, data on traffic and fire hazards, and even statements from the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Planning Staff Report that clearly supported our position. In other words, we made a thorough and strong case for denial. I knew ...

Afternoon all, We had a small victory last night. The Planning Commission voted to deny the rezone request at the corner of Branch Road and US441. The vote was 5:2. This is the second time the PC has voted to deny the rezone request by these developers. PLEASE plan to attend the Board of Commissioners meeting on March 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Courthouse. As you all know, the vote by the Planning Commission is simply a recommendation. The real and final vote will be by the BOC. They are the elected officials who need to be informed of your thoughts and concerns regarding commercial rezones in the southern region of Oconee County. Every type of development has its proper time and place. This is the essence of land use planning. This is why the county employs a planning department. Now is not the proper time to open up south Oconee for another convenience store and gas station (and the subsequent other commercial developments that will certainly follow). The northern regions of t...

you are not aware of Celestea Sharp’s award winning book, Bishop, Georgia: The Ancient Roots, Rich History and Enduring Spirit of a Southern Crossroads Community, here is your opportunity to purchase a copy and get it signed. This is an amazing reference book for anyone interested in Oconee County history. Thoroughly researched and cited, Celestea provides a historical narrative not just for Bishop, but for much of the county since so much history in the area is intertwined. See the details below. Pass this along to others who may be interested. BISHOP, GEORGIA: The Ancient Roots, Rich History and Enduring Spirit of a Southern Crossroads Community By Celestea Gentry Sharp SPONSORED BY TOWN OF BISHOP, GEORGIA The second printing from Wolfe Publishing will be available March 3, 2007. The Author will be signing books at the Trade-a-Book bookstore, 4991 Macon Highway (U.S. 441), downtown Bishop, Oconee County, on Saturday, March 3, 2007 from 2 to 6 pm. Books will be available at this...