Appling County hears recreation, roads and infrastructure updates; resident flags heavy-truck damage on Lamar Crosby Road

Appling County staff briefed commissioners on recreation programming, roadwork and several infrastructure projects at the Jan. 10, 2023 regular meeting.

Timmy McGuirt, speaking for the Recreation Department, said the department received a $2,000 Atlanta Hawks basketball grant to support the county's basketball program, noted outstanding needs at the Aquatic Center such as water fountains, and reported the facility was recently rented by Jeff Davis County for a small swim meet. McGuirt said Appling County plans to host the state swim meet on July 21, 2023.

Brooks Johnson, representing Road & Bridges, described ongoing operational challenges: crews are replacing missing 911 signs; nuisance beaver dams have resumed and the county is paying $40 per beaver tail as part of mitigation; and rock and drainage pipe materials are both expensive and increasingly difficult to source. Commissioner Doug Harris thanked the department for emergency road repairs performed in his district during the Christmas weekend.

During public comment, resident Dedre Hewitt urged the board to address heavy-truck traffic on Lamar Crosby Road, saying log trucks and other large vehicles are using the road as a bypass and causing damage. County Manager Al Meadows said he would check whether a weight limit is established on the road and report back.

Meadows provided a broader manager's report with project updates: the Appling 2022 LMIG project is approximately 99% complete with Georgia Asphalt Producers as contractor; the 2023 LMIG project has board approval but awaits the county's road list before the Jan. 31 submission deadline and is planned for bid in February 2023; the Appling TIA project has been approved, documents were submitted to GDOT and Nails Ferry Road and Ten Mile Road are among the selected roads for Band 1 disbursement; Crosby Chapel grading and drain work is underway with Littlefield Construction as contractor and county participation planned to haul material, with projected completion in April–May 2023; an Appling Head Start CDBG kick-off meeting occurred and preliminary engineering work has begun. Meadows also recognized Mike Deal for his interim service to the county and thanked him publicly.

The meeting concluded after chairman remarks and staff recognition. County staff listed next steps including finalizing road lists for grant submissions and proceeding with planned bids and contracting for SPLOST- and LMIG-funded projects.