Fourteen new jobs proposed for Oconee government

It’s possible Sheriff Crenshaw will be smiling if Oconee County Council sees fit to add positions to the sheriff’s office.  For a variety of reasons, Crenshaw has had trouble keeping and maintaining adequate numbers of uniformed officers in a growing county.  Of 14 new county jobs recommended, law enforcement would get 11 of them.  That’s the recommendation of Amanda Brock, county administrator.  Brock acknowledged yesterday that concerns over the continuing crime rate in the former textile community of Utica plays into the need for the sheriff to be able to deploy more manpower.  Among the 14 also would be an additional code enforcement officer that Brock sees as needed to help deal with various housing issues in the county.