During a work session Tuesday, the Forsyth County commission approved a $52,700 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trail Grant award to design and build a pedestrian bridge for the Charleston Park trail system. It’s the third such grant received by the parks and recreation department. Commissioner Jim Boff voted against the measure due to its many federal requirements.• Awarded a $1.29 million bid to install artificial turf by August at Coal Mountain, Sawnee Mountain, Joint Venture at Daves Creek and Fowler parks. The bid was awarded to Sports Turf Company Inc.• Selected Martin Construction to handle intersection improvements at Old Atlanta and Daves Creek roads for $367,958.• Ratified a change order to Womack Electric for repairs at the Marsett and Old Atlanta pump stations. They total about $14,604.• Agreed to provide an additional $351,627 to the animal shelter project to include an additional 1,359 square feet of office space for animal control officers. The decision was also made to waive the finance charge. The project scope was reduced by $67,557.• Reviewed a proposal for the Buford Highway Overlay District, dealing largely with outdoor lighting, signs, landscaping and performance standards for fuel stations and other vehicle-related establishments. Two public hearings will be required, but prior to that Commissioner Cindy Mills requested letters be sent to nearby property owners asking for input.• Voted to allow a 13.35-acre property owned by Automation Direct to be annexed into Cumming, where the company operates. Commissioner Brian Tam was absent for the vote. • Appointed new members to various committees. In addition to Commissioners Todd Levent and Cindy Mills, the county’s transportation committee will include Tim Merritt and John Cunard. The county’s water and sewer committee will add Merritt and Tim Perkins, who will join Boff and Tam. Jerry Kinsey will join Tam, Levent and Mills on the parks and recreation committee. Commissioners Pete Amos and Tam will be joined by Doug Derrer, Dave Gruen and Mills on the finance committee. Tam was absent for the vote.• Decided to proceed with possibly accepting a property donation from Advanced Disposal. The less than 1 acre site houses the Blackburn Cemetery, which has been maintained by the waste management company for more than a decade. The county’s historical society would likely take over upkeep. • Heard an update on the status of Green Leaf Subdivision, which has several plots owned by many owners. The county has not received sales tax on the properties and commissioners asked for further options.• Authorized another $30,000 to defend the Shakerag permit for a wastewater discharge facility expansion. County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the county has won the lawsuit, but the Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper organization, which filed the initial suit, wants more hearings. With the addition of the funding, Jarrard said the county will have spent $577,800 to defend the permit. Tam was not present for the vote.
During a work session Tuesday, the Forsyth County commission approved a $52,700 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trail Grant award to design and build a pedestrian bridge for the Charleston Park trail system. It’s the third such grant received by the parks and recreation department. Commissioner Jim Boff voted against the measure due to its many federal requirements.• Awarded a $1.29 million bid to install artificial turf by August at Coal Mountain, Sawnee Mountain, Joint Venture at Daves Creek and Fowler parks. The bid was awarded to Sports Turf Company Inc.• Selected Martin Construction to handle intersection improvements at Old Atlanta and Daves Creek roads for $367,958.• Ratified a change order to Womack Electric for repairs at the Marsett and Old Atlanta pump stations. They total about $14,604.• Agreed to provide an additional $351,627 to the animal shelter project to include an additional 1,359 square feet of office space for animal control officers. The decision was also made to waive the finance charge. The project scope was reduced by $67,557.• Reviewed a proposal for the Buford Highway Overlay District, dealing largely with outdoor lighting, signs, landscaping and performance standards for fuel stations and other vehicle-related establishments. Two public hearings will be required, but prior to that Commissioner Cindy Mills requested letters be sent to nearby property owners asking for input.• Voted to allow a 13.35-acre property owned by Automation Direct to be annexed into Cumming, where the company operates. Commissioner Brian Tam was absent for the vote. • Appointed new members to various committees. In addition to Commissioners Todd Levent and Cindy Mills, the county’s transportation committee will include Tim Merritt and John Cunard. The county’s water and sewer committee will add Merritt and Tim Perkins, who will join Boff and Tam. Jerry Kinsey will join Tam, Levent and Mills on the parks and recreation committee. Commissioners Pete Amos and Tam will be joined by Doug Derrer, Dave Gruen and Mills on the finance committee. Tam was absent for the vote.• Decided to proceed with possibly accepting a property donation from Advanced Disposal. The less than 1 acre site houses the Blackburn Cemetery, which has been maintained by the waste management company for more than a decade. The county’s historical society would likely take over upkeep. • Heard an update on the status of Green Leaf Subdivision, which has several plots owned by many owners. The county has not received sales tax on the properties and commissioners asked for further options.• Authorized another $30,000 to defend the Shakerag permit for a wastewater discharge facility expansion. County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the county has won the lawsuit, but the Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper organization, which filed the initial suit, wants more hearings. With the addition of the funding, Jarrard said the county will have spent $577,800 to defend the permit. Tam was not present for the vote.