The Oconee Brief

Several residents raised concerns about the condition of Blackwell Bridge after photos circulated online. I take you beneath the bridge to show you exactly what we found after meeting with SCDOT engineers. We’ll separate fact from speculation, discuss the challenges facing South Carolina’s aging infrastructure, and talk about what comes next. Government should be transparent, and sometimes the bes...

Chairman Matthew Durham breaks down the July 7, 2026 Oconee County Council meeting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewdurham.substack.com

In this episode I break down a developer lawsuit, the primary, and why none of it is over. Don Mize won District 3 with 64 percent of the vote. But a Democrat is on the ballot in November, that seat is more split than people think, and it flips if Republicans stay home. I also cover Tuesday’s budget. It’s balanced, it’s revenue neutral, and it does not raise taxes. And I walk through the Chattooga...

Tonight I went live on Facebook to discuss what we uncovered during today’s Oconee County budget workshop. Not everyone is on Facebook, so I decided to share here. What we are finding is deeply concerning. For years, County Council appears to have been given financial reports and budget numbers that did not accurately reflect actual expenditures. Spending exceeded council-approved budgets by milli...

Just wrapped up the May 5, 2026 Oconee County Council meeting. In this episode I walk through what happened tonight and what it means going forward. We start with the three proclamations Council read at the top of the meeting — honoring the Walhalla High School Lady Razorbacks, recognizing Peace Officers Memorial Day, and observing the National Day of Prayer. Then we get into the policy. The big i...

Chairman Matthew Durham breaks down the April 21, 2026 Oconee County Council meeting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit matthewdurham.substack.com

I sit down with Oconee County Administrator Stewart Jones to break down his first 100 days on the job. We discuss what he found when he stepped in, the issues facing county government, and the actions being taken to restore accountability and fix what wasn’t working. This is a straightforward look at where we are and where we’re headed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w...