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Don Norris deserves some commendation but will be long remembered for ethics complaints and Fast Growth Mistakes of his last two terms. We wish Mr. Norris well as he “rides into the sunset”. Hopefully, Vinnie Williams will soon follow. Oconee County will be the better for these two departures.
AVOC
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January 16, 2009
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Long-time Oconee Commissioner Don Norris takes late and long Good-bye
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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc
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Don Norris left office as of December 31, 2008, after over 20 years of service. He was soundly defeated by John Daniell in the July 15, 2008 Primary (3433 to 2604 votes).
SEE: 7-15-08 Oconee County BOC Election Results
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Don Norris
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NORRIS DESERVES CREDIT AND BLAME
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Don Norris did a lot of good things and deserved some recognition. I thought Adam Thompson with the Athens Banner-Herald did a creditable and balanced report. Norris Reception 1-12-09 . Other reports have reflected favorably on Norris in the last several months. Then the January 14, 2009 edition of the Oconee Enterprise, Online Edition, carried his “farewell article” written by Vinnie Williams. They proceeded to do a typical “Vinnie Williams Hatchet Job” on me. From experience, I know the quotes ascribed to Norris were creations by Vinnie and were rooted in her hostile obsession with me. (For years, at least in private conversations, they could not stand each other!) I am aware that Norris is adversarial to me because I have been critical of many of his votes and actions of the last 8 years. I also supported his opponents in the 2004 and 2008 elections because of his policies.
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Don Norris did a lot of good things during his service, particularly during my three terms as Chairman. In the last eight years, he has been a primary mover in policies and actions that helped to diminish or tarnish many good things in the 1988-2000 Era. I do not intend to get personal as Don and Vinnie did. However, I do think some things need to be clarified.
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VINNIE WILLIAMS is a vindictive person.
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NORRIS FIRST ELECTED:
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Don Norris was first elected in 1988 to fill the unexpired term of the late William Wagner. Several ran for the vacancy in the special election, including Oconee Utility Chair Ida Surrency. Norris and Surrency were involved in a runoff that Norris won. Surrency did not give up and ran again against him in August for the new term. Norris then won after out-polling her three times. Norris then represented the County on the Utility Authority which he said (then) was a disaster and should be abolished.
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I was elected Chairman in the August 1988 Primary. I had served as County Attorney for eight years of the Choyce Johnson Administrations and attended most of the meetings of the BOC. Johnny Pritchett defeated Cokey Elder to be on that Board and Jay Campbell who defeated Woodson Montgomery. We joined Bubba Wilkes who had defeated James Marshall in the 1984 election.
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OCONEE COUNTY UTILITY AUTHORITY
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While the (89-92) Board had different personalities (all were strong-willed) we worked together and accomplished a lot. We reached a consensus to abolish the Utility Authority and let the county assume the assets and liabilities. This was done by unanimous resolution of the Board and support of the Oconee Legislative Delegation along with considerable citizen input.
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With the county involved in the Utilities, SPLOST funds and capital funds were used to make the Water and Sewer systems county wide. This is what led to the developments at Butler’s Crossing and on Epps Bridge Parkway. Some could argue whether that was wise in the long run since the lines have been extended over much of the county and led to suburban sprawl in recent years.
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MILESTONES OF NORRIS AND OTHERS:
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Don Norris deserves credit for supporting the following positive actions for Oconee County:
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1. Oconee’s active participation and leadership in the Regional Reservoir at Bear Creek in Jackson County; 5-24-02 Bear Creek Reservoir Attracts State-Wide Attention
10-19-02 Bear Creek Reservoir & Treatment Plant Dedicated
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2. Building the Oconee Civic Center, Oconee County Library, Health Department, John Brannen Building, Government Annex on Greensboro Highway; and the extensive Courthouse remodeling and expansion in 1996-8.
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3. Needed improvements for Parks and Recreation, including acquiring and commencement of development of Heritage Park (over 600 acres at Farmington), Bogart Youth Complex and significant improvement of Herman Michael Park;
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4. The paving and improving of 40-60 miles of dirt and substandard roads and streets;
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5. The completion of the Interchanges on GA 316 at U S 78 and at GA 53 and US 441, as opposed to at grade crossings;
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6. Expansion of the Watkinsville sewer system to allow sewer for commercial development at Butler’s Crossing and Epps Bridge;
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7. Support and cooperation in attracting Home Depot, Lowes, Krogers, Publix, Wal-Mart, Cracker Barrel etc (Kohls was also on the agenda by the end of 2000);
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8. Expansion of the Oconee County Fire Department and purchasing numerous pumpers, tankers and building new stations at Mars Hill (Barber Creek), High Shoals, Watkinsville and improvements to others;
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9. Extending the Water System from Watkinsville to Bogart and down GA 53 and building of the two large water storage tanks on Mars Hill Road that still provide the storage for the county water system;
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10. Improved County Planning and Code Enforcement that helped preserve and enhance the county landscape;
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11. Participated in numerous public meetings, annual Economic Development and Planning Conferences, Retreats etc;
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12. Many other things, including preserving the William Daniell House and Central School House;
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NORRIS CLOSE TO DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
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Don Norris told me about 12 years ago that he would not run again. However, he was enthusiastically supported by the Development Community. He had the support, financially and otherwise, of the Homebuilders and Realtors. He was a member of some of those groups and attended meetings. To some extent, it was a good liaison for the county. He was also on the Board of the Bank of Georgia at Butler’s Crossing. That bank made a lot of loans relating to the housing industry. After Bank of Georgia was purchased by Athens First, Don and a few others organized the North GA Bank in 2000. Don served as Chairman of the Board of that Bank that was very involved in commercial and residential lending in the following years.
