The agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation to complete construction of Commerce Boulevard was approved by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners at its regular monthly meeting and is expected to help with traffic around the new Northside Hospital-Cherokee.
The Local Maintenance Improvement Grant agreement to construct phase two of the project will see the county chipping in $1.4 million from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.
GDOT will contribute $4.3 million while Northside Hospital will fund the remaining cost of the project with $2.2 million.
The total cost of the project is projected at around $7.9 million.
The county also approved a contract with N.J. Wilbanks Contracting Co. Inc. to construct the road for $7.88 million.
County Manager Jerry Cooper said the company was the low bidder for the project and the Cherokee County Engineering Department will manage the project.
Cherokee County Public Works Agency Director Geoff Morton said the project entails building a bridge over Canton Creek and extending the road from where it now stops adjacent to SuperTarget to its new intersection with Highway 140/Hickory Flat Highway.
Morton added the road will be four lanes the entire way and a traffic signal will be installed at the new intersection with Highway 140.
The road is planned as Northside Hospital is expected to build its 84-bed replacement facility along the road.
It also has plans to add other medical facilities in the area.
Don Hausfeld with the Landon Group praised the county for its due diligence, adding “we would not be here” if the county did not take the lead in getting the project funded.
In other business, the commission approved a resolution to start the process of calling an election to be held in conjunction with the Nov. 6 general election for voters to consider implementing a Homestead Option Sales Tax.
The commission also ratified a consent order signed by a bankruptcy court judge that ordered Ball Ground Recycling to cease operations on county property, vacate the property and rejected its lease with the Resource Recover Development Authority.
The authority also ratified the consent order during its called meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The commission also:
* Held a public hearing to consider amending the county’s records management program;
* Heard from Thomas Weaver, who encouraged the board to approve changes to its county records management program; heard from Carolyn Cosby, who requested the county notify the Cherokee Tribune and other media of documents they plan to destroy in compliance with its program;
* Approved re-appointing Billy Hayes to the Highland Rivers Board;
* Approved reappointing Dick Hall and Dave Davis to the Cherokee County Airport Authority;
* Approved a memorandum of understanding with Cherokee Day Training Center for DHS Coordinated Transportation for the FY 2012 contracting period, equating approximately $2,537.50 in reimbursements from the Regional Transportation Office and $3,425.00 to CATS for administration of the fund;
* Approved an interagency agreement between the Cherokee Area Transit System and the Atlanta Regional Commission for open transit data;
* Approved an award and professional services agreement with Critical Power Solutions, Inc., for the county’s annual generator maintenance and emergency repair for a total of $28,090;
* Approved a five-month extension with VPSI, Inc. to continue the Cherokee County CATS Vanpool Program;
* Accepted the insurance recovery revenue from Vehicle Repair Insurance Claims and budget transfer in the amount of $3,727.66 to the Cherokee Sheriff Office’s Uniform Patrol Division; and
* Approved the award and purchase of rescue boat and trailer to Compeau’s Inc., in the amount of $77,275.94 along with associated items for a total of $80,000.
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