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Board approves transit bus purchase, pursues transportation and grant funds and awards MTP contract
Summary
County approved purchase of three transit buses (10% local match), authorized applications for federal and state grants (Safe Streets planning grant, GA EPD scrap tire program), accepted LMIG paving funds, awarded a 2050 MTP contract and accepted a sewer-connection bid for four fire stations using ARPA funds.
Whitfield County commissioners on Aug. 12 approved several infrastructure and grant-related actions intended to maintain and expand transportation and public works services.
The Board voted 4-0 to purchase three Starcraft Allstar passenger buses using the 2024 Transit Trust Funding Program. Each bus costs $118,578.50; the county's required 10% match is $11,857.85 per bus for a total county share of $35,573.55. Buses include two wheelchair positions; lettering and other incidentals may incur additional cost.
County Administration and Engineering were authorized to apply for the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All planning grant to develop a safety action plan and possibly a Reed Road corridor study. The project budget will not exceed $500,000 and requires a 20% match (up to $100,000); application deadline was Aug. 29.
Public Works accepted Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds totaling $1,546,028.50 to continue paving roughly 30+ miles this year. Separately, the GDMPO 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan update contract was awarded to Gresham Smith for $299,000; the grant pays 80% with a 20% local match.
The Board accepted Ellis Contracting's bid to connect Fire Stations 1, 2, 7 and 11 to sewer and abandon aging septic systems using ARPA funds. The base bid was $119,040; the county approved a not-to-exceed figure of $140,000 to allow for an additional pump station determined necessary after bid opening.
Commissioners also approved applying for Georgia EPD's Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement (STAR) program, which could reimburse up to $75,000 per state fiscal year; the county plans a passenger-tire collection event in late fall with an estimated 2,400 tires and an estimated cost of $3,400.
All motions related to these items passed unanimously (4-0).
