Voters Put Manager in Charge of County Operations, Move Chairman to Part-time

What do you think of the shift to a county manager overseeing county government operations? Tell us in comments.

Following today’s election, a full-time manager will be hired on oversee day-to-day operations of the county government.

Unofficial results showed 2,305 votes (60.04 percent) were cast in favor of the act providing for the appointment of a county manager, while 1,534 voters (39.96 percent) were against the change.

The ballot read, "Shall the Act be approved which provides for appointment of a county manager for Barrow County; for a part-time chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of Barrow County, with a reduction in pay; and for meetings, voting, and quorum of the board?"

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners chairman, who currently manages the county government, will shift to a part-time position with a reduction in pay. The chair will have full voting powers alongside commissioners but will not retain a veto. The changeover will take place in January 2013.

Barrow County voters also weighed in on Sunday alcohol sales — the ballot read, "Shall the governing authority of Barrow County, Georgia, be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of both malt beverages and wine on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.?"

Of 3,884 votes cast, 2,253 (58.01 percent) were in favor of Sunday sales, while 1,631 (41.99 percent) were opposed.

Sunday alcohol sales was also on the ballots in Auburn and Winder. In Auburn, 155 votes were cast in favor of Sunday sales and 53 in opposition. In Winder, 707 voters approved of Sunday sales, with 592 voting against.