Projects worthy of a county bond issue

Meeting as the budget committee, Oconee County council members made no decisions last night in what was called an “open discussion” of where the county should place its spending priorities for capital projects.  Last year the voters, during a referendum, said no to a long list of projects which they felt were unnecessary or too expensive.  But last night County Administrator Scott Moulder told the council that Auditor Ken Nix believes the county could bond out as much as $800 to $900 thousand dollars for capital projects without jeopardizing the county’s credit rating.  So, as budget chairwoman Edda Cammick called to order last night’s meeting, the question became which projects.  There was no shortage of suggestions, such as a new fire/rescue substation in the Bountyland Community and assistance to the Town of Salem’s efforts to extend a water line along highway 11.