Dawson County to apply for $1 million CDBG for new public health facility; A&E contract awarded

Dawson County officials voted on Aug. 15 to move forward with a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) pre-application to fund construction of a new county public health facility, and separately approved a contract for architecture and engineering services for the project.

Dawson County Purchasing Manager Melissa Hawk presented the proposed CDBG pre-application, saying the grant would require a 10% county match and that the county is partnering with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. GMRC’s Maggie Smith reviewed the grant application process and procedures, and Chairman Billy Thurmond opened and closed the hearing with no members of the public speaking. The minutes record that the motion to proceed with the application passed 3-0.

In related action, the board considered RFP #434-24 (A&E services for the public health facility) and voted to accept proposals and award a contract to Hill Foley Rossi & Associates in an amount not to exceed $194,500, to be paid from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII funds; the minutes record the motion passed 3-0. The minutes note that a detailed presentation on the grant accompanied the official record.

Why it matters: the county says the CDBG would provide the primary capital funding for a new public health department facility, with a required county contribution; awarding the A&E contract is the next step in design and grant coordination if the grant application proceeds.

Next steps: the minutes indicate staff will proceed with the application process with assistance from GMRC. The CDBG pre-application was the second of two hearings on the topic; no public comment was recorded at this meeting.