NE Health District Adds 43 New COVID-19 Cases And One Death

Department of Community Health lists two new deaths in Oconee County.

Oconee Commissioners Get Project List For SPLOST 2021

County Administrator Justin Kirouac told the Board he is projecting $64.6 million in revenue from the tax voters will be asked to approve.

Early Voting Light; More Democratic Ballots Cast Absentee

Early voting continues on Tuesday and will run through June 5. Saturday voting is May 30.

Proposed County FY 21 Budget Anticipates Short-Term Revenue Drop

Oconee County Finance Director Wes Geddings proposed that the millage rate should remain unchanged.

Oconee Reminder: General Primary And Presidential Preference Primary Election June 9

As a reminder, the May 19 General Primary and Presidential Preference Primary election has moved to Tuesday, June 9.

Republicans Dominate Early Vote; Suit Seeks To Force DA Election

Deborah Gonzalez has asked a federal court to require the state to hold an election for the Oconee and Clarke counties District Attorney.

Disputes Between Governing Bodies In County Prominent In Forum

The Republic Party Forum included questions of candidates about disagreements between the School Board and the County Commission.

Oconee County Budget Public Hearing Will Be Held On May 19

The meeting will be held via Zoom.

County Adds Safety Procedures For Early Voting Starting May 18

Only four people will be allowed in waiting room. Workers will have Personal Protective Equipment.

Oconee Sheriff Candidates Want Deputies Out of Roadways

The two candidates said they didn't want to get in the middle of a dispute between the School Board and the County Commission.

Kemp Postpones DA Race; Oconee Issues 5,831 Mail-In Ballots

Kemp will now have the chance to appoint a district attorney who can serve until November of 2022 without an election.

County Government Operations To Return To Normal By May 14

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell told the commissioners that employees are being called back to work.

Watkinsville Council Approves Wire Park Project

Council approved a rezone request, an annexation petition, and an allocation of wastewater treatment capacity.

SPLOST Requests Explained At Virtual Town Hall Meeting

County Administrator Justin Kirouac went through the list of requests as part of the run up to the Nov. 3 vote on the sales tax.

Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Will Hold Virtual Town Hall Meeting On April 30

The Oconee County Courthouse Commission Chambers will discuss the 2021 Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

Dispute Between School Board And Board Of Commissioners Heats Up

In a meeting on Monday, Board Member Tim Burgess led a nearly 30-minute-long criticism of actions of the Board of Commissioners.

Oconee Town Hall Meeting Shows Demand For 2021 SPLOST Funds

The Town Hall Meeting last week also featured a presentation on Malcom Bridge Road improvements.

Gonzalez Asks Governor To Hold Special District Attorney Election

Philip Ashford announces he will run in a special election on Nov. 3 for the vacancy on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners.

Ossoff Says Fighting Corruption Key Theme Of His Senate Campaign

Jon Ossoff spoke at the March meeting of the Oconee County Democratic Party via remote audio connections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Kemp Extends Shelter In Place Order Through April 30

Kemp also renewed the statewide Public Health State of Emergency through May 13.

Oconee Commissioners Approve Bids For New Water Tank

The Commission is planning for a virtual Town Hall Meeting to discuss SPLOST projects and get citizen input.

Oconee County Government Workstations To Close On April 10 & 17 For Deep Cleaning

Closure on these days will allow additional cleaning of the facilities, as well as allow for reduction of traffic and public exposure.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting Focuses On Absentee Ballots And Census

Mokah Jasmine Johnson organized the session with Sara Tindall Ghazal and James Woodall.

Election Board Calls Special Election to Fill Commission Vacancy

The Board of Elections and Registration met by conference call to approve the call for a Special Election on Nov. 3

Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Will Hold Town Hall Meeting On April 14

Citizens will be given the opportunity to provide topics for discussion by submitting comments on the link below.

Oconee Industrial Development Authority Sells Acreage In Gateway

The Authority approved the sale of the lot in Gateway Technology and Business Park to Taylors Iron Company of Watkinsville.

COVID-19 Dominated Oconee Commission Agenda-Setting Meeting

Commission Chair John Daniell praised citizens who are complying with emergency orders and criticized those who are not social distancing.

Presidential Preference Primary Postponed & In-Person Early Voting Suspended

Secretary Raffensperger has moved the Presidential Preference Primary from March 24, 2020, to May 19.

Government And Community Leaders Briefed On Census And Census Day

Oconee County government and community leaders were given a target when they met early in early March as a lead-up to Census Day.

Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Extend Local Emergency Order Until April 26

All Oconee County Government buildings, including the Oconee County Courthouse and Annex, will remain closed to the public through April 26.

Oconee County Seeks Citizen Applicants For Advisory Boards, Committees

"The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is seeking citizen applicants for appointments to the following."

Commission Chair Explains Emergency Order, Live Streaming Plans

Board of Commissioners Chair John Daniell, in a nearly 35-minute interview, explained why he rejected a shelter in place order.

Oconee County's Board Of Commissioners Meeting To Be Livestreamed On March 31

The public is invited to watch the meeting via livestream or to watch the recording at a later time.

Oconee County's Planning Commission Meeting For April Has Been Cancelled

March and April Planning Commission cases will be heard at the May meeting.

Oconee County Board Of Commissioners Issues Local Emergency Order

Governor Brian Kemp signed an order declaring a State of Emergency for the State of Georgia.

COVID-19 Scrambles Already Complex Local Election Scene

Candidates and parties are changing strategies to adapt to the restrictions placed on social contact.

Watkinsville Mayor And Council At Odds Over City Charter

The Mayor and Council held two meetings last week. One went without major controversy. The second was full of conflict.

Democrats Dominated Local Balloting Before Primary Cancelled

Less than 5 percent of the county's registered voters cast a ballot in the first 11 days of early voting because of low Republican turnout.

Gun Coalition Inserts 2nd Amendment Into Local Elections

Two candidates for the Board of Commissioners Chair endorsed a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution.

School Board Delays Decision On Charging County To Use Facilities

After a lengthy discussion of a proposed new joint use agreement, the Board voted to table discussion until Board Chair Tom Odom is present