Paulding County Board of Commissioners refinance bonds, approve new park, and tables motions from previous meeting. The BOC held their second and final meeting for January and approved four items of new business, but tabled three items from the Board’s previous January session. During the Board’s first meeting of 2015, held on January 13, Post 2 Commissioner Todd Pownall introduced a series of motions intended to stifle the application for a 139 certificate tied to the airport and also calling for changes in staffing on both the airport board and the Industrial Building Authority.

Pownall also introduced additional motions not included on the morning session agenda calling for the removal of three members of the airport authority Board and the two current members of the IBA and two more motions named replacements to both Boards.

Commission Chairman David Austin, in opposition to the move, warned of the potential law suits that could occur as a result of the action. Commissioner Carmichael pointed out that the FAA tends to be supportive of airport expansion with annual funding for maintenance among other things.

According to County Attorney Lani Skipper, the opinion rendered by council to the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) was that due to the term limits tied to all personnel changes contained within the Board’s three previous motions, none of the changes would be within the law to pursue. That information became available just before the Board held their meeting last week, and Board members were urged to read the two-page opinion before undertaking the voting session later that day. The Board tabled all three motions during last week’s voting session.

The Board also approved three Bid Awards prior to moving on to other agenda items including action to award to Hardy Chevrolet the purchase of 11 Chevrolet Caprices for a purchase price of $27,994 each at a total cost of $307,934, and another to award Peek Pavement Markings LLC in the amount of $61,250 for the 2015 RPM Project and The BOC approved the purchase of an International 4300 SBA 4x2 to the lowest bidder, Rush Centers of Georgia in the amount of $71,484.90.

Among New Business items voted on the Board voted to adopt Resolution 15-02 amending Resolution 14-25 at the request of the Georgia State Properties Commission for the purpose of constructing a Department of Drivers Services Customer Service Center in Paulding County. That facility is expected to be completed later this year.

The Board then voted to adopt Resolution 15-03 providing for the sale of the General Obligation Refunding Bond (Conservation Project), in the original principal amount of not to exceed $8,100,000; and another GORB for the (Courthouse–Government Complex Project), Series 2015, in the original principal amount not to exceed $20,500,000. The action was, essentially a re-financing opportunity taken in order to save about $4 million over time, according to financial spokespersons handling the transaction for the county. And the Board approved an action to authorize the Chairman to enter into a professional services contract in the approximate amount of $361,490 with Croy Engineering for engineering, design and architectural service for the planned Union Park to be located adjacent to Mulberry Rock Road and Billy Bullock Road.

Finally, the Board voted to adopt Resolution 15-04 requesting the Paulding County Delegation to the Georgia General Assembly not introduce any local legislation affecting the county without the request or approval of the Board of Commissioners.

This item, introduced by Commissioner Pownall, was as a result of some past actions taken by representatives of the delegation without knowledge of the entire Board, Pownall explained, though Chairman Austin said that what the motion sought was already understood by the delegation and that the Board is always kept informed and in the loop before any actions are undertaken. The motion passed during the voting session with three voting in favor.

By Richard Grant
Dallas New Era Staff Writer