Whitfield County commissioners approve contracts, grants and budget adjustments in October meeting
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Summary
At its Oct. 9 meeting, the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved multiple contracts and grants — including traffic-signal work, park lighting, IT upgrades, and a mass spectrometer grant — and adopted budget amendments and ordinance changes; most actions passed unanimously, 4-0.
WHITFIELD COUNTY — The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a range of contracts, grant acceptances and budget amendments during its Oct. 9 regular business meeting, moving forward projects for public safety, infrastructure, IT systems and social services.
The board unanimously approved a series of motions, with most votes recorded as 4-0 in favor. Among the larger approvals, commissioners awarded a micro-surfacing contract to Asphalt Paving Systems for up to $650,000 to preserve about 10 miles of county roads and approved a Musco Lighting change order for $61,000 to increase lighting at Westside Park, raising that contract from $307,000 to $368,000.
County Administrator Robert Sivick told the board that federal and state grants are supporting several projects; the board approved a $159,000 fixed-fee engineering contract with Gresham Smith for improvements at Prater's Mill, fully funded by a state grant, and accepted a COVID-19 mitigation grant allowing up to $100,000 in reimbursements for eligible expenses at the county detention facility.
The board also accepted a federal COPS Technology and Equipment Grant for $75,000 to buy a mass spectrometer for the drug unit, with the remaining estimated equipment cost to be paid from the Sheriff’s Forfeiture Fund. Commissioner Robby Staten moved the grant acceptance; Commissioner Greg Jones seconded the motion, which passed 4-0.
On information technology, commissioners approved purchasing HPE Alletra 5030 storage arrays for $138,470.36 and replacing Cisco UCS voice servers for $65,109.18 to address end-of-life hardware; the board also authorized a $12,950 penetration test of the county network by Global Perceptive Solutions, Inc.
Budget amendments approved included a $243,884 increase for Wells Fargo utilities true-ups and a $30,480 lease-payment amendment; the board also approved Human Resources budget changes totaling $54,593 for an executive-search contract and performance software.
Other actions included a $151,575 emergency-design-and-installation contract for a traffic signal at Beaverdale Road and Boyles Mill/Goodhope Road; approval of high-density file storage for the District Attorney’s Victim Witness area ($32,181.24); a $30,991 change order for re-roofing the Law Enforcement Center; two rezoning approvals with conditions; and an amendment to the Indigent Burial Ordinance setting county-paid rates at $800 for cremation and $2,100 for burial with plot.
Commissioners also approved an MOA with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission for senior-center meals and programming (the NWGRC will reimburse $8 per qualified meal), and voted to enter a contract with Georgia Probation Services, Inc. for private probation and fine-collection services for certain Magistrate Court misdemeanors.
During public comment, resident Gary Seibenhener expressed concern about the prospect of industrial poultry houses near his property, citing potential environmental impacts. The board did not take action on that comment at the meeting.
The board adjourned after completing the agenda. Minutes were signed by Chairman Jevin Jensen and County Clerk Blanca Cardona.