The Board of Commissioners approve LMIG and CDBG grant

Posted

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners convened for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, April 17, at 6 p.m., at the John C. Coleman Hotel in Downtown Swainsboro.

Alongside Chairman Hugh Foskey, Commissioners present for the meeting were, Vice Chairman Jim Sherrod, Desse Davis, and Timmy Oliver. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Foskey who welcomed guests and media. District Attorney, Richard McNeely, led the invocation and Vice Chairman Commissioner Jim Sherrod led the pledge of allegiance. Minutes from the regular Commissioners meeting that was held on March 20, 2023, as well as the special workshop meeting that was held on April 12, 2023, were presented for review by Chairman Foskey. Commissioner Sherrod motioned for the approval of minutes as presented and was seconded by Commissioner Oliver with all remaining Commissioners voting unanimously.

Public Comments

Melissa Clements addressed the Board of Commissioners to voice a complaint regarding poor drainage at a neighboring house which prevented an ambulance from reaching her home in an emergency. Chairman Foskey told her that the Commissioners would take her issue into consideration.

New Business

• County Administrator Singletary discussed the assessment of the 2023 LMIG Grant (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant Program) and presented it to the commissioners for review. The LMIG Grant is a program that has been developed in cooperation with ACCG, GMA, and others. Projects funded through this grant include engineering work for road work plans and utility plans, construction supervision & inspection, utility adjustments or replacement, patching, leveling and resurfacing a paved roadway, grading, drainage, base and paving existing or new roads, replacing storm drain pipe or culverts, intersection improvements, turn lanes, bridge repair or replacement, sidewalk adjacent (within right of way) to a public roadway or street, roadway signs, striping, guardrail installation, signal installation or improvement, and aggregate surface course for dirt road maintenance. Emanuel County has voted to bid on three roads within the county that need maintenance. These roads are Page Garrett Road, Old Garfield Road, and Mixon Road. Singletary explained that the county has received three bids or estimates for asphalt and alternate paving from three different companies with The Scruggs Company being the lowest option at a base bid of $1.57,000,000 for asphalt and an alternative bid to asphalt that additionally changes the price to $189,000,000. Singletary made a recommendation to the Board that they award the Scruggs Company with the job with the alternate added to the base bid in place of the asphalt for a savings of $500,000. Commissioner Oliver motioned for the approval and Vice Chairman Sherrod seconded with all other votes being unanimous.

• County Administrator Singletary discussed the CDBG Architect Grant selection (Community Development Block Grant). The Community Development Block Grant, one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development. Vice Chairman Sherrod motioned for the approval of this grant and Commissioner Oliver seconded.

With no further comments or discussion, the meeting was adjourned.