This past week the BOC voted to approve two important changes.

A new Ethics Board will be formed that will include a representative from the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce. It was absolutely the right thing to include a representative from the business community on this important committee, which reviews ethics complaints on the conduct of county commissioners. 

Post 2 Commission JaNice Van Ness never stopped pushing to have the Chamber representative included in this revised board. In doing so she locked horns with the BOC Chairman Richard Oden who wanted the political parties to be represented. When Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt agreed to be the second vote of support, Van Ness’ vision of a fair and balanced Ethics Board structure was approved.

The Chamber’s executive committee has already voted to name Darlene Hotchkiss to the Ethics Board, subject to full board approval in January.

Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt fought for a $25,000 county increase to support the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council, the independent economic arm of the city and county, a change Oden fought against.

Nesbitt fought long and hard to see that the county’s contribution was increased, especially after city officials had increased their commitment by $15,000. After Van Ness came over to Nesbitt’s way of thinking, the motion passed.

We salute booth Nesbitt and Van Ness for their perseverance in passing both of these issues.

Change in the Ethics Board and the increased funds for the CREDC will help make us a more transparent and business-oriented community.