Three new Gordon County Commissioners began their journey on the path of a four-year term in public office, after being sworn in Friday, Dec. 28, by Probate Court Judge Richie Parker.

Newly elected commissioners, Kevin Cunningham, Norris Sexton and Jeff Gazaway, along with Commissioners Becky Hood and Chad Steward, made several changes during the Wednesday, Jan. 2 meeting of the board.

The board elected Commissioner Becky Hood to serve as Chairperson and Chad Steward as Vice Chairperson, both of which will serve two-year terms, set to expire in 2014.

The board also voted to appoint Cunningham to the Gordon County Historical Society, Steward to the Gordon County Development Authority, Sexton to the Gordon County Board of Health, and Gazaway to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, of which Gazaway is already a part.

Additionally, the board voted to change meeting times from 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month to 6 p.m. Thus all meetings will be held at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Commissioner Sexton and Cunningham also expressed interest in changing the bidding process for projects to include the board in the bid presentments from each vendor who applies for a project in the future.

“I’d like for people who do bids to be able to make a presentment to the board,” said Sexton to the board Wednesday. “I would like for the board to consider that people bidding have the same opportunity to make a presentment on what they would do and let the board be involved in making the decision on it.”

Sexton’s statement followed an approval by the board to allot $2.3 million to Lusk and Company contractors to build a new agricultural center without any pre-approved plans, and is set to be complete in September 2013. The President of Lusk and Company stated they were confident the project would be complete in September.

Cunningham concurred with Sexton’s sentiments, and voiced his concerns of keeping sub contractors in the county, something Lusk and Company have a good track record of doing, according to Gordon County Administrator Randy Dowling.

In other business at the Gordon County Board of Commissioners:

Budget Amendment #6 to increase group health insurance for the Board of Commissioner’s budget was approved.

Budget Amendment #7 to reallocate the county’s Local option sales tax (LOST) proceeds to the city of Fairmount and City of Resaca was approved.

A second reading of an amendment made to the Animal control ordinance was also approved by the board.

For complete access to the minutes of the Wednesday, Jan. 2 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, visit www.gordoncounty.org.