Fannin County commissioners approve park pavilion, bridge safety fencing and one-time employee payments

Fannin County commissioners met and approved a set of routine and project-specific actions, including funding for a new park pavilion, added safety equipment at river parks, a fence to reduce fall risk at an older metal bridge and one-time year-end payments for county employees.

The board accepted a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation to secure right-of-way for replacement work on the Ford Mill bridge. Chair moved to accept the MOA and commissioners approved the agreement by voice vote. Commissioners discussed the bridge location and agreed the memorandum was necessary to allow GDOT to proceed with replacement work.

Eddie O'Neil, identified in the meeting as Fannin County recreation director, asked for county funds to build a 30-by-40 covered pavilion at the City Park and asked that costs not exceed $55,000, to be paid from Rex Plus/SPLOST-type funds. "What we would like to do is to build a 30 by 40 covered pavilion at the City Park. This would come from Rex Plus, and I'd like to do it not to exceed $55,000," O'Neil said. Commissioners compared the shelter to an…