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Cusseta–Chattahoochee work session advances SPLOST and tourism proposals, schedules trail-grant site visit
Summary
At its July 28 work session, county staff proposed using SPLOST and hotel/motel funds for a city-hall welcome center, Riverbend Park repairs including a fishing pier, campsite utility upgrades, and reported a SEID trail-grant site visit; road bids for Friendship Road were also put forward for the Aug. 5 agenda.
County staff asked the Commission at a July 28 work session to approve several tourism and SPLOST-funded improvements and to authorize grant activity that staff said could bring visitors and services to Chattahoochee County. County Manager Thomas Weaver presented water and public-works updates and outlined proposed projects for the Commission’s consideration.
Weaver said staff would seek quotes to convert a deteriorated room in city hall into a welcome center that could be used by the Chamber of Commerce or visitor partners and proposed Riverbend Park repairs that include a fishing pier and improved signage and landscaping at county entry points. He told commissioners the hotel/motel fund balance is $813,251 and said, "If we don't repair the room, it will continue to deteriorate," adding that powered campsites with septic could attract tourists if utilities are provided: "If we have power and water, people will come." Staff said quotes will be gathered for the dock and utility work and the projects would be paid from hotel/motel and SPLOST recreation allocations.
Weaver also reported a SEID trail-grant application has been submitted and a site visit is scheduled; staff asked the Commission to authorize signatures and any required local actions so the application can proceed. For roads, two bids for Friendship Road were disclosed — Oxford ($358,750.00) and Robinson Paving ($389,118.85) — and Weaver said the item would be added to the Aug. 5 regular meeting agenda for a vote.
Why it matters: the proposals would use restricted tourism and SPLOST funds and could affect local park amenities and visitor traffic. Weaver said some projects (welcome center, Riverbend improvements, a fishing pier and restroom/court improvements at King Street) cannot be funded from general revenue and should be prioritized while funds are available.
Other business: updates included US Tank cleaning of a water tank, public-works culvert repairs, expanded splashpad attendance, and routine agreements (4H annual agreement, New Horizons board reappointment) that staff will add to the Aug. 5 agenda. The county also plans to consult the county attorney on the conditional use permit process and on whether Planning & Zoning board-size changes require a charter or ordinance amendment.
Next steps: staff will collect quotes, place the Friendship Road bid award on the Aug. 5 agenda, and bring draft contract language and project budgets back to the Commission for formal action.
