Whitfield County approves ARC grant application, accepts multiple justice and transportation grants and signs major equipment lease
Loading...
Summary
At its July 14 meeting the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved applying for a $2.0 million Appalachian Regional Commission infrastructure grant (with a $2.2 million local match), accepted criminal‑justice and Safe Streets grants, authorized a $532,542 courthouse ramp contract, and ratified a $2.78 million Motorola radio lease funded by 2024 SPLOST.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved a series of grant applications and awards and authorized contracts and budget actions intended to improve transportation, public safety and court services.
The board approved submission of an Appalachian Regional Commission infrastructure grant application to fund intersection improvements at S. Dixie Highway and W. Industrial Boulevard. The total project is estimated at $4.2 million; the county will request the maximum $2,000,000 in federal ARC funding and commit $2,200,000 in local funds as the required one‑for‑one match, the board record shows. Commissioner Barry W. Robbins made the motion and Commissioner Robby Staten seconded it; the motion passed 4‑0.
The board also approved several criminal‑justice grant actions. It accepted a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council state grant of $397,919 for Drug Court operations with a county match of $70,221 for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 period, and accepted a CJCC award of $175,966 for the Conasauga Mental Health Court with a Murray County match of $31,053; Whitfield will act as fiscal agent and be reimbursed for the match. Both grants were approved unanimously.
County staff said the board was also notified that Whitfield County was selected for a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All planning grant. The project budget is $200,000; up to $160,000 is federal with a 20% match of up to $40,000. County officials asked the board to accept the award and authorize the chairman to sign the future federal grant agreement; commissioners approved the request 4‑0 and noted the DOT agreement execution may take several months.
On capital and procurement matters the board approved a $532,542 construction contract with Integrated Builds, of Chattanooga, Tenn., to construct a permanent ADA‑compliant ramp at the courthouse, with a completion target of mid‑January 2026. The board rejected a $501,213 bid from Wilson Construction Management for the Mt. Vernon/Houston Valley roundabout and authorized Public Works to complete the work in‑house not to exceed $350,000 using 2007 SPLOST safety funds.
Emergency Management ratified a lease purchase agreement with Motorola for portable radios funded through 2024 SPLOST. The one‑year, 0% interest lease totals $2,784,274.58 and is intended to replace aging units with radios that include Wi‑Fi and LTE capabilities and five‑year warranties; the motion passed 4‑0.
The board approved payment of $34,936.41 for additional elevator work at the Wells Fargo building as required under the county's lease with Triple E Properties, Inc. That payment was approved 3‑1, with Commissioner Greg Jones recording the lone dissent.
Other business included approval of a juvenile court grant application for continuation funding for the Strengthening Families Program (maximum award $42,000, no county match required), a short emergency subcontract transportation agreement with Cherokee County for DHS‑reimbursed transports (July 1–Sept. 30, 2025), acceptance of a $2,000 donation to Juvenile Court and adoption of multiple amendments to the ACCG 401(a) and 457(b) retirement plans for county employees.
Votes at a glance: the board considered numerous planning commission rezoning recommendations during the meeting and recorded the following outcomes: Davenport (R‑5 to GA, 28.96 acres) — approved 4‑0; Greeson (SA to R‑5, 2.57 acres) — approved with a single‑family housing condition 4‑0; Hardin (R‑2 to R‑5, 4.62 acres) — approved 4‑0; Hasty (GA to C‑2, 28.29 acres) — approved 4‑0; McFalls (GA to R‑3, 1.83 acres) — approved 4‑0; NF Land and Wilderness Homes (R‑2 to R‑5, 7.25 acres) — approved 4‑0; Pimentel (R‑2 to R‑5, 1.06 acres) — denied 4‑0; Salud Cuna (R‑5 to M‑2, 0.40 acres) — approved 4‑0; Kucharski (R‑6 to R‑7, 2.02 acres) — approved 4‑0; Joe Stanley Moore (R‑5 to GA, 73 acres) — approved 4‑0. Those rezoning actions were motions carried during the meeting per the minutes.
The board adjourned after hearing public comment and certifying the minutes. County officials said they will proceed with grant application submittals, contract signings and grant agreement negotiations as authorized by the motions.
Sources: Whitfield County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, July 14, 2025.