Public Works Director asks BOC to approve major road improvements
News May 9, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Public Works Director David McKee asked commissioners to approve a contract for major road improvements with Blount Construction in the amount of $4,051,052.72 at their next voting session in May.
The request came during the Board of Commissioners Thursday work session and included Sweetwater Juno, Bailey Waters and Hugh Stowers roads. The projects were included in the voter-approved special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST VI). Blount Construction presented the lowest of three bids. McKee said there is a need to complete full depth reclamation and paving on all three roads.
Due to the Executive Order issued by Governor Kemp on April 2, a pre-bid meeting was not held. Instead, an additional six business days were allotted for questions.
David McKee
If approved, the Sweetwater Juno Road project includes 4.5 miles from the intersection of SR 53 West to the intersection of SR 183. The Bailey Waters project is approximately 3.59 miles from the intersection of SR 136 to the intersection of SR 52. The Hugh Stowers Road project is 1.37 miles from the Thompson Road intersection South to Grizzle Road. McKee said Hugh Stowers Road project will likely be the first to start.
All work will take approximately 165 days to complete, weather permitting, and comes with a five-year warranty.
McKee also notified the Board there is a need to complete turn-key culvert renovations on four structures on Bailey Waters Road and Sweetwater Juno Road and he requested approval of the low bid of Townley Construction in the amount of $453,000 to complete those projects. The projects are also part of the voter-approved SPLOST VI.
Brooke Anderson appeared before the Board on behalf of the Rotary Club of Dawson County to request permission to install a granite Peace Pole near the current courthouse. The pole would have the words, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” written in different languages on each side. This reaches people from many cultures in the community or visiting the community.
Board of Elections and Registration Director Glenda Ferguson asked the Board to approve a SECURE THE VOTE/CARES GRANT request to purchase personal protection equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, disinfectant/cleaning supplies, barriers, markers, etc. and a steel drop box for the county Elections Office in preparation for the June 9 General Primary/Presidential Preference Election. The grant comes with a 90 percent reimbursement from the Secretary of State’s Office. Because Advanced Voting begins May 11, the items have already been ordered. Should the Board not approve the request, Ferguson said the items can be funded out of the Elections Office Budget.
The Board also heard a request by Emergency Services Director for the county to accept $4,316.35 in funding raised from the State of Georgia Super Speeder Law that went into effect in 2010. Fines collected under the law support the Georgia Trauma Commission statewide. 20% of these funds go to various EMS programs across the state and one of these programs is the Trauma Grant.
During the regular meeting that followed, the Board unanimously approved a contract with West Georgia Lighting in the amount of $217,000 for multipurpose LED field lighting at Veterans Memorial Park and the Peace Pole project presented during the work session.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC will consider major road improvements during Thursday work session
News May 5, 2020
David McKee
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Public Works Director David McKee will ask the Board of Commissioners to approve two major road construction projects when it meets in a work session Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. in the County Administration Building.
Both projects will be funded by the voter approved special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).
McKee wil request commissioners to award a contract to Blount Construction in an amount not to exceed $4,051,052.75 to complete a full-depth reclamation and paving on three collector roads — Sweetwater Juno Road, Bailey Waters Road and Hugh Stowers Road from Thompson Road to Grizzle Road. The SPLOST VI resolution allotted $21,200,000 (67%) to Public Works for road projects.
Due to the Executive Order issued by Governor Kemp on April 2nd, a pre-bid meeting was not held. Instead, an additional 6 business days was allotted for the question timeframe. The county received three bids on this project. Blount Construction was the low bidder.
McKee will also present a request to the Board to approve a contract with Townley Construction in the amount of $453,000 to complete turn-key culvert renovations on four structures on Bailey Waters Road and Sweetwater Juno Road.
Chief Registrar and Board of Elections & Registration Chair Glenda Ferguson will ask for commissioners’ approval to apply for a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Grants to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for the upcoming election.
The grant became available in April and comes with a 90% state reimbursement. Due to urgency of the purchase, Ferguson said she has already located and purchased 100 face shields to be delivered between April 29 and May 6 for poll workers and staff ($278.19) without grant approve. She indicated that if the grant is not approved, the expense can come out of General Supply budget.
She also said she has reached out to Chastain Supply for sanitizer refills and bottles, gloves and masks and is now waiting on pricing for these items.
Drop boxes are not mandatory, but strongly suggested. Ferguson said her office has received several calls inquiring of a drop box, especially for ADA accessibility. Due to the critical time limit to receive any PPE equipment for the Advance Voting start date of May 18, this is a time sensitive item that will be installed by the Facilities Department for about $300.
Brooke Anderson and Sharon Hall will ask the Board to consider approval of the installation of a Rotary Club of Dawson County Peace Pole in front of the courthouse.
One of Rotary’s six areas of focus is Peace. Rotary clubs across the world have installed Peace Poles to promote peace in their communities. “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is written in different languages on each side of the pole. This reaches people from many cultures in the community or visiting the community.
Emergency Services Director Danny Thompson will inform the Board that EMS has received a Trauma Grant in the amount of $4,316.35. There is no county match required, however, commissioners are required to approve acceptance of all funds.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com