The Dalton Mayor and Council on Nov. 3 approved an addendum to the Mill Line Trail Phase 2 design contract to fund additional wetland ecology surveys.

Andrew, a staff member, said designers discovered that the original alignment for the trail, near the Paul Belt Trailhead running south into downtown, overlapped identified wetlands near the intersection of Cornett Drive and Chattanooga Avenue. Engineering estimates for wetland mitigation credits for the original alignment exceeded $1 million, Andrew said, and engineers recommended shifting the alignment further south to reduce environmental impact and mitigation costs. He said the initial environmental survey did not extend far enough south to cover the recommended realignment, so the designers requested a contract addendum of $6,827 to complete further wetland studies. Andrew said the work will be funded from the 2024 SPLOST account allocated to the project.

A council member moved to approve the addendum; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The additional survey will inform whether the proposed realignment can avoid wetlands or require mitigation.