Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners award SPLOST design contracts, raise driveway and millings fees and approve equipment purchases
Summary
The Whitfield County BOC awarded design contracts for three SPLOST intersection projects, approved a net deductive change order, raised driveway and millings fees, and authorized several Public Works equipment and contracting actions to support upcoming construction.
Whitfield County commissioners on March 9 approved preliminary design contracts for three intersection projects in the 2024 SPLOST program and moved several Public Works items intended to advance road projects and operations.
The board awarded preliminary design work for Reed Road at Rauschenberg/Timberghost and Hwy 201 at Old Lafayette/Houston Valley to Burgess & Niple (preliminary design fees of $59,429 and $80,188 respectively) and awarded full design through construction for S. Dixie Hwy at Brickyard Rd. to Kimley-Horn for $196,611. Commissioners said the firms committed to accelerated schedules with the goal of moving to construction in 2026–2027. The motions passed 4-0.
The board also approved a deductive change order to Proper Construction’s contract. The county removed $37,386 in rock costs from the contractor’s change order because the county purchased that material directly; after an offset for a requested recreation lighting substitution, the net change was a deduction of $31,003.79, producing a revised contract amount of $1,485,423.21.
To better reflect materials costs, Public Works was authorized to charge $950 for a standard residential driveway installation and $1,500 for driveways in minor residential subdivisions; the county noted those amounts represent average material costs, while labor and equipment continue to be provided as a service. The board also approved charging $300 per tandem truckload for asphalt millings produced by county crews and renewed a policy prohibiting resale of millings for profit. Each measure passed 4-0.
Commissioners approved purchase of a used 2025 HAMM HD90i tandem roller for $182,900 from 2024 SPLOST and renewed an annual trucking contract with Tunnel Express Trucking at $100 per hour. These actions provide equipment and hauling capacity expected to support accelerated roadwork tied to the SPLOST schedule.
What happens next: Design firms will proceed with preliminary work and the county will coordinate construction-phase design once preferred alternatives are chosen. The new fees and equipment purchases become part of Public Works operations as specified.
