Oconee County Officials Optimistic Settlement Near in Pinewood Estates Water and Sewer Dispute

Oconee County officials told residents of Pinewood Estates South mobile home park tonight that the county is “cautiously optimistic” that it has reached a settlement with the owners of the park that will keep water flowing beyond the proposed Jan. 13, 2012, shutoff date.

County Attorney Daniell Haygood told me after the meeting that the county plans to call a meeting of the Board of Commissioners for Wednesday to review a tentative settlement.

Haygood said the breakthrough in the discussions came only today.

About 90 people, mostly residents of the mobile home park tucked behind the busy commercial development on Epps Bridge Parkway, attended the meeting at the Civic Center tonight.

As they had in a similar meeting in the same place on Nov. 28, they expressed frustration that they are caught in a dispute over water and sewer services between the owners of the park, Georgia General Kipling Land LLC, and the county. The park is located on Old Epps Bridge Road.

For more details and video clips from tonight's meeting, go to Oconee County Observations.