Oconee County Council elects Durham chair, sets 2025 committees and appointments

Matthew Durham was elected chair of Oconee County Council on Jan. 7, 2025, as the council reorganized its leadership and committee assignments for the year.

Council voted 5–0 to make Durham chair. Don Mize was approved as vice chair and Glenn Hart as chair pro tem; all three were nominated and confirmed without opposition. The council also reappointed Jennifer C. Adams as clerk to council and appointed County Attorney David Root to serve as council chaplain; both were approved 5–0.

Chair Durham presented the slate of committee assignments for 2025. The appointments include: Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health and Welfare — Don Mize (chair) with Glenn Hart and Matthew Durham; Planning and Economic Development — Thomas James (chair) with Don Mize and Glenn Hart; Real Estate, Facilities and Land Management — John Elliott (chair) with Don Mize and Thomas James; Transportation — Glenn Hart (chair) with Thomas James and John Elliott; and Budget, Finance, and Administration — Matthew Durham (chair) with all council members serving on the committee. Council approved the committee slate 5–0.

Durham also nominated the council’s external representatives: Glen Hart as the council representative to the SC Appalachian Council of Governments Board (with David Underwood named citizen representative and Wayne Wright named minority representative) and Don Mize as the Oconee Economic Alliance board member. The meeting calendar for 2025 was approved as submitted.

County Administrator Amanda F. Brock congratulated newly sworn and returning members and wished attendees a Happy New Year.

The reorganization concluded with routine approvals and no substantive debate. The council adjourned at 6:29 p.m.