Meriwether County commissioners on Nov. 25 approved a guaranteed maximum price of $2,019,979.14 with River City for phase 1 of courthouse exterior and roof renovations and authorized staff to transfer up to $1,000,000 from the general fund special projects account into SPLOST capital as needed to fund the work.

A staff presentation said the county will repay the transfer beginning in February 2026 when SPLOST distributions resume; staff added the county has one year to reimburse the transfer before it would be treated as a loan. “In order to do the courthouse... we can do them in phases back to back,” an unidentified staff member told commissioners, explaining the proposed cash-flow approach.

The project was presented as phased work that includes roof and exterior repairs. County staff recommended approval of River City’s contract not to exceed the proposed amount. Commissioners voted in favor of the contract and the staff authorization to transfer funds; the motion included a direction that if more funding is needed the board will be asked to revisit the action.

County staff told commissioners the work could begin within about two weeks of approval. The board also authorized design and pricing work for phase 2 — a third-floor HVAC scope — with the contractor asked to return with a guaranteed maximum price once design details are finalized.

Financial clarifications provided to the board: staff reported a SPLOST balance of approximately $1,500,000 and other fund balances that the county intends to use in sequence. The phase 1 contract, the authorized $1,000,000 transfer, and the recommended phase 2 design authorization were all approved in voice votes during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will finalize contract language with legal review and the board of assessors where applicable, notify the contractor, and return to the board if additional funding is required or to present phase 2 guaranteed price information.