Putnam County Board of Commissioners

Putnam County District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey remains skeptical of “payments in lieu of taxes” for proposed developments. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey remains skeptical of “payments in lieu of taxes” for proposed developments. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Commissioners debate PDA tax exemption resolution

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 11, 2025
A lengthy, occasionally contentious discussion over the Putnam Development Authority (PDA) concluded the Putnam County Board of Commissioners meeting on Friday.
District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

District 1 Commissioner Tom McElhenney introduced the “Gary McElhenney Resolution,” named after his father who passed away in May 2024 while holding the same commission seat, which would allow the board to appoint a replacement in a similar situation. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Commissioners approve New Phoenix gas station

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Putnam County Commission met Nov. 18 to address a wide-ranging agenda, beginning with a rezoning request from Imperial Park Holdings LLC to convert three acres at 301 New Phoenix Road from agricultural (AG) to commercial (C-1).
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

C-PACE creates controversy for county commission

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
A relatively routine Putnam County Commission meeting turned unexpectedly contentious Nov. 18 when District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey sharply criticized county leadership over transparency related to a significant financing action involving the county’s development authority.According to a U.S....
Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp holds a proclamation regarding Operation Green Light Putnam County, which encourages local citizens from Nov. 4-11, to “recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence.” IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp holds a proclamation regarding Operation Green Light Putnam County, which encourages local citizens from Nov. 4-11, to “recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence.” IAN TOCHER/Staff

BOC considers rezoning, rebates, rollback rates

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 30, 2025
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 21 for its second of two regularly scheduled monthly meetings.The evening opened with a zoning item, with commissioners considering whether to allow Tyler and Allie Mathis to withdraw, without prejudice, their request to rezone an acre at 166 Dennis...
“My Verizon phone and AT&T phone through work don’t really work at her house,” Hassel Weems told the Putnam County Commission, referring to his mother’s property where she wants to lease a small area to a cellular tower builder. “Those people can’t call 911 if the power is out.” CONTRIBUTED

“My Verizon phone and AT&T phone through work don’t really work at her house,” Hassel Weems told the Putnam County Commission, referring to his mother’s property where she wants to lease a small area to a cellular tower builder. “Those people can’t call 911 if the power is out.” CONTRIBUTED

Putnam BOC approves another new cell tower

Ian Tocher
Thursday, September 25, 2025
The Sept. 16 Putnam County Commission meeting opened with a Planning and Zoning hearing on a request to build a new 255-foot cell tower on land owned by 83-year-old BJ Weems, whose family has been on the property at 1103 Oconee Springs Road for nearly a century.The conditional use request, filed on...
Allen Carlton McMichael

Allen Carlton McMichael

Putnam BOC addresses many, varied concerns

Ian Tocher
Thursday, June 19, 2025
The Putnam County Commission met on June 6 for a wide-ranging engagement.Even before the agenda was approved, a 10-minute discussion ensued over whether the commission needed to approve the commissioner signing off on the Putnam Development Authority's agreement to provide tax abatements regarding...
Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute addresses local politicians on Monday, describing the history and potential of a local SPLOST. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute addresses local politicians on Monday, describing the history and potential of a local SPLOST. IAN TOCHER/Staff

SPLOST 10 resurrected in joint city-county meeting

Ian Tocher
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Mayor John Reid and Chairman Bill Sharp presided over a relatively rare joint meeting of the City of Eatonton Council and Putnam County Commission at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss reintroducing SPLOST 10 to pay for multiple municipal and countywide projects and expenses.A one-percent Special Local...
Putnam County School Superintendent Derick Austin (left) and Eatonton Mayor John Reid converse about the old elementary school building. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Putnam County School Superintendent Derick Austin (left) and Eatonton Mayor John Reid converse about the old elementary school building. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

BOE, Eatonton mayor discuss old school building

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Now that a new building is being constructed for Putnam County Elementary School, what will become of the old one once it’s vacated?At their work session Monday evening, Putnam County Board of Education members learned that the city of Eatonton is monitoring the school building.
Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown (left) and challenger Richard Garrett spoke before interested voters last Thursday at the Butler-Baker school in Eatonton. A follow-up faceoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at The Plaza Arts Center. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown (left) and challenger Richard Garrett spoke before interested voters last Thursday at the Butler-Baker school in Eatonton. A follow-up faceoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at The Plaza Arts Center. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Putnam BOC candidates face voters in lively Q&A

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Incumbent Republican Putnam County District 2 Commissioner Daniel Brown and Democratic challenger Richard Garrett faced approximately two dozen engaged voters last Thursday from the stage at the decommissioned Butler-Baker school in Eatonton.Both candidates provided their thoughts and opinions on...
Prior to the start of the Oct. 4 Putnam County Commission meeting, Commission Chairman Bill Sharp (holding frame) invited County Human Resources Director Cynthia Miller to join him and (l-r) Commissioners Daniel Brown, Jeff Wooten, and Stephen Hersey in a proclamation recognizing the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Prior to the start of the Oct. 4 Putnam County Commission meeting, Commission Chairman Bill Sharp (holding frame) invited County Human Resources Director Cynthia Miller to join him and (l-r) Commissioners Daniel Brown, Jeff Wooten, and Stephen Hersey in a proclamation recognizing the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Putnam County commissioners discuss STR hotel-motel tax

Ian Tocher
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The Putnam County Commission held its first of two regularly scheduled monthly meetings on Oct. 4.Public comments included giving thanks to county workers for cleaning up after Hurricane Helene, a citizen’s request for help with road repairs near their home, multiple SPLOST 10 oppositions, a...
Subscribe to