Davis realizes the government wheel turns slowly

The re-elected Oconee County councilman, Julian Davis, has been in government long enough to know that regardless of the importance and the excitement that a project creates, it can take time to see it become reality.  That’s exactly the case with the county governing board’s top priority—piped sewer to the county’s four miles of Interstate-85.  Undeveloped as much of the 85 acreage is, the sides of that highway have long been envisioned for the potential for the kinds of economic development that would mean new jobs and additional revenue for the county tax base.  In an interview today with JoAnn Johnson of the Oconee Chamber of Commerce, Davis remembered that it was one year ago when the council committed to the costs of extending sewer to the interstate.  The availability of that utility is seen as the carrot that’ll whet the appetite of the industrial rabbit.  But the time it takes to do the necessary engineering studies, Davis concedes, is frustrating.  But he can foresee pipe in the ground and available by midyear 2022. Davis describes the project pace as “like a slow-moving turtle.”   But he is optimistic.