Fayette County accepts GDOT ROW grant, authorizes ROW services and IGA with Town of Brooks

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 26 accepted a Georgia Department of Transportation contract and associated grant to reimburse the county for local right-of-way acquisition costs on the SR 85/SR 279/Corinth Road project (GDOT PI 0017813) and authorized related professional services and an intergovernmental repair agreement.

Public Works Director Phil Mallon told the board the GDOT contract includes a grant reimbursing local ROW acquisition costs up to $4,040,000. The board also approved Contract #1981-Q, Task Order 8, with Practical Design Partners for right-of-way acquisition services and related activities with a not-to-exceed amount of $364,230. Both votes passed unanimously.

Mallon said the county will coordinate acquisition work with GDOT and use the PDP task order to support appraisal, negotiation and closing activities. Chairman Lee Hearn said the approved intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Brooks — under which Brooks pays material costs and the county covers labor and equipment to repair a 72-inch corrugated metal pipe — will free up Town SPLOST funds for other projects.

What was approved - Acceptance of GDOT contract and grant to reimburse up to $4,040,000 in ROW acquisition costs (approved 5-0). - Contract #1981-Q Task Order 8 to Practical Design Partners for ROW acquisition services (NTE $364,230, approved 5-0). - Intergovernmental Agreement with the Town of Brooks to cover culvert repair materials while the county supplies labor and equipment (approved 5-0).

Next steps Public Works will proceed to coordinate right-of-way acquisition with GDOT and the contracted consultant, and will schedule the culvert repair work with the Town of Brooks under the IGA. The PDP task order establishes consultant support for appraisals, acquisitions and related documents needed to close ROW transactions.