County And School Governments Having Communication Problems

Oconee County government and Oconee County schools still are talking past each other regarding roundabouts at entrances to Malcom Bridge Middle School.

Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell sent an email message to all five Board of Education members late on Monday morning, explaining that the county probably will not begin construction until next summer on the planned roundabouts at the parent and bus entrances to the middle school.

At the Board of Education meeting on Monday evening, Operations Officer Brook Toole told the Board to expect the communication from Daniell.

None of the four members of the Board present acknowledged receiving Daniell’s email.

Instead, Board of Education Chair Tom Odom told Toole such a message from Daniell would involve the Board in day-to-day operations of the schools and “We don’t do day-to-day operations.”

The Board of Commissioners has scheduled a Town Hall Meeting for 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 at the Civic Center on Hog Mountain Road, which is a joint facility of the county and the school system, that will include a presentation on the Malcom Bridge Road roundabouts.

No one made any mention of that meeting at the Board of Education session on Monday.

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