Fayette County commissioners can no longer cast votes on agenda items involving those who have given more than $500 to their campaigns.

A new ethics ordinance approved by commissioners last week also forbids commissioners to vote if they have business relationships with petitioners that bring them more than $500 a month, or $6,000 a year. The group's unanimous approval of the proposed ordinance brought an outburst of applause from members of the public.

Another provision of the law is that commissioners must disclose any business relationship, no matter how small, and any campaign contribution larger than $100 before voting on any item.

"Everybody in the public has a right to understand the relationships between members of this board and those who come before it," said Commissioner Greg Dunn as he introduced the new law.

Dunn and fellow freshman Commissioner Linda Wells promised to introduce such a law as a key component of their campaigns for office this past fall, and Dunn began working on the document after the election, even before formally taking office.

"It's a shame that you feel like you need this type of thing," said Commissioner Herb Frady before casting his vote for the law, "but it's a fact that you do."

In other action last week, commissioners:

Lifted a 180-day moratorium on communications towers, enacted to give the county Planning Commission time to hammer out a new set of ordinances governing the towers. Commissioners agreed the recently enacted ordinance needs more work, and directed the Planning Commission and zoning staff to study new wording that would make it easier for cell phone companies to put towers along major highways, but decided there is no need to extend the moratorium while those changes are being discussed.

Agreed to buy natural gas from Peachtree Natural Gas Company, but decided to avoid any reference to the company as a "preferred" provider for county residents. The company will offer gas to residents at a reduced fixed rate of 37.5 cents per therm in exchange for the county's business at 27 cents per therm, but commissioners said they don't want to give the impression they are recommending the company to residents. (See related story)