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Continued from Page 1 artist Melanie Steele; EWISE Marketing and Communications President Joanne Sanders; and Tim Hopkins of Keller Williams Realty.

“It is an honor to be chosen to serve on this commission,” Vakili said. “The film, TV and video production industries have made an incredible impact on Georgia’s local economies over the past decade, and I am excited to see even more impact here in Forsyth County in the years to come.”

Others on the commission are the Georgia Film Academy’s High School Summer Camp Director Jason Hanline; Forsyth County Schools Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Caracciolo; Bottoms Tree Farm owner Nathan Bottoms; and Jimmy and Martha McConnell, co-presidents of the Historical Society of Cumming/Forsyth County.

Bottoms said it is an honor to serve on the commission, and he hopes Film Forsyth can grow potential film opportunities in the county. His farm was the filming site of an OshKosh B’gosh and a tractor com-

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Continued from Page 1 mercial, as well as photoshoots for several businesses.

In 2022, commissioners voted to demolish the stables. Assessments showed the facility had extensive water damage and black mold issues.

Former county Parks and Recreation Director Jim Pryor said at a Nov. 22 County Commission meeting the cost to renovate the facility would be between $600,000 and $800,000. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of demolition would run $175,000.

Residents asked commissioners at a Feb. 2 public hearing to preserve the equestrian side of the field and to continue the bidding process.

Discover FoCo Director of Tourism Joni Buford said the county has hosted confidential series from Disney+, Marvel and Netflix; commercials from OshKosh B’gosh, Georgia Lottery and Popeyes; the CBS and Paramount+ series “True Lies”; and 20th Television and ABC’s “Will Trent.”

In 2022, Forsyth County hosted nine productions, and it received over 28 leads. Buford said there are as yet no quantified estimates on the economic impact the film initiative had in 2022.

“Most of these projects utilize privately owned residences, spaces and businesses, directly pouring into our community via its residents,” Buford said. “This is why often times people don’t even realize filmings are going on. They’re often tucked away and in-and-out pretty quickly.”

Some leads and projects are confidential, Buford said, but they range from small indie and student films to large production studios.

Film Forsyth has 12 location listings, including Lake Lanier, local businesses, the Cumming Fairgrounds and the Forsyth County Jail.

In other matters at the work session, commissioners approved $1.1 million in improvements at the Antioch Water Treatment Plant. The amount includes construction, completion of the Ozone System Replacement Project and part replacement.

The commission previously voted in favor of a $2.3 million treatment system at the plant at a Jan. 24 work session.

Commissioners also unanimously voted to replace the sports lighting at Coal Mountain Park. The new lighting will cost $998,500, and it has remote control and energy-saving capabilities, Pate said.

Commissioners approved $86,000 in improvements to the park at a January work session.