Dougherty County Commission to decide revised resurfacing plan

ALBANY — The Dougherty County Commission will decide at its next business meeting, planned for May 9, whether to approve funding for an adjusted $744,604.25 road resurfacing project that had to be amended to account for bid numbers that came in higher than available funding.

County Public Works Director Larry Cook told commissioners at their work meeting Monday morning that the removal of a “partial resurfacing of Mud Creek Road” from the proposed resurfacing list got the project back to within the county’s budget.

Funding for the project is expected to come from SPLOST VI Road Resurfacing ($389,560.50), 2016 state Local Maintenance and Improvements Grant funds ($277,985), SPLOST VI Public Works Parking Lot funds ($39,238.50) and allocated Landfill Road Improvement dollars ($46,820.25).

“Public Works did some value engineering on the proposal to get it within budget,” Assistant County Administrator Mike McCoy said.

Cook said such adjustments are typical when putting together funding for taxpayer-funded projects.

“The bid was over our budget, so we had to make adjustments,” he said. “When that happens, we look at the condition of the roads to see where we can best make cuts. The plan was for only partial resurfacing of Mud Creek Road, and if the project comes in under projections, that road would be moved back onto our list.”

The low bid for the project with Mud Creek Road included was $826,000. The revised low bid was made by Reeves Construction Inc. of Albany.

Also at Monday’s joint/work/business meeting, the board discussed proposed changes to policy for use of the multipurpose facility at Robert Cross park. To make the policy more consumer-friendly, the commission’s Public Works Committee recommended that a $200 deposit be required of groups or individuals looking to rent the facility. The remainder of the $400-a-day cost would be due 30 days before the scheduled event.

“Basically, instead of putting up $600 up front, which would include the cost for renting the venue for a day and a $200 deposit, there would be only a $200 initial payment (for the deposit),” County Administrator Richard Crowdis said. “If the renter cancels more than 30 days out, $100 of his deposit will be returned and the other $100 will be forfeited for administrative fees.

“If an event is canceled within 30 days, the renter will lose the full $200 deposit.”

The $400 daily cost for the venue, which Assistant Public Works Director Chuckie Mathis said is lower than most such venues he’s researched, would remain the same under the recommended amendment.

In a brief business meeting called at the end of the work session, the board voted to approve Planning Services’ draft of the joint city/county Comprehensive Plan for submission to the Department of Community Affairs. The plan, which covers the years 2016-2025, will be returned by DCA to both the city and county commissions for final approval.

When the County Commission voted quickly to approve Planning’s draft plan Monday, District 3 Commissioner Clinton Johnson stopped the proceedings.

“Hold up, what did we just vote very quickly to approve without any discussion?” Johnson said. “Isn’t this a proposal with funding sources that might not even be available?”

When Planning Director Paul Forgey confirmed that the draft will “change constantly,” including ways that proposals are funded, Johnson appeared to be satisfied.

“The final draft of the plan will come back to this board for any changes and approval,” Forgey said. “And even after it’s approved, it can still be changed. This is a plan to address needs of the community.”

Commissioners also discussed a proposal to purchase uniforms for EMS, the low bid ($18,056.30) coming from Galls LLC of Lexington, Ky., and were asked to consider appointments to county boards. Among those being considered are Rod Garner and Rhonda Ware for a vacant position on the Department of Family and Children Services Board, and Veronica Adams-Cooper and Erica Wilson for the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission.

The county has gotten no applications for its Electrical, Flood Plain Management, Gas and Plumbing boards and is currently seeking qualified members.