Councilman second guesses his colleague’s vote

Lakeside Lodge at Hartwell Village is inside the district served by Glenn Hart.  But Hart strongly opposes a lease agreement with the federal government that would allow Lakeside Lodge to have a public access trail and courtesy dock on property behind the business on Lake Hartwell.  And, today, Hart said he spoke to “one of the people” at the Army Corps of Engineers who approves docks.  That federal worker, Hart says, told him the property in question is inside a yellow zone that precludes docks.  County Council Tuesday approved a staff request for Administrator Brock to propose a lease agreement with the corps “to facilitate appropriate shoreline designation with a public access trail and courtesy dock to be located adjacent to Hartwell Village property and Lakeside Lodge property on Lake Hartwell.”  Hart cast the only vote in opposition.  He and colleague Paul Cain debated the value to the county of Lakeside Lodge and Hartwell Village, with Cain calling the developments “a great asset” considering what they add to the county tax base and employment rolls.  A third councilman, Julian Davis, told Lakeside Lodge partner Steve Mudge that he’s “blown away” by what the development means to Oconee and noted there was an attempt on the part of the city of Clemson to start proceedings to annex the projects out of Oconee and into that Pickens County city.  Councilman Hart said the dock should be moved closer to the shopping center to allow the general public to benefit.  Lakeside’s Mudge says he and his partners are willing to move it.