Coweta commissioners approve wetland mitigation purchase, road and park contract changes, tax-incentive MOU and other county contracts

The Coweta County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 4 approved a package of contracts, amendments and incentives covering roadwork, park improvements, utilities, health insurance and an economic development MOU.

Key approvals included a request to purchase 2.24 wetland mitigation credits for the Shaw Connector project at a cost of $336,000 to offset impacts to wetlands and streams. Public Works staff explained that federal permitting requires compensation for disturbed wetlands and that mitigation credits are typically purchased from mitigation banks within the same drainage basin.

The board approved a 20-day time extension for Triple R Paving's 2025 mill-and-inlay resurfacing contract after staff reviewed weather records and determined 20 days (contractor requested 25) was appropriate. For the Corinth and Millard Farmer Road project, commissioners approved a supplemental agreement with McCoy Grading to install temporary slope drain pipe to prevent erosion; the contractor quoted $43.75 per linear foot and staff estimated roughly 400 feet would be required.

The board authorized a utility-relocation agreement with Georgia Power requiring the county to reimburse relocation expenses for poles and distribution lines that must move to accommodate the Southwest Connector; Georgia Power estimated relocation at $95,126.

Park work at Leroy Johnson Park Phase 2 will switch from sprigging to sod due to late-season conditions. Staff removed a $31,850 sprigging line, retained $89,580 for final grading, and authorized up to $90,000 for DiamondScapes to install sod (including a $13,500 contingency). County labor and materials for sod and fertilizer were estimated at $65,000–$68,000; the total estimated project cost cited in the meeting materials was $158,700 (SPLOST 2025 funds).

Economic development: the board approved a memorandum of understanding proposed by the development authority to support Yokogawa Corporation of America’s planned redevelopment on Dart Road. The company’s investment was described as just over $20,000,000 across two phases (Phase 1 about $8.9 million; Phase 2 about $11.0 million). The development authority plans to issue revenue bonds for lease to the company; staff said those bonds would not be obligations of Coweta County. The MOU initially reflected a retention commitment of 333 jobs; Yokogawa later requested a reduction to 283 in the agreement materials, which staff said does not change the fiscal analysis.

Other approvals: county staff recommended and the board approved retaining MaxAir Mechanical for a 911 office renovation HVAC project after the low bidder was found noncompliant ($145,502); the board approved an agreement with Jim Strickland Law Firm LLC to fill a state-court public-defender contract position effective Oct. 1, 2025; and the board approved a 2.5% renewal rate for the county’s fully insured medical plan (employee rates proposed flat), with the HSA individual deductible adjusted from $3,300 to $3,400 to reflect IRS regulations. The board also approved surplusing apparatus previously used by Coweta County Fire Rescue. All motions reported in the transcript were carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Staff comments at the meeting emphasized federal requirements for wetland mitigation, that mitigation banks can be in adjacent drainage basins if none are available locally, that some contract time extensions are due to weather, and that the proposed Yokogawa bond financing would not be a county obligation. Several motions included brief discussion and then unanimous approval.

What happens next: staff will execute contracts and agreements as authorized; several items noted follow-up administrative tasks (e.g., purchase of stream credits at a later meeting, contract administration, and execution of the Yokogawa revenue-bond financing through the development authority).