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Commission approves GDOT grant submittals; commissioners press for Title VI coordinator update
Summary
The commission approved ordinances to pursue GDOT Local Maintenance and Improvement and Transit Trust Fund grants while newly seated Commissioner Stephanie Johnson urged action on filling or interim-assigning a Title VI coordinator to meet federal grant obligations.
Athens-Clarke County commissioners on Jan. 7 approved ordinances to amend the FY2025 budget so the county could receive potential grant awards from the Georgia Department of Transportation, including a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant and funding from the Georgia Transit Trust Fund.
The votes passed after commissioners moved the items out of the consent agenda; Commissioner Stephanie Johnson abstained from the votes citing that the matters predated her term and raising a procedural point about Title VI coordination for federally related transportation grants.
Johnson told the commission the county has a longstanding Title VI coordinator role but the position is currently vacant and the county website does not return a clear contact. “In order for us to continue to receive funds, we have to show that we are complying with the contract,” Johnson said, urging the manager to provide a written update on Title VI work and to consider an interim coordinator to meet GDOT requirements. Interim Manager Nikki Jones agreed to respond in writing and to include procurement and minority- and women-owned business outreach work in future updates.
Attorney Hines read the ordinances aloud before the votes. The items passed with Johnson’s abstentions recorded.
What happens next: commissioners directed staff to provide a written status update on Title VI coordination and to consider routine (quarterly) reporting on Title VI and MWBE outreach linked to GDOT-funded work. The county will proceed with grant submittal and budgeting steps if awards are made.
