Bartow County will be spending $430,500 in matching monies as part of a connectivity project in Cassville. The grant application that includes commitment to the matching funds was approved by Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor in his monthly meeting Wednesday.
The project includes phases 1, 2, and 3 for the project off Highway 293 in the Hamilton Crossing Park, Manning Mill Road area. The project includes five miles of sidewalks connecting county schools, recreation areas, and houses with matching money coming from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT). The grant is funded with 80 federal money and 20 percent local.
The sidewalks will cost a total of $480,000 with the county paying $97,400. The county will also spend $13,100 for an engineering contract with CTI Engineers that is part of the application. In a second project, the county commissioner agreed to pay $320,000, amounting to its 20 percent, of a $1.2 million project, for a roundabout at Cassville and Mac Johnson Road.
The county also approved a sewer extension at Hamilton Crossing in awarding a $2.6 million contract.
The county purchased 52 acres from a private owner to add to Manning Mill Park. Taylor said the $2 million purchase was already done but the announcement Wednesday was to “ratify” it.
In other business:
- The county agreed to pay the difference in upgrading a PVC line from an 8-inch line to a 12-inch line in a townhouse development project in White. Developers want to tie into the county line but it needs upgrading, officials said.
- The county agreed to an application to the Appalachian Regional Commission for a water improvement project for new lines and a storage tank. The ARC will give a $2 million grant, if approved.
- A new Dollar General Store won approval to be built off Joe Frank Harris Parkway in Adairsville after its rezoning request to go from R2 to CN was approved. The only concern was from a neighbor about traffic. The county agreed to send a letter to the Georgia DOT to request a slower speed limit in the area
The following zoning decisions were approved:
- Moving property on Benson Road from R1/A1 to R3 with conditions.
- Changing property on Knuckerhill Road from A1 to R1.
- Changing 10.69 acres of property on Gilreath Road from R2 to A1.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook, X, YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.