Surfing the Internet on Coweta County's time could soon be hazardous to your job.

By a unanimous vote Tuesday afternoon, the Coweta County Board of Commissioners endorsed an ordinance to make surfing the web grounds for disciplinary action.

Assistant administrator Chuck Crawford told the board the county had recently installed the Internet and e-mail on the county's computer system.

Crawford cautioned county employees about the use of e-mail.

“They might see their conversations in court if we're sued. There is no right of privacy with e-mail” he said.

Commission Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter agreed, but was bemused the county was even considering such a proposal.

“I never thought I'd see the day where we would passing an ordinance like this,” he quipped.

Commissioner Jim McGuffey pointed out that Hunter probably never figured he'd see a car either, but society continues to change.

The commission reiterated that employees should only be using the Internet for research, and Hunter emphasized that some disciplinary measures would occur if employees were using the computers for personal business.

In other business, the commission:

” Approved a retail beer license for Patricia Andrews at the Canongate Amoco in the northern part of the county. The commission passed it unanimously, but Commissioner Charlie Jones had a question to ask Andrews.

“I understand you have slot machines up there. Do you understand that if you give cash payouts you can lose your license?

Andrews said yes and Jones explained that there are several of these machines scattered around the county that are only allowed to pay off with prizes or gift certificates.

Tabled a discussion between the county and 21st Century Coweta. The two groups have been haggling over details of a contract between the county and the county's economic development group. But 21st Century President Scott Frederick was out of town, so administrator Theron Gay said he would present the contract at another date.

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