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Over time, one could sense that Don was being pressured on a lot of issues involving Planning and Code Enforcement etc. Some were reasonable positions. Others seemed self-serving. He would become difficult to work with on those issues and insisted on his wishes. This did not happen on all matters but on several occasions that I recall. He sued the county tax assessors in the 1998 over his tax assessments. Earlier, he had sued the Bogart City Council over a rezone denial.
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NORRIS FAST GROWTH MISTAKES (2001-2008):
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1. Sewer service was extended to concentrated residential development as far flung as Malcom Bridge Road, exhausting our limited treated capacity of about 500,000 gallons that was acquired over years of efforts and investment of SPLOST funds;
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2. Water lines and capacity commitments were extended on a rapid basis resulting in exceeding our supplies, including Bear Creek Reservoir in less than four years;
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3. Surplus supply of commercial, office and rental facilities;
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4. Fast Growth policies that have resulted in “ghost towns” and “PVC Farms” in the county (Parkside between GA 53 and Mars Hill Road, Westland on Hwy 78 at Goat Farm Road and others); many of these ‘stopped developments’ are in default on taxes for two years; many have water and sewer capacity committed even though there are no paying customers;
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5. Straining our school system;
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6. Overloading and minimizing improvements to the county’s road system which was essentially a rural system paved in the 50’s and 60’s to get farmers and homeowners out of the “mud”.
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7. Long-term commitment of the County to the Walton County Reservoir Project that costs Hundreds of Millions $ and still is unproven; its costs will be a burden for many years; the project will involve pumping raw water 18 miles from High Shoals for treatment and then pumping treated water back for 18 miles!
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8. Spending, debt and continuing increases of property taxes, expanding county government and budget.
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NORRIS LEGACY
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The Fast Growth mistakes of the last eight years have exacerbated the current housing crisis and stressed the financial health of local banks. It will be a lasting legacy for Don Norris and Melvin Davis.
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Don Norris deserves some commendation but will be long remembered for ethics complaints and Fast Growth Mistakes of his last two terms. We wish Mr. Norris well as he “rides into the sunset”. Hopefully, Vinnie Williams will soon follow. Oconee County will be the better for these two departures.
FOR SOME MORE BACKGROUND ON NORRIS, SEE:
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5-5-04 Oconee County Opened Pandora’s Box With Residential Sewer Policy Change
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1-10-05 Oconee County Land Prices and Speculation May Be Bubble
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2-26-07 Oconee Population Projections and the Promoting and Enabling of Fast Growth
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6-8-08 “The Melvin Davis Record” – Secret Retreat and Beer & Wine Vote – Part 2
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12-6-04 Is the Oconee County Parkside (800 Lots on GA 53) a ‘Done Deal’?
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12-20-04 Oconee’s Behind the Scenes “Wheeling & Dealing’
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8-12-08 Thoughts and analysis of the results of Oconee’s 08 General Primary and Runoff
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'Megasite' sits undeveloped 3-2-03
http://onlineathens.com/stories/030203/new_20030302042.shtml
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Oconee residents may get vote on alcohol by the drink 02/27/02
http://onlineathens.com/stories/022702/new_0227020056.shtml
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Judge upholds decision to deny sewage permit 02/22/01
http://onlineathens.com/stories/022201/new_0222010022.shtml
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Clarke, Oconee waiting on plan for 'Orkin tract' 01/09/04
http://onlineathens.com/stories/010904/new_20040109060.shtml
For More Background and Insight on Vinnie Williams, SEE:
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7-22-02 Vinnie Williams and the Oconee Enterprise
http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=570&ENGINEsessID=ecd70f872f6c563cb4d892767a61c000
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1-25-04 Vinnie Williams Is A Narcissist Who Has Written Fiction Since the Forties
http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=857&ENGINEsessID=ecd70f872f6c563cb4d892767a61c000
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2-5-04 Vinnie Williams From A Different Perspective
http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=886&ENGINEsessID=ecd70f872f6c563cb4d892767a61c000
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2-13-04 Vinnie Williams Worried & Fretted About Oconee Arrow
http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=929&ENGINEsessID=ecd70f872f6c563cb4d892767a61c000
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3-2-04 Vinnie Williams, Parades & Oconee Citizens for Responsible Growth
http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=968&ENGINEsessID=ecd70f872f6c563cb4d892767a61c000
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