County To Close Sewer Line To Protect Barber Creek

Oconee County will decommission its 10-inch force main sewer line running along Rocky Branch Road on its way to the Land Application Site near North Oconee High School to avoid future spills into Barber Creek.

Justin Kirouac, county administrator, announced the plans at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night.

Kirouac said the county has had numerous breaks in the line, including most recently on Jan. 1, and, although the line has been repaired, “It’s going to break again. It’s going to spill into Barber Creek if we just keep doing what we’re doing.”

The county has devised an alternate plan to divert the flow of sewage from the Land Application Site to the Calls Creek treatment plant on the northeast of Watkinsville.

Kirouac also recommended, and the Board approved, the appointment of Jody Woodall from Gwinnett County as Oconee County Public Works director, replacing Emil Beshara, who resigned late last year.

The Board also approved a rezone request to create a commercial shopping center on SR 316 at Mars Hill Road and another request to modify plans for amenities lots in Wildflower Meadows subdivision off Dials Mill Road in the far west of the county.

For more on the story, with a video of the Board of Commissioners meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: County Administrator Justin Kirouac.