Oconee County Commissioners Grant Appeal To Briarwood Baptist, Move Forward On Old Jail Demolition

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners last (Tuesday) night approved the appeal by Briarwood Baptist Church of a construction moratorium imposed by the county, allowing the church to go forward with expansion plans at its Hog Mountain Road location.

The Commissioners also agreed to go forward with plans for demolition of the Old Jail at the rear of the Courthouse in Watkinsville to allow for expansion of the Courthouse.

The Commissioners also agreed to a rezone of nearly 5 acres on High Shoals Road between Bishop and North High Shoals to allow the owners to continue to use a horse stable as a reception hall.

The Board took no action on–but raised no objections to–a proposal that the county sell $15 million in bonds to finance expansion of the Calls Creek Waterwater Reclamation Facility and construction of an elevated storage facility to accommodate a new school.

The hearing of the appeal for Briarwood Baptist Church brought out a large crowd, overflowing the Commission Chamber in the Courthouse in Watkinsville. The crowd applauded and filed out of the room after the unanimous vote of the Commission.

For more on this story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Hearing On Construction Moratorium.