PDA to endow GSW scholarship

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority (PDA) voted unanimously to give $25,000 to the Georgia Southwestern State University Foundation to endow a scholarship in the name of Judge Griffin Bell.

Bell will be honored Thursday when the GSW Golf & Conference Center dedicates the golf course in his name. Bell, the former U.S. attorney general, has been instrumental in getting a golf management degree program established at his alma mater.  "This scholarship is part of his (Bell's) legacy at GSW," remarked Paul Hall, PDA chair. "He is a national treasure for Sumter County."

In other business, Mike Fennessy, PDA attorney, reported that the Lowe's deal is about to be finalized. Much discussion concerned the need for documentation of the number of employees at the local Lowe's store. Fennessy is to review the matter and report back at the next authority meeting.

Another topic of detailed discussion is the request by the City of Americus and Sumter County government for a full audit of the PDA.  Scott Ivey, PDA member, said the audit will require "a good bit of work" by the authority prior to even advertising for bids.  B.T. Johnson, the PDA's accountant, said the PDA has never been audited before and all related documentation such as property holdings, etc., will have to be made available to the CPA who gets the bid.

Fennessy, who has served as counsel for the PDA since 1980, said he probably has all the information in his office files.  The authority voted unanimously to have the audit of the PDA's business as of Dec. 31, 2008.

Ivey a

lso brought up a proposal to set up a separate checking account to handle economic development funds, separate from PDA funds. He suggested that Johnson, the authority's accountant handle this.  Ivey said he just doesn't like the idea of "commingling" the funds and wants it clarified, which would also benefit in the auditing process.  "This can be easily done," Johnson said. " ... it won't be any trouble."

Members further discussed the need for coding and or classification of expenses to further delineate the two budgets: PDA and economic development.  "What it comes down to is what the City wants us to spend their money on," Johnson said. 

The authority voted to go into closed session to discuss "real estate acquisition and legal matters," according to Fennessy.