Oconee County Commissioners Kill One Sewer Project But Keep Another Alive

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners last night killed the Zoom Bait/St. Mary’s Sewer Line project, but it only postponed a decision on the McNutt Creek Sewer Connector Phase I, which follows the same route along McNutt Creek from Jennings Mill Road to Kohl’s on Epps Bridge Parkway.

Zoom Bait/St. Mary’s was always a misnomer for the sewer line.

The line should have been named the Zoom Bait/St. Mary’s/Gordy sewer line, for the primary beneficiary of the project was a 114-acre tract behind Kohl’s that is owned by the Gordy family.

With its 4-0 vote last night, commissioners John Daniell, Margaret Hale, Chuck Horton and Jim Luke instructed County Administrative Officer Alan Theriault to turn down a state grant of federal funds the county had been awarded

Over the objections of BOC Chairman Melvin Davis, who does not get to vote unless there is a tie, the four decided to postpone a decision on the 18-inch McNutt Creek Sewer Connector Phase I.

It seemed for a bit that the vote would be without discussion, but then Chairman Davis decided to read a statement he had prepared on the topic. The other four commissioners then broke their silence to respond to Davis.

The differences of perspectives is captured in a video included with a posting at Oconee County Observations.

The posting also provides background on the decision last night.