Overeacting

The Oconee Enterprise has a story dealing with the ongoing discussions involving the restructing of Oconee County's government, and this one focuses on the 'communication' issue that has surfaced as the primary criticism of existing form of government.

Three of the four commissioners (John Daniell was not quoted) all offer an example of the poor communication which has frustrated them over the past year. And while I found Jim Luke's specific instance a valid one - the addition to an agenda regarding the acquisition of property - I have to say ... I'm just not seeing much of a problem with Chuck Horton's or Margaret Hale's.

Horton's problem stems from learning that water restrictions were eased in the local paper. While it can be argued that some advance notification would been considerate, it's not essential. If the power to ease those restructions rests in the hands of the commission chairman, then any consultation with colleagues would arguably be appreciated, but not required.

But it's Hale's that just made me scratch my head the most. Her contention is that Davis left town to go to Savannah to pick up a check without notifying her ... because, apparently, he needs a note to go somewhere.

I think the latter is a solid example of the micromanagement that will be heading Oconee County's way once the restructing is passed.

If the commissioners all feel as if Oconee County Commission Chairman Davis is a capable chairman - and they are all on record as saying they do - then why is the very structure of the local government being changed? Particularly if it's merely to make sure that a commissioner knows if the chairman going to leave town for a day trip for business ... a trip the chairman is completely within his legal bounds to do?

The more and more that folks learn about this, the more and more it seems to be nothing more than a classic overreaction to very basic problems (if we accept the 'communication' argument at face value ... or, as I've suggested, it's actually all about Davis).