County seeks to buy downtown Canton acreage; limited Phase II recommended to clear environmental liability

The county manager presented a proposal to acquire approximately 4.63 acres on North Street in downtown Canton to expand parking for the Justice Center, historic courthouse and nearby county buildings. The purchase price for the seven parcels is $5,412,630 with a corresponding $500,000 donation toward Badger Creek Park improvements, for a net county purchase of $4,912,630.

Staff said survey discrepancies identified earlier were corrected and that approval could be contingent on final survey corrections. "We forwarded to Jeff... it's there," one commissioner noted; staff said the survey is available and that the board could approve contingent on the final corrections.

Because a prior Phase I site assessment identified recognized environmental conditions (former vehicle maintenance uses and possible off-site impacts from dry-cleaning or other industrial uses), the county recommended contracting NOVA Engineering Environmental Services to perform a limited Phase II site assessment under the countys professional-services agreement for $25,850 on the parcel. The manager said the Phase II work would include testing and allow the county to pursue a Georgia EPD release to reduce future liability related to any on-site or migrating contamination.

Commissioners discussed whether to perform environmental testing before purchase; staff said the county has used similar procedures in prior acquisitions and recommended proceeding with the Phase II to secure clearance and limit future liability.

No final purchase approval was recorded in the work session transcript; staff said the item would be discussed further and could be handled upstairs in closed session given acquisition considerations.