Politics & Government
Oconee County Commissioners Agree To Pay For Work On Rejected Plan To Reconnect Old Mars Hill Road To Mars Hill Road
The commissioners agreed to put payment of a $44,550 change order for Moreland Altobelli on the consent agenda for July 5.
Oconee County Commissioners tentatively agreed on Tuesday night to pay the $10,000 bill for the design work ordered up by Chairman Melvin Davis without Commission approval last year to connect Old Mars Hill Road with Mars Hill Road.
The Commission ultimately rejected Davis’ plans, but not before county Public Works Director Emil Beshara had requested that Moreland Altobelli Associates Inc. alter the design for the roadway.
Davis pressured Beshara and county Administrative Officer Jeff Benko to order the changes in the roadway, saying it was in response to a request by the late Perry Aycock, who owned land on Old Mars Hill Road. At least one other land owner would have benefitted from the change.
The commissioners agreed at the meeting on Tuesday to put payment of a $44,550 change order for Moreland Altobelli on the consent agenda for final action on July 5. Included in that amount is the nearly $10,000 for the rejected Old Mars Hill Road plans.
For more on the story, go to Oconee County Observations.
Pictured: BOC Chairman Melvin Davis.