The Carroll County Board of Commissioners agreed to move forward with a feasibility study regarding the preservation of natural and agricultural resources.

The study, which will be performed by Ross and Associates, will both delve into community zoning and development rules to ensure a seamless interface between existing zoning and future growth and to explore the possibility of instituting a permanent source of funds to purchase development rights.

The board unanimously passed the measure, which will put upwards of $40,000 in funds from the 2008 special purpose local option sales tax to go toward the study.

The recommendation came following a lengthy exploratory period on the matter by an appointed agricultural advisory board, and Commissioner Kevin Jackson heralded their due diligence in moving forward with preserving rural farmland.

“There was an agricultural advisor board that put almost a year’s worth of work into this before it got to this board ... and I appreciate that board,” Jackson said. “It’s a great day for people in rural Carroll County, and hopefully it’ll be a good step in preserving the rural heritage in the county.”

Carroll County has previously participated in a Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) through the state. More than a year ago, the first round of funds were made available though the program, which encourages the purchase of easements, and Carroll County was the only county in the state to take advantage.

On Tuesday, the board also:

• agreed to purchase seven acres adjacent to the Carroll County Recreation Complex on Newnan Road for future expansion. The purchase came at a cost of $140,000.

• approved the issuance of revenue anticipation certificates by the Carroll City-County Hospital Authority to benefit Tanner Medical Center. Tanner officials initially approached the board with a bond agreement two months ago, though returned for a modification to the issuance when the interest rates on those bonds significantly dropped following the announcement in recent weeks that Carroll County’s bond rating had improved measurably from years past.

• agreed to give a contract for reroofing of the old Carroll County Courthouse to Ben Hill Roofing at a cost of roughly $108,000.

• approved a rezoning request to reconfigure property with two existing houses into a 5.89 acre tract for one house and a 2 acre tract for the other house on Reavesville Road in Bowdon.

• tabled a proposed joint venture with the city of Villa Rica to purchase approximately 13 acres located off Highway 61 adjacent to the Villa Rica Civic Center and Sports Complex.