Georgia County Government - March 2009 - (Page 28)

CountyParade CATOOSA County Pledges Funds For High-Speed Rail Study The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners have committed $150,000 to provide part of the matching funds needed for a $15 million grant the state is seeking to study an Atlantato-Chattanooga Maglev train project. A Maglev is a high-speed train that travels from one destination to the next via magnetic levitation. Catoosa County was asked by state transportation officials to pledge $235,250 toward the study, but in a vote approved the lower amount. The funds are expected to come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) proceeds. Commissioner Ken Marks espoused his belief that the study will “help define the stops and the routing of the train.” Initial stops are anticipated in Cartersville and Dalton, but none in Catoosa; however, the project is considered a potential economic boon for all jurisdictions in the affected rail corridor. the county currently provides bins. The company will also provide recycling to the Cherokee County School district, at no charge, under the agreement with the county. Community Services Director Jackie McMorris said the recycling process provided will not change, except that all types of recyclables will be funneled into a single-stream compactor. “Single stream recycling” is a new process that groups recyclables altogether in one compactor or bin, which are then separated out at the recycling plant. CHEROKEE Recycling Program Privatized, Process Goes ‘Single-Stream’ After unanimously approving privatization of the county’s recycling program last fall, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners authorized Waste Management to handle recycling at all county drop-off locations beginning the first of this year. Another enhancement is implementation of the “single stream” collection process, under the new agreement. Citing enhanced service and cost savings for county residents as a result of the move, County Manager Jerry Cooper told local newspapers that using county employees to man recycling locations and haul recyclable materials to turn in points from local businesses and collection points had cost some $175,000 per year. In partnership with the county, Waste Management provides “single stream” recycling services, by placing compactors at strategic locations, where 28 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT MADISON Leveraging Lower Steel Costs, County Plans New Jail Following the issuance of $16 million in bonds last year, Madison County commissioners unanimously authorized project manager Ray McFadden to order almost $2 million worth of steel cells for a new county jail. Ordering 110 pre-fabricated steel cells in January for arrival later this year enabled the county to take advantage of lower steel prices. With cost planning complete, the project was deemed ready to go; however, the fi nal cost of the jail will approach $18 million, meaning the $15.6 million on hand from the sale of bonds will need to be supplemented with additional cash. Bonds will be repaid by current SPLOST proceeds. The new jail is being sited on Hwy. 83 in Madison; project builder is Hogan Construction. County Administrator Paul Penn told commissioners that “he has been looking for a piece of equipment like this since he became county administrator” and that “it is something that is needed and worthwhile.” Public Works Director Paul Hudson, who went to Louisiana to inspect the Grade All, said the equipment was in excellent shape because it was mostly used for cleaning sand, not rocks and other debris that ends up in culverts in Georgia. The equipment has an arm that reaches off the highway and cleans the area and will not require the county to drive a backhoe into the area that needs attention. MERIWETHER Officials Purchase Culvert Cleaning Equipment at Greatly Reduced Price Keeping culverts clean and clear of debris can help reduce flooding during heavy rains. The challenge is having the right equipment to maintain them. The Meriwether County Commission recently voted unanimously to purchase a used Grade All that would make cleaning culverts and driveway pipes easier. While new equipment can cost $120,000 to $190,000, the county was able to achieve considerable cost savings by purchasing used equipment for $14,500 and paying half the shipping cost, estimated at $1,000. MONROE County Acquires Juliette Water Treatment Facility Hoping to provide water service along the southeastern border of the jurisdiction at a minimal cost, Monroe County commissioners unanimously agreed to acquire the Plant Camellia water treatment facility in Juliette, but the facility must be rehabilitated prior to coming online. Exercising an option to purchase the plant from the Development Authority of Monroe County, commissioners requested that the authority pay off a $675,000 loan on the water plant by the end of 2008, whereupon the county would agree to buy the property when the funds were bonded, within 60 days. Commissioners’ decision to pursue the project was prompted in part by a commitment from engineers Carter & Sloop that they could get the plant fully operational for less money than expected, approximately $4 million, with an additional $4 million to $5 million needed to run new water lines. Meanwhile, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division tentatively authorized the plant to withdraw 3.6 million gallons per day (mgd) from the Ocmulgee River. The county hopes to rehabilitate the plant and begin supplying water service to the southeast portion of the county this year. “We’ll be in the water business forever,” Commissioner Mike Bilderback said. “So it behooves the county to have a source of our own.”

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - March 2009

Georgia County Government - March 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters Focus on Southeast Georgia The Georgia Public Service Commission Jerry R. Griffin MPA Scholarship Recipients Named Extension News Research Corner Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - March 2009

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