JDA Formation Gets Nod From County Commissioners

(Updated 5:45 p.m.) Earlier this afternoon we spoke with Blake Swafford, executive director of the Paulding County Industrial Building Authority, and Jamie Gilbert, executive director of Paulding County Economic Development Inc., on the formation of the new joint development authority and its impact on an existing JDA.

Swafford: “The state has created the ability to do joint development authorities so that counties can work together for different economic development projects that benefit those counties. We have an existing joint development authority, the West Georgia Development Authority, that Jamie will be working more with than I will, and that’s focused more on marketing and economic development initiatives that are specific to the western Georgia communities.”

“Automobile, advanced manufacturing, automation and equipment, those types of business that we think will be successful in west Georgia and where we have a history of those companies operating,” Gilbert added, referring to the West Georgia Development Authority. “That development authority is focused on some joint marketing efforts.

“This new joint development authority is a totally different animal,” Swafford said. “The purpose of the new joint development authority is to look at transportation improvements—specifically, roadway infrastructure. We’re looking at trying to do a joint project.

“The way counties are set up in Georgia, and in most states, is the county [department of transportation] can only do a roadway project specifically in that county—it can’t do cross-boundary projects. So we’re looking at new and innovative ways of trying to do roadway projects across county lines that would benefit more than one community.”

“Their efforts will certainly benefit the efforts of the other development authority,” Gilbert said. “What [that JDA does] directly impacts what we’re trying to do in terms of attracting business to our region.”

3:09 p.m. In the afternoon meeting, the board unanimously approved all three measures before them—the JDA formation resolution, the DOT grant application and submission of the ACCG safety discount verification form.

Our tweets from earlier today, with some details we added throughout the day, are below.

Commissioners returned at 11:20, no vote taken on litigation. Personnel matters also were discussed in closed session.

11:11 Commissioners remain in closed session to discuss litigation.

We had a light agenda today unless anything comes up following closed session, but we continue to elaborate on the items discussed in the meantime.

10:39 Now on tap to talk about formation of a Joint Development Authority with nearby counties and cities is Blake Swafford, executive director of the Paulding County Industrial Building Authority. The item in question: "Resolution 11-09 A Joint and Concurrent Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Bartow County, the Board of Commissioners of Carroll County, the Board of Commissioners of Coweta County, the Board of Commissioners of Lamar County, the Board of Commissioners of Paulding County, the Board of Commissioners of Spalding County, the Cartersville, Georgia City Council and the Villa Rica, Georgia City Council to create and activate the Joint Development Authority of Bartow County, Carroll County, Coweta County, Lamar County, Paulding County, Spalding County, the City of Cartersville and The City of Villa Rica." (Editor's note: That would've been like, what, 10 tweets to get that all out?)

Swafford says the resolution is a direct result of the board's work session last week. It is the first step of putting together this JDA—Paulding County would be first entity to ratify the resolution. Passage of the resolution does not commit the county to any financing and funding, nor does it constitute an appointment to the JDA, which would occur at a later time.

10:29 Finance Director Tabitha Pollard talking about filing application to the Georgia Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation for a grant for public transportation assistance. Grant would be aimed at transit program that runs through the county senior center (http://patch.com/buUen). Residents who need transportation can call in a day in advance to schedule transportation to and from their destination—as long as there is room on the bus, they can be picked up and transported. The county in the past has not opted to charge any fares for this service, Pollard added.

The program is currently operating with five vans, four of which are equipped for wheelchairs.

Brian Acker, the county's human resources director, also spoke about submission of the annual Association County Commissioners of Georgia Safety Discount Verification form. It's a routine item but it can lead to discounts on workers comp and liability insurance and other cost savings. Last year the total discount saved the county about $60,000 for having various safety measures, such as quarterly safety meetings, routine distribution of safety materials and more and having several officials with safety training.

10:23 April also proclaimed as National Public Safety Telecommunications Month.

10:21 Another proclamation: April proclaimed as National County Government Month.

10:16 Now the reading of a proclamation declaring April as National Donate Life Month.

10:14 a.m. We've got recognitions up first. Leading off is Dee Anderson, deputy director of Emergency 911 Comm. Bureau, March's Employee of the Month.