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Augusta leaders outline plan, timeline and outstanding local costs for proposed state veterans cemetery
Summary
State design officials and county leaders told the Augusta Richmond County Commission the VA has approved grant funding for a new state veterans cemetery at a Gracewood‑area site, but local demolition, roadwork and an urgently needed parcel acquisition must be resolved quickly to meet federal deadlines.
The Augusta Richmond County Commission heard an extended briefing May 5 on plans for a state veterans cemetery near Gracewood, where state and design officials said a VA grant has made construction possible but a tight schedule and local costs remain unresolved.
Commissioner Don Clark introduced the update and called the project long overdue, noting that existing state‑run veterans cemeteries serving the region require many residents to travel long distances. Robert Malden of 2KM Architects and Russell Fagan of the Georgia Department of Veteran Services described a revised site plan with the main entrance off Bird Road, an initial phase that includes ceremonial and burial sections, and a compressed schedule that requires design, permitting and bidding in roughly seven months to meet the VA grant timeline.
State officials said the VA grant does not pay for land acquisition, demolition of existing dilapidated structures, or certain road improvements. The presenters said demolition of a small set of buildings, utility relocation and improving Bird Road to present a suitable entrance are city responsibilities or require local funding. Russell Fagan said the state expects to operate and staff the cemetery after construction; presenters estimated the operation would begin with about eight full‑time staff, expanding later depending on demand.
Commissioners emphasized urgency and asked for clearer cost estimates and a timeline for any local commitments. Commissioner Stacy Pulling asked whether procurement and contracting will be handled through the state; state officials confirmed construction will be publicly solicited through state procurement, while demolition was likely to be packaged as a state bid ad‑alternate so the city could choose whether to fund it.
Legal and staff updates followed a closed‑door session: the commission voted to authorize the law department to negotiate acquisition of parcels on Bird Road needed for the cemetery entrance, contingent on the State Properties Commission approving the cemetery in June.
What’s next: officials said the design/construction schedule aims to break ground by the end of the year and complete the first phase roughly 12–18 months after that; commissioners requested a clear, itemized estimate of local costs (demolition, road work, easements) before the body commits additional funds. The presenters stressed that VA certification and state inspections must approve the site before any interments could occur.
