“We are going to be here for a while”

If anyone thought  this morning’s special Oconee County Council meeting, the last one for 2022, would be a quick affair, the audience that packed the meeting chambers quickly dispelled any such notion.  Forty people signed up to speak to the county fathers, most of whom were there out of concern for a change to the county ordinance that addressed required lot sizes for building homes along lakes Keowee and Jocassee.  One-by-by they took the lectern to support the requirement that a builder may not construct a lake home on any lot smaller than one-half acre.  And their reasons varied but centered on density and environment considerations.  Before they spoke, acting council chairman Paul Cain requested David Root, the county attorney, to clarify a misunderstanding that may have brought out the lake residents in droves.  Cain, like his colleagues, was surprised to see the turnout and it prompted him to say, “We are going to be here a while.” Notwithstanding Root’s comments, lake residents came forth with their comments in support of ordinance 2022-24.  The ordinance found its way to the county council after its advisory planning commission voted 7-0 in favor.  Helping to make the meeting even longer is consideration of $640 thousand of Local Coronavirus money to apply to the construction of a Bountyland fire substation.  There’s final reading scheduled on an ordinance for a fee-in-place-of-tax and special source credit for Carolina Poly Inc.  And the council plans to reserve for executive session discussion of an economic development matter code-named “Project Terminus.”