Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County advances tourism projects and SPLOST plans; Friendship Road bids reported
Summary
At a July 28 work session, county staff proposed using Hotel/Motel and SPLOST funds for a visitor welcome center, Riverbend Park improvements including a fishing pier, powered campsites, and entryway signage. Officials also reported two bids for Friendship Road repair and placed several items on the Aug. 5 agenda.
County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners at a July 28 work session that the county has Hotel/Motel funds and SPLOST recreation funds available and proposed several tourism and parks projects for commission consideration.
Weaver said the Hotel/Motel balance stands at about $813,251 and that the county has already collected more than $500,000 in 2025 SPLOST receipts. He recommended converting a deteriorating room in city hall into a visitor welcome center (to be made available to the Chamber and other groups), building a fishing pier at Riverbend Park adjacent to the existing boat dock, and adding powered campsites with septic systems to attract overnight visitors. Weaver said the county will solicit quotes for repairs, the dock and campsite infrastructure and return the estimates to the commission for action.
Commissioner Charles Coffey and the county manager also discussed using a portion of tourism funds for entryway sign maintenance and landscaping. Coffey suggested checking earlier planning materials (a packet by Steve Wagner) for Riverbend Park proposals.
On road projects, the county reported two bids to repair Friendship Road: Oxford Construction at $358,750.00 and Robinson Paving at $389,118.85. Weaver said he would add the bids to the Aug. 5 regular meeting agenda for a vote.
Other items placed on the Aug. 5 agenda during the work session included consideration of reducing Planning & Zoning membership from seven to five (with attorney review), a Board of Health appointment (Alison Wigand), SEID trail grant signature and site‑visit authority, a 4‑H annual agreement already budgeted, and a New Horizons board reappointment (April Hughes).
Next steps: Staff will collect quotes for tourism projects, present Friendship Road bid documents at the Aug. 5 meeting, and return with attorney guidance on Planning & Zoning membership changes.
