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Whitfield County commissioners approve bridge change order, records digitization increase and multiple routine motions
Summary
At its Sept. 11 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a $532,170.90 change order for bridge repairs, increased a deed-digitization contract, allocated $100,000 in LATCF ARPA funds to Prater’s Mill and approved several rezoning actions and licenses. Several transit and federal grant applications were authorized.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 11 approved a series of routine and capital items, including a $532,170.90 contract change order to complete bridge rehabilitation work, an increase in the Clerk of Superior Court’s deed-digitization contract, and the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds to a historic site project.
Chairman Jevin Jensen opened the meeting, offered a brief remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and recognized Carter Thomas of the Public Defender’s Office as Employee of the Month for July. County Administrator Robert Sivick and Chief Financial Officer Debbie Godfrey reviewed financial results and funding updates before the board took votes on multiple agenda items.
The largest fiscal action was approval of Change Order #1 for E & D Contracting Co., adding $532,170.90 to the contract for rehabilitation of five county bridges to address additional stone and concrete needs caused by erosion since estimates were prepared in 2019. The board approved the change order after commissioners said the work is intended to lift weight restrictions and extend the bridges’ service lives.
The board approved increasing the Kofile contract for deed digitization to $528,900 to complete document scanning for years 1971–1978; Kofile has billed $407,145.10 to date. Minutes note the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority provided $103,929 toward the project, leaving a net county cost reported as $424,116.10.
Commissioners allocated $100,000 of LATCF (ARPA) funds to repair and renovate the Prater’s Mill building, and removed former Whitfield County Comptroller James Garvin from the ARPA account signatory card at Bank of OZK.
The board authorized applications for transit funding: a Formula 5307 Urban Transportation grant (FY2025), for which the county would be responsible for a 50% operating match and 10% capital match if an award is made, and a FY2024 Transit Trust Fund Program request totalling $138,177 in capital and operating funds (100% funded, no local match). County administration noted Whitfield County’s classification is trending toward urban, which affects 5307 eligibility and the size of awards.
Other approved items included acceptance of Multiplex LLC’s $57,428 proposal to repair cosmetic brickwork on the county parking deck, an MOU with Georgia Northwestern Technical College to provide training and college credit for fire department personnel, and a $16,283 contract with Standby Service Solutions to repair the detention center’s emergency generator automatic-start system.
On planning matters the board voted on multiple rezoning items as recommended by the Planning Commission. Actions included approval of a rezoning to General Agriculture for parcel 11-129-01-000 with a condition prohibiting concentrated poultry or swine operations; denial of a rezoning for parcel 12-150-41-000; approval of several other parcels to General Agriculture or General Commercial; and approval of a rezoning to Rural Residential for parcel 12-106-34-000. The board also accepted the Planning Commission recommendation to deny a special-use request for a Group Personal Care Home where applicants indicated they intended to operate a Family Personal Care Home (up to six individuals), which requires no special-use approval.
Votes at a glance — selected actions approved 3-0 unless otherwise noted: - Approve agenda and prior minutes: motion passed (Jones/Robbins) — approved 3-0. - Alcohol beverage licenses for Road Runners (1822 Dug Gap Rd.), La Coronita #2 (131 Dawnville Rd.), and One Stop Mart (1293 Dawnville Rd., Unit A): approved (Jones/Thomas) — approved 3-0. - Allocate $100,000 LATCF (ARPA) to Prater’s Mill renovation: approved (Robbins/Thomas) — approved 3-0. - Authorize application for Reconnecting Communities planning grant for Cohutta (see separate item): approved (Thomas/Robbins) — approved 3-0. - Remove former comptroller from ARPA account signers (Bank of OZK): approved (Robbins/Jones) — approved 3-0. - Increase Kofile contract for deed digitization (complete 1971–1978): approved (Robbins/Thomas) — approved 3-0. - Apply for FY2025 5307 Urban Transportation funds and FY2024 Transit Trust Fund ($138,177): approved — approved 3-0. - Accept Multiplex LLC proposal for parking deck brick repairs ($57,428): approved — approved 3-0. - Enter MOU with Georgia Northwestern Technical College for firefighter training: approved — approved 3-0. - Accept low bid for generator repair at Detention Center ($16,283): approved — approved 3-0. - Approve multiple rezoning actions per Planning Commission recommendations and deny Special Use request for Lisenbee property: approved — approved 3-0. - Approve Change Order #1 with E & D Contracting Co. for bridge rehabilitation ($532,170.90): approved — approved 3-0.
The meeting record shows no public comments during public hearings or open public-comment periods. The board adjourned after the posted business. The minutes were signed by Chairman Jevin Jensen and County Clerk Blanca Cardona on Oct. 9, 2023.
