IN BRIEF: The Development Authority of Rockdale County approved $25,000 more per year for three years to go to the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council's salary offering for the executive director position Wednesday morning.

The additional funds would bring the annual salary offering to about $85,000. The new advertisement will go out in the coming days.

The previous executive director, Glenn Sears, who retired at the end of 2012, had received an annual salary of about $60,000 for what was technically a part-time, 30-hour per week position.

When the original advertisement went out, about 15 applications were received. By July, that had been narrowed to five candidates, with one dropping out.

The search for the CREDC executive director began in January.

"Everyone sees the light at the end of the tunnel," said CREDC member and Development Authority board chairman Mike Sullivan. "We're going to get a professional to lead" the economic development push for Rockdale.

CREDC met Tuesday morning to officially request the additional funds. There was an understanding after the discussion that the council will form a smaller executive committee for the management of the CREDC staff, which consists of the executive director and the assistant director, said Sullivan.