Commission revises Georgia Outdoor Stewardship timeline, directs county to clear illegal dumping at project site

Jones County commissioners on July 1 accepted a revised timeline for a county project funded by the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program and directed county staff to clear illegal dumping and other debris from the site so construction can move forward.

The change matters because commissioners said the completion date tied to the grant will not change but the bidding and construction window has shifted later in 2025. County staff told the board the construction period is now scheduled for October–December 2025 while the overall project end date remains the same.

Jason (county staff) told the board that the project’s “construction time frame is pushed back to October to December of 2025” but that the county still expects to finish the project by the grant’s calendar-year closeout. He said survey work is complete and the schedule delay stemmed primarily from permitting, bidding and cleanup needs discovered during site work.

Commissioners and staff described illegal dumping on the parcel, including “about 50 tires” and both new and old trash. Jason said the site also has marked outcrops that should be preserved and used in construction, and he described the presence of a landfill area behind the parcel. The board discussed monitoring and cameras previously placed at the site.

After discussion the chairman instructed the county administrator to proceed with clearing the site. The chairman said, “go ahead and move forward with that clearing.” County staff said they will coordinate the removal while preserving material flagged for reuse in the project where appropriate.

The record shows the board’s direction is an administrative step to prepare the site for bidding and construction; no formal amendment to the grant agreement or change in the project’s final closeout date was recorded during the meeting. Staff said they expect the procurement and construction pace to increase now that survey work and site marking are complete.

Commissioners did not provide a detailed cost estimate for the clearing or identify funding sources during the discussion. Staff noted prior citations had been issued at the site for dumping but did not say whether responsible parties will be billed for cleanup costs.

The item was discussed during the portion of the agenda covering the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship grant project and related timeline adjustments.