Oconee County, GA Politics

Those of you who have been a part of this email list from the beginning know that our CSOC group started as a response to a proposed truck stop at the corner of Branch Road and US441. We were able to voice enough opposition that the proposed development was pulled by the developer a couple hours before the Planning Commission was to consider the plan. That was approximately 15 months ago. The developer then came back with a modified/reduced plan for a convenience store and gas station. That plan did go before the Planning Commission, which unanimously recommended denial of the rezone request. That was less than a year ago. The developer then withdrew the request before it could be heard by the BOC. Both times the Planning Department recommended denial. Now the developer, Frances Williams, is back once again. The rezone signs went up today. He’s asking for the same thing, which is a rezone from A-1 to B-2 for ~4 acres to build a convenience store and gas station....

For all those who are mad about Iowa having the perennial power of starting the Presidential parade with their century old caucus, check out this latest poll by the Des Moines Register concerning Iowans' shifting attitude about accepting different minorities as our leader.

Here is a well written but brief story about a Pro-Active Democratic U.S. Senator taking the bull by the horns on US Foriegn Policy and National Security in a positive, constructive manner making sense given the world's current political climate. I was almost afraid to click on some of the links at the end of the piece.

Jane Kidd for DPG Chair She sure enough won!

Democrat Sign in Carter Campaign HQ Originally uploaded by cjoh . Congrats to Jane Kidd and Michael Thurmond on their wins

To make it easier for folks to find the application, here’s the direct link. http://www.oconeecounty.com/Government/Planning/ComprehensivePlanPage.htm I have also attached the PDF document. Good luck! Cheers, Tony

The time is here folks! Oconee County is at a critical moment that will define its future. Pick up a copy of this week’s Oconee Enterprise. Take a look at the bottom of page 2. There is a VERY important public notice from the county. The Editor of the paper, Merritt Melancon, has an accompanying article on page 3. The county is now taking applications from citizens for appointment to the Stakeholders Advisory Committee for the Joint Comprehensive Plan for Oconee County and the Cities of Bishop, Bogart, North High Shoals, and Watkinsville. This committee will be charged with developing the overall comprehensive plan for the county, including relevant areas for residential/commercial/industrial development. This will include revamping the Future Land Use Map. This committee will literally define what Oconee County will become over the next 10 years, which is a critical time frame for determining whether we become another Gwinnett County or something much smarte...

Happy Belated New Year to everyone. While it is a fresh new year, the county still has its stale old problem………lack of a proper growth strategy. Forgive any duplicated posting regarding this info. It’s too important to miss even a single person. See the message below from Lee Becker. The meeting this Wednesday ( 7:00 p.m. , County Courthouse ) is of long-range significance for the county. As you have likely heard, the county received a harsh wake-up-call regarding the cost of building a reservoir off Barnett Shoals Road along the Oconee River . Since the current BOC seems determined to support sprawl across the entire county, they are now dowsing about for a new source of water. Cheers, Tony -----Original Message----- From: lbbecker@mindspring.com [mailto: lbbecker@mindspring.com ] Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 10:33 PM Subject: Two Meetings about Water Dear Friends: Two important meetings are taking place this week and next. At 7 ...

I wanted to pass along some sad news I received this weekend from Paul Poninski. ALP has begun some initial bulldozing for its development off US441 along the Apalachee River . This is not full scale “rape-and-scrape” of the land yet. It is so far just two dozers doing some initial clearing. However, this indicates that more intensive clearing may be coming soon. You will likely remember that this development was one that got approved with a 100 foot buffer on the flood plain, which was later weakened to 50 feet. So far this buffer has not been reduced any further. Yet, I should point out that the county has now completely abandoned any buffer on the flood plain. Since the State doesn’t require such a buffer, the county feels they don’t have the legal footing to mandate a buffer. This shows their willingness to appease the developers. The county has a history of unusually strong environmental standards such as the flood plain buffer and exceptional river buffe...

MINUTES OF MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL CITY OF WATKINSVILLE January 10, 2007 PRESENT: Mayor Luken, Council members Link, Purcell, Brodrick, Walsh and Walter and City Attorney Reitman. VISITORS: See attached sheet. QUORUM CHECK: Mayor Luken acknowledges a quorum is present. Mayor Luken also asks those with non-emergency cell phones to turn them off or down. All speakers are asked to approach the lectern and address Council. Mayor Luken also notes the passing away of former president, Gerald Ford. President Ford was a guy with great communication skills and ethical standards, per Mayor Luken. MINUTES: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2006 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. JOHN MURRAY: Tiffany Murray represented John Murray in his absence. Councilman Walter moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve a business license for Engi...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is the text of a message from Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with follow up information on the meeting with Banner Herald staff. Charles Baugh Dear Friends, About 30 people showed up at the Oconee County library last night to meet with the half dozen editors from the Athens Banner-Herald, who organized the gathering to get citizen input on the paper's coverage of Oconee County. I was encouraged when Executive Editor Jason Winders told me that the paper will assign a new reporter to cover the County five days a week, rather than the three days that former reporter Merritt Melancon spent on the County. Melancon, who has left the Banner-Herald to become editor of The Oconee Enterprise, did general assignment on Saturdays and Sundays. Her off days were Thursdays and Fridays. I also was pleased when Editorial Editor Jim Thompson asked me about the pending Georgia E...

