OCC says yes to merger

Oconee County will fire up the ammunition needed to win at the game of economic development. The long-talked merger between the county Economic Development Office and the public-private partnership Oconee Alliance sailed through during last night’s County Council meeting, following presentations by County Administrator Scott Moulder and Alliance Chairman Robert Halfacre. The council, however, postponed the blending of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department with the Mountain Lakes Convention Visitors Bureau. There appeared to be not enough support on council for adding the CVB’s two employees as regular county employees.