Georgia Secretary of State Visits Board of Commissioners

Georgia voters will see a change to the in-person early voting process next year, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp.

"We are shortening the period of time for in-person voting from 45 days to 21 days due to feedback we had from local officials," Kemp said at Tuesday’s Paulding County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The change does not mean that everyone will have to vote in a 21-day window. "Absentee ballots can still be cast in the 45-day period, and this will give time for those in the military to vote," Kemp added.

Kemp also reported another change brought about due to feedback from elected officials. Nonpartisan races have been moved back to the summer voting, and if a runoff is required, that can be handled with any others that must be held.

Kemp reported that his department has established a nonpartisan Elections Advisory Council to assist in streamlining the elections process in Georgia. "The goal of the council is to reduce costs at the state and local levels and to streamline the election process," he said.

Statewide meetings, designed to give feedback to the council, are being held in four locations in the state, with one already completed in Atlanta.

For those unable to attend one of the public meetings, Kemp asked that citizens go to the department website to send comments and suggestions to the council.

Hiram Mayor Carmen Rollins requested financial support from the county for a gateway entrance sign on Highway 278 when entering Paulding from Cobb County.

Fairway Investments Group owns 22 acres on the right side of the highway and has given permission to use enough land for the sign and landscaping at no cost.

"It will cost Hiram about $40,000 for a sign without a planter box, irrigation and lighting. It would cost about $60,000 to include those features and to include the county, Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Board and the city of Dallas on the sign," Rollins said.

Rollins added that she thought it would be good to show the county emblem and also that of the city of Dallas if they were interested.

County Administrator Mike Jones responded, "There is a similar sign on Marietta Highway but it is not of the same quality as what is being proposed; I think the mayor's proposal looks good."

There was one bid award and one item of new business discussed in the work session. Both received unanimous approval in the afternoon commission meeting.

Purchasing Manager Jennifer Alford recommended approval of the low bid submitted by Hogan Construction Group for the Yorkville Fire Station at a cost of $809,000. Funds from the project will come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax monies.

Ten companies submitted bids on the project, including four from the county.

In new business, Jayson Phillips, county attorney, recommended action to extend the effective date of Resolution 11-06, regarding tower, antenna, and billboard operating permits.

Originally the permits were to start May 15, but Phillips informed commissioners that more time was needed to study the process to be used.

"During the past several weeks, various groups have brought concerns that we need more time to adequately review before implementing the process. We have also reached out to other counties to be sure that what we are doing is a good fit for Paulding," Phillips said.

During the morning work session, commissioners presented the National Women's Health Week Proclamation to Vannetta Bailey-Iddrisu.

Bailey-Iddrisu is with Delta Sigma Theta Inc., the largest female African-American sorority in the country. "We encourage women of all races and ages to seek out help needed for healthy eating," Bailey-Iddrisu said.

Also during the morning session, Aileen Culberson with Paulding County Animal Control was recognized as Employee for the Month of May 2011.

In the afternoon session, the board congratulated the Paulding County Extension Office and the Paulding County Today team for winning the Northwest District Marketing Award for the program "I Am PC 4-H."

Grace Garnier shared with the commissioners the two awards received in district competition in March.

Mary Carroll Sheffield shared information about 4-H activities in the county. There are 2,481 students are involved in 4-H in Paulding. Sixty-four recently participated in district achievement, with four going on to state competition. Two students from the county were also elected to the Northwest District Board, which represents 39 counties.