RINGGOLD, Ga. — The Catoosa County Commission chose a developer Tuesday night for its industrial park and took more measures to cut costs among county workers.

Commissioners voted unanimously to give county attorneys the authority to negotiate a development contract for its industrial park with Sacramento-based Panattoni. Officials hope the 51-acre park, at the intersection of Holcomb Road and state Highway 151, will be ready in time to lure a supplier for Chattanooga’s coming Volkswagen plant when it opens in early 2011.

The council also voted four to one to offer $14,000 voluntary early retirement packages to any county employees 62 and older with ten or more years of service time.

With the development decision, County Attorney Chad Young said the commissioners chose one of two finalists, but nothing had been agreed upon with Panattoni.

“What the board is really considering is which way to go,” Mr. Young said just before the vote.

Commissioners had narrowed the field of more than 25 developers down to Panattoni and Nashville-based engineering firm Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon. At the meeting they said they were impressed by Panattoni’s ability to handle much of the marketing and search for an industrial tenant.

“With this firm we get everything at once,” said commissioner Jim Cutler.

Other commissioners nodded in agreement, with commissioner Ken Marks calling the developer a “stand-up company.”

After the development vote, the board took steps to cut county payroll for the second consecutive meeting. While only three employees are expected to take the early retirement packages, council members grimly explained the savings would help ease the financial situation. Two weeks ago, the panel said county workers would begin furloughs, taking one day per pay period off without pay.

Mr. Marks explained that the $14,000 was enough money to cover COBRA health insurance for a 62-year-old worker until the employee turned 65 and was eligible for state and federal programs. Retirees, however, do not have to spend the money on insurance, according to commissioners.

Commissioner Bobby Winters was the lone dissenting vote, complaining in the meeting that the $14,000 seemed arbitrary.