ATLANTA – A number of officers were recently appointed to the Department of Community Affairs, including Polk County Commissioner Billy Croker as chairman.

Croker is one of two Northwest Georgia businessmen who have recently gained chairmanships with important state committees. David Doss of Rome was recently elected chairman of the board of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Croker is the president of Billy Croker Realty and a retired owner of Croker Hardware. He is a Director of Regions Bank in Cedartown, Chairman of the Polk County Board of Commissioners and second Vice President of the Association of County Commissioners in Georgia.

He also serves as Chairman of County Chief Elected Officials of North Georgia, and is on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, the West Georgia Regional Water Authority and on the Executive Board of the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center.

Croker is a member of the Cedartown Valley Shrine Club. He and his wife, Patsy, have five children and are active in the First Baptist Church.

The DCA administers several state and federal grant programs, and works with local communities in areas such as economic development, housing, community service, planning and research.

Croker, as well DCA Board member Fernando Mera and other officers were welcomed by DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty.

Other officers elected by the Board were Greg Jones as vice-chairman and Joe Hopkins as Secretary.

Doss gave his first official speech last Thursday as chairman of the board of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

During his first board meeting as chairman, Doss told members that it was a “new day” for transportation in Georgia, as he encouraged both the board and the DOT to continue working together to improve the transportation system not only in the state, but across the nation, according to a news release from the DOT.

Elected by the board in June, he assumed the role of chairman on July 1, the first day of the Department of Transportation fiscal year.

Doss said he is creating a new committee for program delivery/ strategic planning to help complete items on the State Transportation Improvement Program in a more timely manner.

“We really needed to do all that we can to get these projects completed as quickly as possible,” Doss said.

Also at the meeting, the DOT announced that during fiscal year 2004, the department awarded more than $957 million in construction contracts and issued contractor payments in excess of $948 million. During fiscal year 2003, the department awarded $780 million in contracts and issued more than $1 billion in payments.