AVOC will be discussing these items and more in future articles using information available for misguided policies of the last eight years. AVOC will show through background and articles how we wound up with “Ghost Towns” and exhausted Sewer and Water capacity;…………………….

AVOC

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December 12, 2008

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Backroom Deals still running Oconee County – election notwithstanding

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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Oconee County decisions are still resulting from backroom deals.   There are several examples that AVOC plans to discuss in detail in future articles.

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Some areas of concern:

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            1.         SPLOST 2009 projects are largely dedicated to projects often decided in backroom deals:

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G.O. Bond – Recreation                        $ 4.8 Million

Jail/EOC/911 Lease Purchase               $ 6.0 Million

Roads                                                 $ 8.0 Million

Water and Sewer                                  $ 6.8 Million

Fire                                                     $ 3.9 Million

Radio System                                       $ 3.2 Million

Parks/ Historic & Scenic Preservation     $ 1.1 Million

Farmland Protection                              $ 0.5 Million

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                        a.   Park Project that was kept secret for a year, passed by a slim majority with unknown total costs including overruns;

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.                       b.   Jail Lease Purchase debt incurred without a referendum;

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                        c.   A new radio system that is contingent on other communities participating and only recently discussed publicly;

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                        d.   What water and sewer projects?   Will it include the Hard Labor Creek project decided on a split vote?What sewer projects – money was set aside for Call’s Creek in the past but was it used?

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                        e.   What road projects?   Will a large part go for the Epps Centre “development road” as planned by Melvin Davis and Developer Bishop who bought the right of way long before any rezone?

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            2.         Contract Zoning or Settled Lawsuits:   When the commission turns down a project, it does not mean it is over.   If a lawsuit is filed, then backroom deals (Executive Sessions) are used to make the deal outside of the public review process; i.e.:  Union Church Road – Bishop (Old Porter Place); Fred Gunter Property on U S 441;  Daniels Bridge Road project recently approved on a 3- 1 vote.  

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            3.         Sewer Policies and costs:    The BOC was working on a $ 126 Million sewer plan but hit some bumps in the road.    Our existing sewer capacity was sold off in ‘backroom deals’ that went to some of our “Ghost Town” subdivisions (some of which have sizable property taxes owing for 2007-8).    The ill-advised policy of allowing sewer service to outlying residential policies has now been reversed in a quiet vote on December 2, 2008.

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            4.         Executive Sessions:   The BOC holds too many Executive Sessions.   It holds more in one year than in previous four year periods.   This is disturbing because it keeps the sunshine off the “backroom deals”.It was encouraging to see Jim Luke to vote against going into Executive Session at the December 2, 2008 meeting.

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            5.         Lack of Media Inquiry:   Too often ‘news reports’ deal only with canned press releases or statements by Chairman Davis without much detail and involving spins.

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AVOC will be discussing these items and more in future articles using information available for misguided policies of the last eight years.   AVOC will show through background and articles how we wound up with “Ghost Towns” and exhausted Sewer and Water capacity; and how we have let roads slide along with other governmental functions while pouring future bucks into a mega-park and jail etc and pet projects of some Commissioners.

Below are projects approved by voters in a 1999 SPLOST referendum.   See how they correspond to projects actually completed in later years.

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The Athens Banner-Herald

http://onlineathens.com/stories/110399/new_1103990003.shtml

November 3, 1999

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In Oconee County, tax passes by a wide margin  

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By Wayne Ford

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WATKINSVILLE -- Voters overwhelmingly approved a $ 13.5 million special-purpose, local-option sales tax by a 3-to-1 margin Tuesday in Oconee County.

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Oconee 1999 SPLOST PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

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The $ 13.5 million in projects the Oconee sales tax will fund:

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Agenda Setting Meeting of Board of Commissioners on November 25, 2008

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Executive Session:Commissioner Horton made the motion to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss litigation matters.Commissioner Hale seconded the motion.Commissioners Horton, Hale and Norris voted yes. Commissioner Luke voted no.  The motion passed.

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No action was taken in Executive Session.

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On motion by Commissioner Horton and second by Commissioner Norris, the Board adjourned Executive Session.On motion by Commissioner Horton and second by Commissioner Luke, the Board adjourned back into Regular Session.

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Rezone Request #5462 – Fred Gunter Property, LLC:  Commissioner Horton made the motion to postpone action on Rezone Request #5462 by Fred Gunter Property, LLC, +13.43 acres, located on U.S. Hwy. 441, LaVista Road and Chaddwyck Drive, to the January 6, 2008 meeting.Commissioner Hale seconded the motion.Commissioners Horton, Hale and Norris voted yes.Commissioner Luke voted no.The motion passed.

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Executive Session:On motion by Commissioner Luke and second by Commissioner Horton, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss land acquisition and personnel matters.No action was taken in Executive Session.

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On motion by Commissioner Luke and second by Commissioner Horton, the Board adjourned Executive Session.On motion by Commissioner Horton and second by Commissioner Luke, the Board adjourned back into Regular Session.

12-5-08 Oconee agrees to and approves a ‘deal’ for rezone on Daniells Bridge Road

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Oconee Observations

http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2008/12/oconee-agrees-to-daniells-bridge-road.html

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December 5, 2008

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Oconee Agrees to Daniells Bridge Road Rezone

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Settlement Has a Price
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By Lee Becker

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The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has decided to invest $ 400,000 in improvements for Daniells Bridge Road to justify its decision on Tuesday………………….

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12-6-08 Oconee Rezone issues not reported in detail

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The Athens Banner-Herald

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120608/let_364139212.shtml

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December 6, 2008                      LETTERS

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Rezoning story lacked details

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By Lee Becker

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The Banner-Herald's Thursday story on the Oconee County Commission's decision to rezone a 9-acre tract on Daniells Bridge Road for an office complex ("Commissioners reverse decision on development") left out a lot.

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Seven persons spoke against the rezone, as the story noted, but one of them presented petitions signed by 384 others.No one spoke in favor of the rezoning, and the attorney representing the property owners didn't show up until Oconee County Attorney Daniel Haygood telephoned to remind him………….

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8-25-08 Is Oconee Commission ‘Negotiating Rezones’ in Executive Session?

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The Oconee Enterprise

http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/articles/2008/08/22/news/doc48ac640507a4d266156940.txt

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August 20, 2008

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Contentious rezone near Chaddwyck headed for resolution

Grocery store coming?

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By Vinnie Williams

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The suit filed by Fred Gunter Property LLC and developer Jeff Bell on a controversial new shopping center proposed for U.S. 441 north, near Chaddwyck, appears headed for a resolution………………………….

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The scheduled hearing on Oct. 7 for the rezone request for the $ 76 million Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway might seem almost unnecessary.
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The state–at the urging of the county–already has decided to build a $ 26 million roadway to the project.
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The county, in an effort to facilitate the project, has loaned the state $ 5 million for right of way purchase for the roadway.
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The county also passed a beer and wine ordinance in April that any mall with seven restaurants and a 16-screen theater–which is what Epps Bridge Centre is supposed to contain–almost certainly needs to be successful……………………….

Oconee Observations By Lee Becker

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The scheduled hearing on Oct. 7 for the rezone request for the $ 76 million Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway might seem almost unnecessary.
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The state–at the urging of the county–already has decided to build a $ 26 million roadway to the project.
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The county, in an effort to facilitate the project, has loaned the state $ 5 million for right of way purchase for the roadway.
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The county also passed a beer and wine ordinance in April that any mall with seven restaurants and a 16-screen theater–which is what Epps Bridge Centre is supposed to contain–almost certainly needs to be successful……………………….