PDA Elects Officers for 2008

PDA Elects Officers for 2008
 

From Staff Reports

AMERICUS -

Other than the excited talk of the annual Griffin Bell Quail Hunt, it was mostly a housekeeping venture for the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority (PDA), at the regular monthly meeting Tuesdsay, January 8.

The first order of business was nominating and electing officers for 2008. PDA member Jared Stevens motioned to keep the same slate of officers from 2007, and not accept nominations. Authority member Scott Ivey seconded the motion, and the same officers from 2007 remain intact on the PDA.

Chairman is Paul Hall, and vice-chairman is Stevens. PDA member Juanita Wilson is the secretary, Ivey is treasurer and Authority member Mike Donnelly, who was not at the meeting, is assistant secretary.

Mike Fennessy was elected as the Authority's legal counsel, B.T. Johnson will remain the PDA's accountant. The Americus Times-Recorder was selected as the Authority's legal organ for another year.

The meeting dates for 2008 were unanimously accepted. The PDA meets the first Tuesday of the first full week of each month. Meetings are to be at 4 p.m. in the Thomas O. Marshall Conference Room at the Pope Center at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC).

The meetings for the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) were announced, and they are generally held on the first Monday of the last month of each quarter. Meetings are set for 4 p.m. at the same location as the PDA meetings.

PDA Executive Director David Garriga said that with the growth that Zavata, Inc. is experiencing, there is not enough parking space. However, in order to do that, some drainage issues on adjacent properties are going to need to be tackled. Garriga said the PDA will be looking for a second company to come in to do the drainage work.

Garriga also said some of the front offices experienced leakage, during the last heavy rains.

"Some of the pipes came apart ... and caused some damages," Garriga said. He said the pipes had been repaired, and he expects the issue of cost would be resolved fairly soon.

"This will be quite a community event," Garriga said of the upcoming Griffin Bell Quail Hunt. The hunt is set for Jan. 25 and Jan. 26.  Garriga said the hunt promises to be "a display of community assets" for Americus and Sumter County. He said that 18 people, including Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, are confirmed to come to the hunt. Garriga said there will be less local participation and more of the big development individuals from around the state, including the head of Georgia Power Co., and two members of the Board of Regents. However, Garriga also said he hopes to get more publicity for the event than was given in years past.

"This will be extremely beneficial to the community," Garriga said. Garriga said he would be calling on members of the PDA to volunteer with the hunt, and Hall encouraged the members to do so.

In his comments, Chairman Hall said the PDA will continue to work with contacts from 2007 and "try to keep our name in front of people."  He said the PDA will look to get Garriga out of Sumter County and up to Atlanta to recruit Sumter County as a possible location for business and industry.  Garriga also gave an update on the new railcar business on U.S Highway 280 West. He said that Southwestern Rail Co. has garnered a lot of business, and Garriga added he thought the venture would be a "real success."

The next PDA meeting is at 4 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Marshall Conference Room at the Pope Center at SGTC