The Newton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved annual reappointments for County Manager John Middleton, County Attorney Tommy Craig and County Clerk Jackie Smith Tuesday night.
The county manager position was created in November and Middleton was immediately appointed to the position; he was reappointed Tuesday to fit into the annual reappointment schedule of the county attorney and clerk.
County Manager update
As directed by the board, Middleton said Tuesday he has completed his move to the second floor of the Newton County Administration Building and noted that his clerical support will be handled by an existing purchasing employee.
His phone number, (678) 625-1204, and email, jmiddleton@co.newton.ga.us, did not change.
Middleton also told the board that two county positions were to be posted Wednesday. The county will hire an entry level administrative technician for the planning and zoning department's call center, who will also handle the county's main phone line, (678) 625-1200.
The other position will be a parts clerk with the sheriff's office, which will replace an employee who retired.
All open county positions can be seen at co.newton.ga.us/content/view/17/31/.
He said the county's annual retreat has been scheduled for the end of March. He would also like the board to schedule a work session in February to discuss the process for the fiscal year 2013 budget.
County to pave eight roads
The county also approved a list of roads to be paved and patched under the state's annual Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG). The state will provide approximately $725,000, while the county will contribute a match of $97,000.
The roads that will be paved are:
- Alcovy Trestle Road, from Alcovy Road to Hamby Lane
- Baker Avenue from Baker Road to Baker Lane
- Baker Road from Flat Rock Road to its dead end
- Covered Bridge Road from Ga. Highway 212 to Mailbox #544
- Fairview Chase from Fairview Road to Mailbox #230
- Heaton Road from Ga. Highway 81 to end of pavement
-Smith Store Road from Oak Hill Road to Mailbox #1327
- Upper River Road from Brown Bridge Road to Crowell Road
The county originally had a list of 17 roads to be paved, but this did not include any deep patching. Therefore, the number of roads to be repaired was reduced so that some roads could be both paved and patched.
Bids for the work will be brought back before the Board of Commissioners. The state will reimburse the county for money spent.
Chairman Kathy Morgan said the county has 779 miles of county roads, including 89 miles of unpaved roads, and 200-plus miles of state roads in the county. The eight roads to be repaired were chosen in order to have a project in all five districts; based on the need for repair and maintenance and balancing dollars available and state approval, she said.
Youth honored
The Board of Commissioners also honored the Newton County Recreation Rams, the team of 11 and 12 year olds which won a championship, and the winners of the Newton County River of Words Poetry and Art Contest.