Janurary 11, 2007 Contact: Christy Wilson (770) 314-2487 Dear Concerned Citizen, This notice is for a Town Hall Meeting that Representative Keith Heard and Doug McKillip will be holding on Wednesday 17, 2007 in the auditorium of the Athens Clarke County Library located at 2025 Baxter Street . At this meeting, Representative Heard and Representative McKillip will be discussing important issues that influence you and your community. We encourage all of you to attend. Sincerely, Representative Keith Heard District 114 Representative Doug McKillip District 115 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Christy Wilson January 11, 2007 (770) 314-2487 REPRESENTATIVE KEITH HEARD AND REPRESENTATIVE DOUG MCKILLIP WILL HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 17, 2007 BEGINNING AT 6:30 PM IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE ATHE...

AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE January 10, 2007 CALL TO ORDER QUORUM CHECK WATKINSVILLE BEAUTIFUL YARD AWARD MINUTES APPEARANCES 1. John Russell Murray – business license – Engineered Site Solutions – 74 Thrasher Drive 2. Mandy Felton – business license – The Purple Paintbrush Kids Art Studio – 8 School Street 3. Justin Duncan – business license – Southern Floor Covering – 395 Jerry Smith Drive , Suite A 4. Donna Wood – business license – Stage Door – 73 N. Main Street 5. Rene Hammond – building permit – 20’ x 28’ addition to existing residence – 1041 Williamsburg Place 6. Norm Grayson – sewer request – 1 N. Third Street 7. Scott Boswell – beer and wine license for Floyd’s Grill – 64 N. Main Street ADMINISTRATION MAYOR’S REPORT CITIZEN’S COMMENTS OLD BUSINESS 1. Consider concept plan and future land use map. ...

BREAKING NEWS! It's shocking but true - a bill calling for a total abortion ban will receive a public hearing on the second day of the legislative session! The General Assembly meeting notice was just posted on Saturday, but apparently, the anti-choice crowd has been planning this for some time. This bill is laced with Georgia Right to Life language, an extremist, religious group that does not represent the majority of voters. Public Meeting on House Bill 1 Tuesday, January 9th 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM Room 606 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building If you'd like to read this bill, go to: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/fulltext/hb1.htm Please note the use of junk science such as: abortions increase tobacco smoking and reduce the tax base??? The bill would make physicians guilty of a felony, and would not allow an abortion even in the case of rape, incest, or detriment to the health of the woman. Even having an abortion to save the life of the pregnant...

Olbermann on Bush's Sacrificial Surge & Accelerate Plan Keith Olbermann once again nails President Bush on his irresponsible and perhaps illegal effort to kill more American soldiers

Last night I went to Gautreau's an ordered a beer with my three appetizers in Watkinsville. While this might seem routine in Athens-Clarke, it represents nothing short of a historic occassion in the previously dry town of Watkinsville . You can still buy beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores outside of the municipalities' city limits. Now Watkinsville has put an end to brown bagging at the restaurants. I ate at the bar and gazed at a dozen pedestrian bottles of wine and more than three dozen different hot sauces. Two gentlemen sitting next to me did not have their IDs and did not drink. The woman behind the bar had already rejected a fake ID as well. She checked mine also. She seemed to think that liquor was imminent, but I think that the Board of Commissioners will follow suit soon enough and allow beer and wine in restaurants outside the city limits.

Friends, Tonight at 7pm the newly elected, returning Commissioners and I will be sworn into office. Please join us at City Hall at 7pm either in person or on the government Channel 7 on Charter if you have cable. We would love to have a crowd - these cyclical moments in the life of the community are special and historic as we usher in a new year along with a new Mayor & Commission. They are made all the more meaningful when friends and supporters attend the festivities. Along with the swearing in ceremony there will be a few procedural votes as well as three items of business. The meeting will be relatively short. Happy New Year and I hope to see many of you tonight. :-) heidi

9/11 Truth: What Happened to WTC Building 7 An interesting look back to the part of the 9/11/01 no one wants to talk about, Rudy

OK, so I challenge anyone to tell us what we are doing in Iraq now that Saddam Hussein has been executed. If President Bush would just tell the American people, "OK, we wanted to take out Saddam but we really just wanted to get a foothold in the Mideast so we can have the oil to go with the Kazahkstan natural gas." All wars are economic in nature. Grant Kurdistan a sovereign nationhood tomorrow. Bring the troops home by 2008. Let the Shi'ia and the Sunnis have their own sectors.

Please reflect on the year that was in Oconee County, Georgia. This name challenged county decided aliens were no longer welcome to gather at shelter we built at the Home Depot. Houses no longer can be built here for under $125,000. We have planted more generic strip malls and developments than the sewer and other infrastructure can handle. The main road arteries like Mars Hill Road and 441 are no longer worthy of consideration for expansion. The beer and wine in Watkinsville restaurants next week leaves numerous Athens eateries lining up if only the county follows step. The black granite edifice to man's inhumanity to man will clash with the soccer and softball fields in the Community Complex. Meanwhile any plans for public swimming facilities gets to sit in the back of the bus, whoops we still don't have any public transportation, or decent sidewalks, or functional bike paths. We now have more high schools than Clarke County. We have better golf courses too. Better Christmas...