Groundbreaking for Tired Creek Lake is Aug. 20

Equipment is being mobilized on the construction site and the contractor building the Tired Creek Lake dam has been issued the notice to proceed.
Grady County commissioners have announced plans to conduct a ground breaking at the dam construction site on Tuesday morning, Aug. 20, 2013, beginning at 9 a.m.
U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop is scheduled to take part and he will be joined by county commissioners, the newly created Grady County Lake Authority, and by a number of local dignitaries who have been involved in the lake project over the years.
While discussing who should receive personal invitations to attend, the name of former state representative Wallace Sholar was highlighted.
“Wallace put in more on this project on the state level than anyone,” Commissioner Charles Norton said.
Grady County Administrator Carlos Tobar said that the community is invited to attend the ceremony, which he said will be a low-key affair that will not last long.
On Tuesday, Tobar said that heavy equipment is already beginning to be assembled on the construction site.
The administrator attended a preconstruction meeting last week in Alpharetta, and he also took part in the prebid meeting with timber companies interested in bidding on the harvesting of timber at the lake site.
“There were 11 firms represented, and we have scheduled the bid opening for the first Tuesday in September,” Tobar reported.
Other recent developments include the issuance of the land disturbance permit last week and the transmission of a letter to the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation requesting that the Sapp Creek bridge on Georgia Hwy. 112 be replaced.
The state previously identified the Georgia Hwy. 112 bridge at Sapp Creek as needing to be replaced.
Due to the dam construction, a new bridge would be less expensive now than later when the lake fills. Therefore, the county is requesting the state to move forward with the bridge replacement project.
The preliminary engineering design done by the state calls for a causeway on Georgia Hwy. 112 over Sapp Creek. As previously discussed, Grady County is prepared to provide the necessary fill dirt, right of way and will bear the cost of relocating all utilities.
According to Tobar, Brad Cole Construction Company personnel, the contractors constructing the dam, are already beginning to mobilize on the construction site.
During the board of commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Tobar requested the board consider the renaming of State Park Road and naming the lake The Lake at Tired Creek rather than Tired Creek Lake.
One suggestion for the new road name was South Lake Road.
County Attorney Kevin S. Cauley said that while it is not required, it would be preferable for the board to hold a public hearing on the renaming of the road.
Commissioner Norton said it is premature to rename the road, and he voiced his opposition to the name The Lake at Tired Creek.
“Why change the name of the lake. That’s the name that’s been discussed for over 50 years,” Norton said.
Vice Chairman T.D. David suggested The Lake at Tired Creek would give the lake its own identity.
“I’m very happy with Tired Creek Lake. The next generation can change it when I’m gone,” Commissioner Elwyn Childs said.
County Attorney Cauley did not weigh in on the name of the lake, but he did encourage the board to consider renaming State Park Road.
“That is a badge or reference to a negative and uncertain time for this project. I’m not partial to any name in particular, but just not State Park Road. It never will be a state park and the name should be changed,” Cauley said.