Commissioners Approve Election Contract Amendment

A hearing will be held later this month to decide if Hiram City Council candidate George D.D. Turner meets residency requirements to remain on the November ballot.

The hearing will go forward following Paulding commissioners’ approval Thursday of an amendment to a contract with the city of Hiram to allow the county to conduct municipal elections. The amendment was submitted to allow the Paulding County Board of Elections to conduct hearings arising from challenges to candidate qualifications.

Industrial Building Authority Director Blake Swafford addressed the board regarding the IBA Series 2011 Bond-related projects, covering all three of projects the county has underway in connection with the series A and B bonds—the construction at the Thompson Road site in Hiram of what will serve as a production-ready film facility, another project to construct a commercial hangar at the airport, and the installation of a water tank at the airport. Swafford reported that all three projects are on budget and on schedule.

He said that the 43 percent of the budget already expended includes the entire cost of the building shell and the special soundproofing material that will be used for the film facility project. Swafford said two film production groups have already visited the site while it is being constructed.

Swafford told the board that the analysis and size of the water tank that will needed at the airport has been done. Regarding the hangar project, Swafford said that while there has been some criticism as to the speculative nature of building the hangar while finding its occupant, it is not something they can discuss while working with prospective clients who want their information kept confidential, but he said he was prepared to make an announcement.

Swafford and a representative from the Paulding Jet Center (PJC) announced that PJC had acquired Aerodynamics Inc. and its subsidiary ADI Shuttle Group late last month. ADI will open a metro Atlanta area operation at Paulding County Northwest Atlanta airport in Paulding later this year with two turbine aircraft providing charter service to the metro area. In early 2012, ADI expects to open a maintenance facility, which will provide turbine aircraft maintenance, avionics and interiors. Over the next three years, the company expects to expand to 10-based aircraft and 35 employees.

In other business, commissioners:

Authorize Chairman David Austin to approve the contract increase of $14,210 to Still Construction Inc., contractor for the Lane Cemetery Road intersection project.

• Adopted Resolution 11-25 granting express written approval as required by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division for the expansion of the existing Douglas County Cedar Mountain Landfill located within the half-mile county-line buffer with Douglas County.
• Approve two change orders for a combined net increase in project cost of $44,625 for the Silver Comet Trail construction contract with Plateau Construction.
• Voted to enter into an architecture, engineering and construction management services agreement with Croft & Associates for the renovation of the Paulding County EOC/911 facility located within the Regions Bank building for $76,900. According to County Administrator Michael Jones, Fire Chief Earwood and E-911 Director David Mumford had determined that renovation of the Regions building would be the best option for improving the county’s 911 facilities.   

The board also recognized Jody Martin with the chairman’s office as the Employee of the Month for September, while Leslie Ashworth with the marshal’s bureau was presented the Public Safety Appreciation Award for outstanding performance.