State to replace bridge on Stagecoach Road

A Grady County bridge deemed by the Georgia Department of Transportation as “narrow and structurally deficient” will soon be replaced at state expense.
County Administrator Rusty Moye briefed members of the Grady County commission Tuesday on the state’s plans to replace the bridge over Barnett’s Creek on Stagecoach Road.
The proposed new reinforced concrete bridge will require right-of-way varying from 125 to 155 feet. The existing right-of-way is 80 feet. Moye pointed out the county would be involved in the acquisition of the additional right-of-way.
“I talked with the DOT about possibly swapping the money allocated for Stagecoach Road and use it for the bridge replacement on GA Hwy. 112, but Joe Sheffield said it was probably too late to make the change. They have done that before. I thought you should know that I brought it up to them,” Moye said.
Chairman Charles Norton advised the board to allow the state to continue with their plans so the county would not have to spend Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax proceeds to replace the Stagecoach Road bridge.
“Let them go ahead with it,” Norton said.
In other business Tuesday, the board:
‰Approved up to $400 to be used for the upcoming 2011 Homeless Survey.
‰Heard an update from Administrator Moye, who reported that Cairo Build N’ Centre is current with its personal property taxes. Commissioners had been considering not purchasing any hardware or materials from the firm until it was current with past due personal property taxes.
‰Heard the 2010 annual reports from county department heads.
‰Voted to accept the low bid of Bond’s of Whigham for the purchase of rip rap at a cost of $28.30 per ton for #1 and #3 rip rap.
‰Voted unanimous to approve error/release requests from Veronica Gromek, Big Bend Supply and Harold and Marjorie Ragan. However, request made by Patricia Herring and W.C. Larkin were denied on a 4-1 vote. The lone commissioner in opposition to the denial was Commissioner Elwyn Childs. In an unusual turn of events, a motion to deny the request was first made by Commissioner Al Ball, but it died for lack of a second. Commissioner Childs then offered a motion to approve the request, but that motion too died for lack of a second. Ball stressed the importance of being consistent in deciding errors and releases. When asked for his opinion, County Attorney Kevin S. Cauley recommended the requests be denied. Ball then made a second motion to deny and Chairman Norton relinquished the chair in order to second Ball’s motion. Ball and Norton were joined by Commissioner Billy Poitevint and T.D. David in voting for denial. The denial was based on the failure of the property owners to file revised tax returns with the tax assessors office within the permitted time. Chief Appraiser Susan Bennett, who appeared before the board to answer questions, said that Larkin had already filed a corrected return so that he will be taxed for 79.7 acres rather than 152.0 acres. Ms. Bennett said that Ms. Herring had been advised to file a corrected return to reflect a reduction in the improvements to her property.