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Politics & Government

Watkinsville Budget Meeting Set for June 8

Council will look at considerations and welcome public comments about the proposed fiscal year 2012 budget.

Watkinsville's proposed $1.2 million budget for fiscal year 2012 was released at the city council meeting on Wednesday.

It is a 9.79 percent reduction from the previous year, but there no plans to raise taxes or cut services, city clerk Julie Sanders said on Friday.

"We will be more careful about things we purchase," she said.

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At the meeting, the city council discussed the purchase of a police vehicle, the funds for which come out of the general fund which the city has already saved.

Watkinsville Police Chief Lee O'Dillon discussed the options available to the city.

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“We could get by with a used one,” he said. “Basically you're pushing the problem down the road.”

O'Dillion said the oldest car in the force is an unmarked investigator's vehicle made in 1997 and with an odometer in the 200,000s. He said he'd like to sell the vehicle and move the next oldest car – a 2000 patrol car – to the less-demanding investigator's car position.

The cost of a new vehicle was budgeted at $21,000 and will be open for discussion at the budget meeting June 8, when council will examine a number of considerations.  Public comments will be welcomed before any action is taken, Sanders said on Friday.

In other news, , Oconee County resident and former president of Watkinsville's North Georgia Bank, spoke at the meeting about his decision to run for the 113th District House seat vacated by Hank Huckaby.

“I have been all about community service, civic service all my life,” Williams said after the meeting. “I understand politics but I'm not a political animal.”

Williams – who was elected a Watkinsville City Council member in 1976 at the age of 21 – said his past service with a slew of organizations and experience handling economic issues while president of a bank during hard financial times positions him well for the challenges of the seat he's vying for. Williams grew up in Watkinsville, lived in the city while attending the University of Georgia and served on the city council for six months before pursuing his career in south Georgia.

 

Other business from the city council meeting:

  • Tracey Stewart was granted a business license for Kumquat Mae Bakery Cafe, which is slated to open in June at 18 Barnett Shoals Road.

  • Dusty Schroeder, 18, discussed his Eagle Scout Project at . He earned his Eagle Scout Badge by organizing a project to prevent erosion in the park using 16 tons of rock. Said Mayor Joe Walter of Schroeder: “You symbolize what scouting is all about. You helped your community, you saved the city a considerable amount of money.”

  • Ben Jackson of the Oconee County Historical Society outlined plans to erect a sign at the Watkinsville Cemetery in time for its bicentennial. The sign is planned to include a stone column with a suspended sign.

  • Hayden Young from Boy Scout Troop 537 discussed options for building a chain fence around an area in the Watkinsville Cemetery to protect around 130 recently-discovered graves.

  • Larry and Teddy Dempsey of 1031 Taylors Drive were awarded the Watkinsville Beautiful Yard Award.

  • Walter said the trash collection day where the Republicans cleaned the right side of town and the Democrats cleaned the left side resulted in 15 bags of refuse, two of which were filled with items to be recycled.

  • Walter also said around 250 participants turned out for the Tame the Lion Bike Race. Said Walter of the various events around town: “This is what makes Watkinsville, Watkinsville. And that's important.”

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