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County manager seeks SPLOST and Hotel/Motel funds for welcome center, Riverbend Park pier and campsites
Summary
During a July 28 work session the county manager proposed using Hotel/Motel and SPLOST funds to convert a City Hall room to a welcome center, repair Riverbend Park and add a fishing pier and power/septic campsites, and asked commissioners to authorize quotes and add items to the Aug. 5 agenda; staff also reported grant activity for a trails project.
The Cusseta-Chattahoochee County manager on July 28 asked commissioners to authorize spending and to place several tourism and recreation projects on the Aug. 5 regular meeting agenda.
Thomas Weaver told the work session the county has $813,251 available in Hotel/Motel funds and that the 2025 SPLOST recreation fund has already collected "over $500,000" this year; he proposed converting a room in City Hall into a welcome center that could be used by the chamber of commerce, repairing facilities at Riverbend Park with quotes requested for a fishing pier and accessible dock, and developing campsites with power and septic hookups to attract more overnight visitors.
"If we don't repair the room, it will continue to deteriorate," Weaver said, urging commissioners to approve quotes. On the potential for campsites he added, "If we have power and water, people will come." Weaver also said the county has a site visit scheduled this week for a SEID trail grant application and requested commission approval and signatures to pursue the grant.
Why it matters: The proposals would use funds that state law and local ordinances restrict to tourism and capital projects (Hotel/Motel and SPLOST revenue). County officials said upgrades could support local recreation and tourism development and make better use of existing facilities.
What’s next: Staff will obtain cost estimates and return recommendations for commissioner action at the Aug. 5 regular meeting. Commissioners discussed signage and other smaller tourism projects and asked staff to coordinate cost estimates and outreach to regional partners.
Sources: County Manager updates at July 28, 2025 work session and staff comments regarding Hotel/Motel and SPLOST balances and proposed projects.
