The Banks County Board of Commissioners paved the way for hiring an economic director last week, although a time frame for hiring someone has not been discussed publicly.
The BOC and the Banks County Development Authority have both struggled over details in the contract for an economic development director. However, there has been no discussion on advertising for a person or when the position would be filled.
The BOC is apparently getting closer to moving forward with hiring someone as the contract for the new position was approved at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28. BOC chairman Gene Hart and commissioner Joe Barefoot both voted in favor of the contract. Rickey Cain was not present. The Development Authority approved the contract at an earlier meeting.
The job duties and other guidelines for the new position are included in the contract, but it does not state a specific salary. The salary issue has been a topic of debate of BOC and DA leaders for several months.
At one time, a $200,000 figure was mentioned as a budget for the department. This would not have been salary only. It would have included the entire budget for the department. This figure was not placed in the final contract. A salary and department budget will apparently be negotiated when someone is hired.
The contact is for five years and would begin on Dec. 31, 2008, which apparently means a person will be hired this year. The development authority and BOC would both be involved in the hiring of an economic director and the BOC would handle the supervision of the employee.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at the Oct. 28, the BOC:
•agreed to pay Ansley Communications $41,2050 for cabling at the courthouse. This is part of the renovation of the facility.
•agreed to pay Gunby Communications $10,650 for a redundant repeater for the 911 department. No bids were taken because this project is building onto an existing radio infrastructure that Gunby Communications maintains for the county.
•approved an update of the comprehensive plan. Several public hearings were held and the regional development center and state community affairs department signed off on the update. This plan must be approved in order for the county to maintain its “qualified local government status.”
•approved a solid waste plan and a records management plan.
•took no action on filling Albert Ward’s seat on the planning commission. Hart made a motion that Melinda Cochran fill the position but Barefoot did not second the motion. Barefoot then made a motion that Ward be reappointed but Hart didn’t second that motion. The BOC will reconsider the matter when commissioner Cain is present to break the tie.
•held a 30-minute closed session to discuss land acquisition. Members of the development authority also attended this closed-door meeting. No action was taken when the meeting was opened to the public.
1. YOU HAVE THREE MEN AND A BABY RUNNING THE ECONOMICS AND MAKING "WOULD BE" DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FOREVER.
2. YOU HAVE HIRED AUTHORITY, WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON... THEY CANNOT EVEN KEEP THERE OWN HOUSEHOLD IN ORDER.
3. IN CERTIN DEPTS, YOU HAVE CLOCK RIDERS THAT DONT HAVE TO PUNCH, THAT GET 40 HOURS WETHER THEY ARE THERE OR NOT.... WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE
........AND YET WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN, WHY BECOUSE THEY TALK THE B/S THAT CERTIN PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR
...THEY BURY THERE NOSE IN THE RIGHT BOTTOMS AND NEVER COME UP FOR AIR
...MOST OF THEM ARE NOT FROM HERE, DONT LIVE HERE AND THE ONLY REASON THEY WORK HERE IS BECOUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET BY WITH ANYTHING....I DO MEAN ANY THING. AND YES I HAVE THE PROOF TO BACK IT UP
THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE
AHHHHH THAT FEELS BETTER......
PART TWO TO COME STAY TUNED