Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Edwards Road topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners press staff to speed Edwards Road work as consultants' fees are negotiated
Summary
Commissioners sought clearer timelines and an interlocal agreement for Edwards Road; county staff said Friese Nichols' first‑phase scope and fee is under review and negotiations are underway, and engineering will examine phasing to preserve access during construction.
County commissioners and city officials pressed staff on the Edwards Road project, asking for an updated project description, a timetable for contractor sign‑ups and an interlocal agreement to transfer maintenance to McLendon‑Chisholm after construction.
"We need to update the Edwards Road description," said Commissioner Lauren Lichty, who asked where the county stood on signing people up and getting the project underway. County staff said they had received a first‑phase scope and fee from consultant Friese Nichols but that both staff and an internal reviewer (Erica) considered the fee higher than expected and were preparing notes to negotiate with the firm.
"We have the scope and fee for the first phase of Edwards Road and I'm waiting on Erica to review it," said Brenda, a county staff member overseeing the projects. She said staff would send notes back to the consultant and attempt to negotiate a revised fee.
Commissioners and mayors also raised traffic‑management concerns. "When y'all do that, are y'all planning to shut Edwards Road down again? Will y'all be able to do that one side at a time so that there can still be accessibility?" asked Mayor Brian McNeal of McLendon‑Chisholm.
Staff said phasing and traffic control options would be evaluated during engineering and that contractor progress and traffic control plans could affect the ability to do strictly sequential phasing. Commissioners urged staff to prioritize the interlocal agreement (ILA) that will turn responsibility for the road over to McLendon‑Chisholm once construction is complete.
The county also noted a construction contract had been signed and that physical work is expected to begin this summer, and staff said they would follow up with the consultant on fee negotiations and scheduling. The consortium did not take a formal vote during the meeting; staff reported next steps will include refining the scope, negotiating fee adjustments with Friese Nichols and preparing the ILA for the commissioner's court agenda.
