That makes two

Echoing the sentiment of Oconee County Post Two Commissioner John Daniell, Jim Luke, the commissioner for Post One, told me that he supports a joint economic partnership with Athens-Clarke County and that Melvin Davis, the chairman of Oconee County, is responsible for the delay in its approval.

Luke had initial concerns when he first began reviewing the proposed partnership, but that leaders from both communities who comprised the committee overseeing the proposal fully addressed those concerns ...

I thought the original idea to study this proposal was just another exercise in futility. But when the mayor & commission appointed the committee members that were some of the brightest intelligent and successful members of our community and they took their assignment seriously and returned a report that gave our region grade of F on our ability to attract good business and jobs. Then they also offered a solution to improve our performance and agreed to continue their efforts to make us successful. I think we make a mistake when we ignore the advise of our most successful community members. Thus my decision to support their proposal.

Like Daniell, Luke expressed doubts about the viability of the multi-member partnerships Davis cited to me in an earlier interview. Instead, he preferred focusing on building a relationship with Athens-Clarke County ...

The original concept of this plan included other surrounding counties, but it was decided to start with two counties and to invite others after the kinks are worked out. We already are member of a multi county agreement that has met with little or no success. I believe we must first partner with our neighbor and build on any accomplishments.

And, also like Daniell, Luke expressed frustration over Davis's inability to move the proposal forward ...

Although this was an idea of Chairman Davis, he has withdrawn his support and it becomes difficult to make a project like this work without support from a counties chief elected official.