911 center expansion also approved by commission

Fayette County’s finances are on solid ground, according to the most recent audit conducted of its fiscal books.

Patricia Pryor of the Cherry, Bekaert and Holland accounting firm told the Fayette County Commission last week that the audit resulted in an unqualified determination that the financial statements are accurate and reliable.

Commission Chairman Jack Smith asked Pryor if she felt the county’s finances were “health, very healthy, extremely healthy or in dire need of help.”

“I’d say you all are healthy,” Pryor said. “... Probably better than healthy but not in bad shape at all.”

Pryor noted that the new accounting standards are rigorous and the county came through the process “with flying colors.”

Smith expressed thanks to the county’s financial staff for continuing to keep the county in a good financial position.

In other business, the commission approved a $611,000 expansion of the county’s 911 center, which is funded completely with money collected from 911 fees on telephone bills.

Director Cheryl Rogers said the expansion is necessary because, for example, three supervisors and six operator leaders are sharing one office. A training staffer’s office is doubling as a conference room, she added.

The project came in $161,000 under budget, according to county staff.

The commission also:

• Agreed by consensus to allow staff to explore implementing a stormwater utility to fund future stormwater improvements. Staff was directed to explore forming a combined utility with Peachtree City, Tyrone and Fayetteville.

• Voted to spend $583,000 on several projects intended as mitigation for the Lake McIntosh water reservoir.

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