Abbreviated meeting tonight

In the aftermath of the death of one of its members, Oconee County Council will conduct only time sensitive business during its meeting at 6 o’clock tonight at the county administrative offices in Walhalla. District Three Councilman Archie Barron died yesterday afternoon at the hospital. The agenda amended for tonight’s abbreviated meeting reduces from three to one the number pages of business items. What’s left includes discussion on an action item to approve a second change order for the project to build the new jail. County staff recommends an additional $275 thousand for the company Wakefield Beasley and Associates. The Atlanta company has been retained since 2011 to provide architectural/engineering services for the project. The council recently approved a new plan for the jail, and this $275 thousand change order is proposed to satisfy what’s called jail option #2.