Courthouse loses satellite parking spaces

At times, depending on how busy the day may be for the Oconee Courthouse, parking is at a premium in the courthouse vicinity.  And that can present problems for those who have trouble walking from their cars to the courthouse entrance.  The parking situation worsened this week when the owner of a corner lot at Short and S. Tugaloo streets cordoned off the property for parking.  The grassy lot changed hands recently, and the new owner of the property, the Museum of the Cherokee, has been advised to protect itself against potential legal complications that could arise if someone were hurt on the property.  Years ago, some on Oconee County Council favored demolishing the old courthouse and converting the property there into parking for the replacement courthouse.  But, in recent time, the county has made that property available to a builder who wants to build a hotel there, but continues to search for tax breaks to make that happen.