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Twelve people have applied for the position of County Manager for Upson County, stated Commission Chairman Maurice Raines at Tuesday’s regular board meeting. The post was left vacant last month after the resignation of Kyle Hood, who had served as the county manager since 2008. Raines also noted that applications have been submitted from as far away as Alaska and Oklahoma, as well as several closer in Georgia and Florida. Today is the deadline listed with the ad to apply for the position; however the position will stay open until filled.

Commissioner Frank Spraggins also wanted to assure the citizens that Ja-Ann Drive, which was torn up by a sub-contractor working on the new performing arts center, will be fixed. Raines agreed and told the public the road department had put down crushed run as a temporary fix and the county will be pursuing litigation if that is what it takes to get the road fixed properly by those who tore it up.

Also during the meeting, a rezoning application for 383 Martin Luther King Drive for applicant Shahida Tariq was approved with conditions. Mr. Tariq had requested that the property be rezoned from R-5 (single family residential) to C-2 (commercial residential) for the purpose of opening a convenience store with the possibility of a restaurant being located on the property as well.

Building and Zoning Director Doug Currier was present at the meeting and told the board the Zoning Commission recommended the property be rezoned to C-1 (neighborhood commercial) because it did not fully meet the requirements for a C-2 zoning. However, he stated the rezoning should come with the conditions that the property only be used for a convenience store/restaurant. The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the request and added that the property must be cleaned up and the dilapidated trailer on the property be removed within 90 days of the business being open.

In other business, Commissioner Ralph Ellington amended the minutes from June 15, 2011, which stated the board would purchase a “Code Red Early Warning System,” to say a mass alert warning system. Ellington explained that Code Red is the name of the brand and the county may not be going with that company. The project is moving along nicely and he thanked EMA Director Billy Mitcham for all of his hard work on the project. He also mentioned that the narrowbanding of the radio communication equipment is ready to go and work on those devices will begin this week.