Stonecrest engineer outlines 2025 paving, park and sidewalk projects, Southeast Athletic restroom pending power connection

City Engineer Harry told the Stonecrest City Council at its May 12 work session that the city plans to open bids for the 2025 paving program on May 29 and could issue a notice to proceed around July 4 after contracts are signed.

The bid calendar is central to the engineer’s larger update about projects across the city, from park infrastructure to sidewalks and school-crossing safety improvements. The city has completed construction of new restroom facilities at the Southeast Athletic Complex but “it is not, powered yet. We are waiting for Georgia Power to come and set the transformer,” the engineer said. He added the restroom build will provide 16 fixtures — “8 female and 8 male” — and will reduce future porta-potty rentals for large events.

The projects summary matters because several items are moving from design to procurement this year. The engineer said the purchasing division released the 2025 paving invitation to bid on April 16, held a pre-bid meeting April 24 and has answered vendor questions; the bid opening is scheduled for May 29 and staff expects to bring a recommendation to council at the June 23 meeting unless an earlier meeting is available. If the contract is executed on schedule, the engineer said, “hopefully, we can do an NTP on July 4 after the contracts signed by the mayor and the contractor.”

On parks and facilities, the engineer reported: the Southeast Athletic parking-lot bid was released and is expected to add “92 additional parking spaces at Southeast Athletic”; Farrington Park’s outdoor exercise equipment bid is open and will include removing wood chips and surfacing the play area with rubberized material; Brown’s Mill Park and portions of Farrington Park are included in a parking-lot resurfacing specification; and a restroom at Salem Park is being prepared by bringing sewer service closer to the play area but the council has not funded restroom construction yet. On Salem Park the engineer said proposals for sewer-line design were “being evaluated” and purchasing was preparing a recommendation.

The botanical garden civil design is completed and returned by the engineer for comments; the city is awaiting review comments from Georgia Soil and Water Commission before advertising civil construction work. The engineer said the civil work covers grading, parking, building pad and drainage, while the architectural design for the garden building will require a separate architect procurement.

Transportation and pedestrian-safety items include sidewalk designs for Irish Drive and Farrington Road (phase 2) to connect from Panola Road to DeKalb Medical and sidewalk work on Phillips Road and Salem Road. The city has applied for multiple grants: a CDBG application that has been evaluated; a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant described in the presentation as a $3,000,000 request for Thompson Mill Road; and a Farrington Road phase 1 CDBG effort listed in the staff slides (described in the presentation as a “2,024 CDBG grant”). The engineer also said staff is preparing specifications for rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at five schools and for three pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs), and that some crosswalk locations will be shifted so beacons can be installed safely and not at driveways.

Council members raised safety concerns about the Turner Hill and Rockland intersection; the engineer said tree removal there is complete and that the project will install solar-powered yellow flashing signs on both sides of the approach. “We’re gonna be installing a solar powered yellow flashing signs on both sides of that just before you turn in,” he said, adding that solar panels require cleared sight lines.

Council members and staff also discussed parking, event capacity and the operational benefits of replacing temporary portable restrooms with permanent restrooms at Southeast Athletic Complex. The city manager added that upfront construction costs are expected to be offset over time by reduced rental costs and by increased event capacity that could attract more regional tournaments.

Why this matters: several of the items the engineer described move from study to procurement and construction this year and will affect traffic, school crossings and park accessibility across Stonecrest. Key near-term dates the council heard: bid opening for 2025 paving on May 29, staff recommendation potentially June 23, and a target notice to proceed around July 4.

Meeting context: the engineering update drew multiple council members’ questions about timelines, safety at school entrances (Arabia Mountain High was mentioned) and maintenance responsibilities for roadway medians and parkway landscaping. That discussion included coordination with DeKalb County and with Georgia Power for the Southeast restroom transformer.

Sources and attributions: quotes and project descriptions in this article come from the city engineer’s presentation and follow-up answers during the May 12 work session, and from on‑the‑record comments by the city manager and council members during the same item.

Clarifying details noted in the meeting: bid opening for 2025 paving scheduled May 29; potential council recommendation June 23; target NTP July 4; Southeast Athletic new restroom build includes 16 fixtures (8 female, 8 male); planned addition of 92 parking spaces at Southeast Athletic; TAP grant described as $3,000,000 for Thompson Mill Road; proposal to relocate some crosswalks so RRFBs can be installed (five schools targeted); Salem Park sewer design proposals evaluated and a sewer extension to enable a future restroom is being pursued but restroom construction not funded yet.

Ending: Staff said it will return to council with recommended contract awards and bid evaluations for paving and other procurements; council members asked staff to continue coordinating with the school district and with DeKalb County on sidewalk and safety projects.