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Commissioners approve $716,436 budget amendment to replace highway gateway signs and replace rec-center HVAC
Summary
The board split and approved funding for two projects: about $58,006.73 to replace two damaged gateway signs and $657,763 to replace the HVAC at the Virginia Grama Recreation Center; commissioners debated whether SPLOST or insurance should have covered the signs.
Clayton County commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a budget amendment to replace two damaged highway gateway signs and to replace the HVAC system at a county recreation center.
The board considered Budget Amendment 2-12, presented as a single request for $716,436 that the presenter broke into two parts: $58,006.73 to replace gateway signs struck by unidentified vehicles and $657,763 to replace the HVAC system at the Virginia Grama Recreation Center.
Commissioner Allen successfully moved to vote on the two pieces separately. The board voted first to replace the damaged gateway signs. County staff said the signs — bought and placed under GDOT standards as part of a SPLOST project — were located at the I-285 exit at Riverdale Road and the I-75 exit at Riverdale Road. Staff explained the signs’ siting had been dictated by Georgia Department of Transportation specifications, and that no accident reports had been filed for those specific damages, so insurance recovery was not available.
“Because the signs were purchased through SPLOST, there was no budgetary item on the operational side to look at replacement,” a county official said, explaining why the cost was coming from building-and-maintenance funds. Another staff member recommended replacement: “I would recommend to go ahead and replace the signs,” the presenter said. The board approved that item.
Commissioners discussed whether to remove the damaged signs now and replace them later, the possibility of moving a sign to a different location and whether future SPLOST budgets should account for repair and replacement of installed items. Staff said they will include signage repair and replacement in future budget proposals and that the county will seek to identify an ongoing repair-and-replacement line item during the FY27 budget process.
The board then approved the second portion of the amendment to replace the recreation center HVAC. A motion to approve that item passed.
Why it matters: staff said funding must come from building-and-maintenance accounts because SPLOST capital-outlay funding was not eligible for these operational replacements unless the county identified a new eligible capital installation. Commissioners pressed for clearer budgeting for maintenance of items installed with capital funds.
Next steps: staff said they will seek proposals for sign removal or replacement locations if the board later asks and will propose a maintenance budget line for signage and similar SPLOST-funded assets during FY27 planning.
