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.

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.

 

 

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