Jay Paul

County administrator Jason Lewis (left) and Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, discuss a road repair project last year. Lewis said county officials are working to make the government more transparent for residents. (ZACH LEGGIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

County administrator Jason Lewis (left) and Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, discuss a road repair project last year. Lewis said county officials are working to make the government more transparent for residents. (ZACH LEGGIO/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Officials aim to overcome mistrust with accessibility

Bridget Goodman
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Oglethorpe County officials say they are taking steps to increase transparency and build trust with residents.  “All governments need that ability for citizens to engage with them,” said Jason Lewis, county administrator.
Residents reported concerns about the smell from soil amendments near the intersection of Crawford-Smithonia and Suddeth roads in December. The odor has plagued the county for years. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Residents reported concerns about the smell from soil amendments near the intersection of Crawford-Smithonia and Suddeth roads in December. The odor has plagued the county for years. (Dakota Meeks/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Sludge still smelly issue for residents

Dakota Meeks
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Living in the country means experiencing all sorts of smells. But last December, Lisa Stacy noticed an odor unlike any other. It permeated her nose and clothes. “Initially, I really thought a deer got hit by a car,” Stacy said.
Alan Smith, who lives on Washington Road, voiced his issues with a rezone request, which helped persuade the commissioners to table it until next month. It was one of two rezone requests on the agenda, both of which were pushed back. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Alan Smith, who lives on Washington Road, voiced his issues with a rezone request, which helped persuade the commissioners to table it until next month. It was one of two rezone requests on the agenda, both of which were pushed back. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

BOC accepts $1 million bid for road improvements

Bridget Goodman
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners accepted a $1.04 million bid from Allied Paving Contractors in Pendergrass for road improvements on Monday night.
Oglethorpe County commissioners are (from left): Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman. They unanimously voted to pass the new rules of decorum on Jan. 5. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Oglethorpe County commissioners are (from left): Andy Saxon, David Clark, Howard Sanders, Will Brown and Tracy Norman. They unanimously voted to pass the new rules of decorum on Jan. 5. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Commissioners set new rules for meeting behavior

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
The rules of decorum unanimously approved at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting were passed to help establish “orderly, respectful and efficient conduct of all public meetings.”  The rules were posted to Oglethorpe County’s website after two edits, requested by commissioners, were made.
Jay Paul listens to a resident at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Paul, who is in his second term as chairman of the Board of Commissioners, would like to secure a landfill expansion permit this year. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Jay Paul listens to a resident at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Paul, who is in his second term as chairman of the Board of Commissioners, would like to secure a landfill expansion permit this year. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Paul focuses on protecting county’s ‘quality of life’

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Jay Paul has a to-do list for the upcoming year, but his top priority is something bigger.  “My goal is to protect and to preserve our quality of life,” said Paul, chair of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners David Clarke and Howard Sanders at the BOC meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Commissioners David Clarke and Howard Sanders at the BOC meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Photo/Andy Johnston)

Proposed ordinance silenced in meeting

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
The proposed noise ordinance that led residents to pack the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday went quietly away.
There were 224 accidents along the corridor from 2013-23, resulting in 80 incidents with injury and one fatality, according to GDOT. It warns that without the project, “safety and traffic operations are not expected to improve along the corridor.” (Graphic/Mia Fishman)

There were 224 accidents along the corridor from 2013-23, resulting in 80 incidents with injury and one fatality, according to GDOT. It warns that without the project, “safety and traffic operations are not expected to improve along the corridor.” (Graphic/Mia Fishman)

GDOT studies proposed turn lane on US 78

Mia Fishman
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has a plan to reconfigure a portion of U.S. Highway 78 by adding a two-way left turn lane, a center lane that both directions of traffic would be able to use for left turns. The lane would stretch 2.
A “No Thru Trucks” sign is attached to this county limits sign on Parkview Road, indicating that large trucks are not allowed to drive there. Similar signs will be posted on roads impacted by the new ordinance, passed by the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners on May 5. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

A “No Thru Trucks” sign is attached to this county limits sign on Parkview Road, indicating that large trucks are not allowed to drive there. Similar signs will be posted on roads impacted by the new ordinance, passed by the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners on May 5. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

More county roads off limits to big trucks

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
A new truck ordinance is in effect following the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners meeting last week.
District 3 Commissioner David Clark

District 3 Commissioner David Clark

BOC voices concern over library book

Avi Young
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Members of the Board of Commissioners said they want a specific book removed from the Oglethorpe County Library due to inappropriate content during a heated meeting Monday night.   Paul said the main concern is with “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M.