LaGRANGE — The Troup County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution to adopt constraints and regulations pertaining to county-issued credit cards used by elected officials.

The measure, which passed unanimously, is required by a law passed last session by the Georgia General Assembly and designates 10 elected officials as card holders, the resolution states.

“This is basically something that we have to do because of HB (House Bill) 192,” said Tod Tentler, county manager.

The resolution sets a limit of $500 that can be spent each day by 10 officials: commission board members, the county coroner, magistrate, probate and state court judges, the sheriff, superior court clerk, tax commissioner and solicitor general.

The resolution calls for a card administrator to oversee the use of the cards and conduct audits and reconcile transactions monthly. Payments cannot be made for goods or services outside of the scope of county business, the resolution states.

Receipts, invoices and other supporting documentation are to be kept on file for each purchase made and the records are available for public inspection.

Card holders are subject to disciplinary action if they are found to have violated the policy or misused the card. The first offense calls for a warning, the second offense would result in a suspension of card-use privileges and the third misuse of the card results in its revocation from the official. Criminal prosecution is also possible under the ordinance.

The resolution becomes law on Jan. 1.

In other business, the county approved an application for a Georgia Department of Natural Resources trail program grant, which offers up to $100,000 and would require a 20 percent match in cash, donations or labor costs. The grant would be used for adding a trail to Eastside Park. The project is a joint initiative of the BOC, the city of LaGrange and the LaGrange Housing Authority.

Commissioners approved a measure to lift a hiring freeze to employ eight part-time worker for the parks and recreation department. Seven of the positions are for scorekeepers and the eighth is for a front desk worker at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center.

A new position with the state court solicitor general’s office is also slated to be created using grant funds provided by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. The position will be a “first-responder victim advocate,” explained Markette Baker, the solicitor general. The position helps victims of crimes, including domestic abuse, property and financial crimes, learn about their rights and how to proceed after being victimized.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, an attorney representing a group of residents concerned about the Northwest Connector road project addressed commissioners. Chuck Conerly, a Carrollton-based attorney, similarly addressed the LaGrange City Council on Nov. 24.

The residents are concerned about how the project has progressed, questioning how some work has already been conducted when no elected officials have approved the project. Residents are concerned the project would lead to future road projects that might impact their neighborhood.

Editor’s note: Read upcoming editions of LaGrange Daily News for more about the Northwest Connector road project.