The ongoing election for chairman of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners spilled over into the agenda-setting meeting Tuesday night as the Board debated a proposal to give cost-of-living wage increases to employees of three departments funded by the state but supplemented by the county.

In the end, the Board voted unanimously to give the salary adjustments to staff members in the Superior Court, County Extension and District Attorneys Office, but only after Commissioners Jim Luke and John Daniell criticized BOC Chairman Melvin Davis for bringing the issue up in the last week of the election.

“Frankly I believe you were pulling a political trick by doing that,” Luke said.

“Similar to what you are doing tonight,” Davis responded.

“Maybe so,” Luke said.

“Here we are, July 24, seven days before the polls close on the election," Daniell said. "I just find that disturbing, aggravating and totally unnecessary.”

For details on the controversy, with video clips of the exchanges, go to Oconee County Observations.