Commissioners re-established the Catoosa Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday morning with the same people minus two.

Last month the Board of Commissioners eliminated the seven-member commission and put a hold on new and pending rezonings. Commissioners Ken Marks and Jim Emberson voted against the move.

On Tuesday, all but five of the seven members were re-appointed to fill a newly created five-member panel.

Chairman Bill Clark said that members of the public have criticized his board for not having a closer relationship with the Planning and Zoning Commission.

In a 4-1 vote, the Board of Commissioners approved the new five-member board with each member representing a different zone of the county. The new amendment also eliminated any requirement for the board members to be familiar with building or real estate matters.

According to Clifton “Skip” Patty, county attorney, other requirements to serve are an applicant should be 18, a resident and a registered voter.

He said another change is commissioners may now remove a member at any time by a majority vote.

The new board includes: Roger Bowman, Jr., chairman (zone one), Raymond Clark (zone three), Jerry Hawthorne (zone four), Wayne Sturdivan (zone two), Randy Smith (zone five). Fifteen people applied for the commission.

The board added one alternate position that it filled with previous Planning and Zoning Commission member Nelson Richardson.

Posts one to three will serve until Dec. 31, 2007; posts four and five will serve until Dec. 31, 2008. The replacements will fill three-year terms.

The one negative vote in the board change came from Commissioner Jim Emberson, who questioned the purpose of being able to remove a member of the commission. He said the Board of Commissioners approve or reject the commission’s recommendations anyway.

“While I can go along reluctantly with reducing from seven down to five, removal without due cause… This is political intimidation,” he said.

Former Planning and Zoning Commission member Ronnie Cobb did reapply but was not among the five selected and former member Ed Vickrey did not reapply.

In other business Tuesday, June 5 at the Governmental Building the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to:

* Approve the purchase of two Caterpillar bulldozers from Yancey Brothers Co. at a cost of $65,109 and $201,168 and allow the trade-in of two bulldozers for a total of $43,000. The county will pay for the equipment from SPLOST, special-purpose local-option sales tax.

* Approve application for a Georgia Department of Transportation enhancement grant for a walking trail at Benton Place, including the completion of the Citizens and Veterans Memorial for $435,370. If awarded, the county will provide matching in-kind services at a value of $45,000 for grading of the trail and spreading of stone.

* Approve a change in plans for the Morris Estates Sewer Rehabilitation allowing for use of 8 inch PVC pipe to replace 1,023 feet of six-inch clay pipe with an increase in cost of $60,710 and add 60 days to the required amount of time to complete the project.

* Approve a contract for paving of 24 roads with the Georgia Department of Transportation under the Local Assistance Road Program.

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