Council advances contested Conservation Bank amendment after recusal, public opposition

Oconee County Council advanced Ordinance 2025-12, an amendment to the county Conservation Bank ordinance (O.C. Code §§2-398—2-409), on second reading after a contentious exchange and a commissioner recusal.

Vice Chair Don Mize presided after Chairman Matthew Durham announced he was recusing himself from discussion and voting on the ordinance. Multiple residents spoke during the public comment period in opposition to the proposed amendment, and several written comments were submitted and included in the meeting backup materials.

Council debate included a failed effort by Councilman John Elliott to table the ordinance (the motion received no second). Councilman Thomas James then moved, and Councilman Glenn Hart seconded, a direction for staff to investigate and begin the process of returning any remaining Conservation Bank funds to Duke Energy; that motion passed 3–1, with Elliott opposed. Following that action, Hart moved and James seconded to approve Ordinance 2025-12 on second reading; the motion carried 3–1, with Elliott opposed.

The meeting record notes a recusal form for Chairman Durham is in the backup materials. County Attorney David Root provided procedural clarification during the sequence of motions. The public-comment list in the meeting packet shows at least a dozen residents addressing Council in opposition to Ordinance 2025-12, and several of those comments are identified as included in backup documents.

Council did not announce any immediate implementation steps for the ordinance amendment beyond the approved second reading. The item will follow the county’s ordinance process for subsequent readings or administrative steps as required.

The council adjourned after returning from an executive session later in the evening; no further action on this ordinance was recorded at adjournment.