BOC Approves Furloughs, Sunday Sales Referendum

Paulding County employees will see furlough days again next year, though they'll be facing fewer than this year.

The Board of Commissioners on Wednesday evening approved four days for fiscal year 2013 when county offices will be closed and employees will be furloughed. The furlough days include two in 2012 -- Nov. 12 and Dec. 31 -- and two in 2013 -- Feb. 18 and May 24.

In fiscal year 2011, county employees saw 10 furlough days, and in fiscal year 2012, county employees took seven furlough days, which was expected to save $566,000.

"I am glad to see the number of furlough days shrinking," County Administrator Mike Jones said on Thursday afternoon. "I am hopeful this will be the last year we see furlough days."

The BOC also approved a referendum allowing county residents to vote on the issue of the sale of packaged alcohol on Sundays in March. Last month, commissioners discovered they would not be able to consider a resolution that would establish a voter referendum on whether to allow package sales of alcohol on Sundays, as they learned that state regulations would prevent them from putting the issue in front of voters this year.

Commissioners also approved a request by CCD Partners, LLC, to amend a stipulation for a proposed residential development on Cedarcrest Road near Graves Road, which would enable developers to reduce the amount of heated square footage from 2,200 square feet to 1,800 square feet.

With the approval come 31 stipulations, which include building each unit as a single story with a minimum of 2,200 square feet and a two-car garage. Floor plans for the development also must be approved by the county's Planning and Zoning Department before building permits are issued.

In other business, the board:

• Adopted a resolution confirming the sale of bonds to refinance the IBA 2003 A, B and C issues;
• Adopted fiscal year 2012 budget amendments;
• And appointed Judy Helton, Barbara Ragsdale, Homer R. Murray, Connie R. Hayes and Larry Pillips as alternate members of the Board of Equalization.