Much to the chagrin of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Coweta County Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday afternoon to strip away some of the board's power.

The board voted unanimously to make the zoning board a recommending body, instead of the final-decision making group the board has been over the last few years. Before Tuesday's vote, a resident could appeal the county commission's decision on a zoning matter to the appeals board. The board would listen to the evidence and then render a decision.

Now, the board will listen to the evidence and make a recommendation to the commissioners who will ultimately render the final decision. The commissioners decided to change the board for a variety of reasons.

Commissioner Lawrence Nelms said residents would have an elected official making the final decision so the citizen will have recourse at the ballot box if he doesn't agree with the decision.

Commission chairman Jim McGuffey agreed with Nelms.

"We have a tendency to push authority at appointed people. We're the ones who should be getting the phone calls," he said.

All the commissioners were unanimous in their support of the board, but said the decision ensures that the elected officials will get the final say on zoning matters.

"Boards should not be used as vehicles to do something this board doesn't want to do," said Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.

Zoning board vice-chairman Lisle Millard said his board was extremely disappointed with the commissioners' actions.

"Our feelings are very hurt. Y'all have lost confidence in the board," he said.

Millard added that some of the citizens liked the current appeal process because they think the commissioners are not as accessible as the zoning board.

Hunter dismissed Millard's statements by saying that his phone constantly rang and that citizens had a right to appeal their decisions to an elected official.

When the board voted to change the board to a recommending body, an item was added to the motion complimenting the board on their expertise and expressing complete confidence in the board.