Paulding commissioners have revised the county’s Local Small Business Enterprise Program to allow more of the funding for local projects to remain in Paulding business and government coffers.

The Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25 modified the plan it adopted Jan. 12 with the goal “to expand the scope and better define requirements” for the new purchasing policies, said County Administrator Mike Jones. The policy applies to everything from earth-moving to computer purchases, he told the board.

Local businesses as defined in the new policy now have the opportunity to match a low bid from an outside source if they meet any of four qualifications:

• businesses with a primary office and address in Paulding for 12 previous months;

• businesses with at least 33 percent of full-time employees who are Paulding residents;

• businesses at least 51 percent owned by Paulding residents;

• prime contractors not meeting the first three criteria who subcontract or purchase materials totaling at least 51 percent of the total contract value using qualified Local Business Enterprise (LBE) companies.

County Purchasing Manager Jennifer Alford will determine if bidders are qualified LBEs. A qualified LBE whose bid is within 10 percent of the low bid of a non-local company will have the option of matching the low bid. If the lowest LBE bidder within 10 percent decides not to match the low bid, the next lowest LBE bidder within 10 percent will be given the opportunity.

Jones said the revised policy “shows selection criteria and what a local business entity must do to be certified.” The Purchasing Department is working on procedures and will have a list on the county’s Web site, he said.

“The goal is to keep as much money local as we can,” Jones told the board.

The county’s original LBE policy was derived from one in Cherokee County, said commission Chairman David Austin, “and we’ve tried to improve on it.” Outside bidders are welcome, he said, but the policy “gives an advantage to local businesses.”

Jones said the county “tested the policy against normal bid projects to ensure the policy captures the local element we’re looking for” and found it successful. However, “the old policy didn’t capture as much local money as we wanted it to;” hence, the revisions.

Commissioner Tommie Graham affirmed that the county “is still paying the lowest price on contracts; local business just has the opportunity to meet the lowest price.”

The board awarded two bids Feb. 25 in a meeting with all unanimous votes. Tippins Contracting, the lowest of seven bidders, has a contract for $84,950 to extend water line from the entrance of Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport to the airport terminal area, using grant money. And C.W. Matthews, the lowest of three bidders, won a $66,303 contract to widen Old Harris Road (Harris Loop) 600 feet south to the intersection with Winndale Road, using special purpose local option sales tax funds.

The Old Harris Road project was in three parts, the first being the traffic signal and turn lane now operational at U.S. 278 and the second a 150-foot, single-span concrete bridge over the Silver Comet Trail. Paulding Department of Transportation Director Scott Greene said the bridge will open in about five weeks.

The project “opens up a corridor that has been shut down many years,” said Austin, noting that he traveled the route over what was called Humpback Bridge Road in his childhood. It will relieve SR 61, the chairman said, adding he hopes it will allow state widening of that road in the future.

Greene said the bridge has been closed about 20 years and that he believes it will be well-used. Completion could be the first week of April if the weather holds, he said.

In other business and with the absence of Commissioner Wayne Kirby, the board:

• increased the ACCG Defined Benefit Plan contribution by $74,840 upon the recommendation of Finance Director Tabitha Pollard. Earlier estimates preceded an actuary report, she said, and Graham said the increase was needed “partly because of conditions of the 2008 market.”

• authorized Austin to sign the amendment and restatement of the 457/401(a) retirement plan through adoption of the Valic Retirement Services Company Governmental Volume Submitter Plan.

• declared as surplus Sheriff’s Office modems that had been replaced in patrol cars.

• appointed Margaret Duckworth to fill the unexpired term of Ann Garbutt on the Department of Family & Children Services Board through June 30.

• accepted Bramlett Ridge Drive, Lynn Top Ridge and Lynn Ridge Court for perpetual maintenance.

• followed the 6-0-1 recommendation of the Paulding County Planning Commission to rezone 1.19 acre north of Hiram Sudie Road and west of SR 92 from highway business district to general business district for a fitness center in an existing building.