A manufacturing company engineer will serve Oconee County as a new member of the county planning commission. County Council last night approved the appointment of William “Bud” Childress to represent District Four. Childress was nominated by District Four councilman and council chair Joel Thrift, who said Childress, employed by Schneider Electric, is interested in giving something back to his community. The planning commission is a part-time body that recommends zoning changes and general planning policy.