Paulding commissioners changed fees Nov. 10 for applying for R-2 rezoning, billboards, signs and zoning certification.

Community Development Director Chuck Rann said the new R-2 rezoning fees are $400 for one acre or less, $600 for 1-5 acres and $600 for five acres, plus $100 per additional acre. Previously, the R-2 rezoning fee was a flat $400, regardless of the size of the property. The maximum rezoning fee remains $5,000.

Applications for signs will cost $30, billboard applications will be $500 and zoning certification, in which county employees certify zoning status on a parcel, is now $40.

“We’re getting a lot of requests [for zoning certification], and this will cover the cost of staff time,” Rann said.

Chairman David Austin asked if the new fees are on line with other counties, and Rann said they are.

The planning and zoning fee schedule had not been updated since 1986, and staff reviewed fees from 10 Georgia counties in proposing the changes.

In a meeting with all unanimous votes, the board agreed to apply for a Georgia Recreational Trails Program grant through the Department of Natural Resources for funding to design and construct walking and jogging trails at the Burnt Hickory Park.

Parks & Recreation Director Michael Justus said the grant will allow the county to recoup its cost for the trails with an 80/20 match, with the maximum amount $100,000 and the minimum $25,000.

Austin said former commission Chairman Bill Carruth, who is now chairman of the DNR board, “has done quite a bit of work helping with the 7,000-acre greenspace and park.”

The board decided to waive its $1.3 million portion of a $100 million state allocation for energy conservation. To use the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority Energy Savings Bonds authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment act (“stimulus funding”), the county would have to issue bonds and repay them at a low interest rate, said Finance Director Tabitha Pollard, and the county is reluctant to incur additional debt during financially challenging times.

Commissioners approved tax-exempt status for Goodwill of North Georgia in financing purchase of the former Circuit City building. Representing the West Georgia Joint Development Authority of Paulding and Douglas counties, Douglasville attorney Joe Fowler said the authority endorsed the tax-exempt financing not to exceed $4 million to expand industrial development. Fowler said Goodwill bought the building in the commercial market and now can refinance at a lower interest rate with lower monthly payments.

No one spoke in a public hearing on the tax-exempt status.

Commissioners approved Austin’s recommendation that David Munford be named director of the Paulding County Emergency 911 Center and adopted 2010 meeting dates for the Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Development Waiver Review Committee.

The board also canceled its Nov. 24 regularly scheduled meeting because of its proximity to Thanksgiving holidays.

Jerry Dorsey of 1939 Hiram Douglasville Highway asked commissioners for financial help in repairing a bridge damaged in September flooding, and Austin said the county would work with Dorsey “in any way we can.”

The commission also named Nov. 12 as Leonard “Broughton” Walton Day to honor his 100th birthday and years of service to the county. Walton taught at Beulah School, Hiram School, Union School, Dallas Junior High and New Hope School and served as principal at Winston, Union and Hiram schools. After retiring from a 35-year teaching career, he continued as a bus driver for several years.

Walton was also two-term president of the Paulding County Teacher and Principal associations, was chairman of the Paulding County Board of Health for 16 years and currently serves as a deacon at Draketown Baptist Church.

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