Commissioners Discuss Recreation, Roads, More

By JACK BAGLEY
The Meriwether County Commission met Monday, April 7th, and discussed roads and recreation among other topics.
An agenda item concerning the LWCF Project for a recreation facility in Greenville was discussed. The county had received a $200,000 grant in 2022 for a recreation facility near the county seat, with an equal match from the county, but no further progress had been made on the facility. In the interim, construction costs and materials have seen price increases, and the Commissioners voted to table any further discussion until the Recreation Department can look into what options are available. The discussion centered on reducing the scope of the project or proceeding in stages, but it was not clear if the grant would cover those ideas.
A request to allow the Woodbury Police Department to do background checks for the Recreation Department was discussed. Commissioner Gene King asked why the Sheriff’s Department was not asked to do the checks, as both the Recreation Department and Sheriff’s Department cover the entire county. A company is working on a quote to handle both background checks and certification of coaches, and the Commissioners tabled the matter to the April 22nd meeting to allow the Recreation Department to get more information and speak with the Sheriff about the issue.
The Commissioners discussed a grant agreement for the 2025 fiscal year called a Tire Projects Grant Project, which would use portions of recycled tires as part of road repair work. Staff had concerns about the impact of the project on dirt roads and culverts, and they recommended declining the grant. The county Public Works director said he had no experience with this type of program, and the Commissioners voted to hold off a decision on the $200,000 grant to allow the Public Works department to examine the program.
In other business, the Meriwether County Commission:
• Tabled an appointment to the Pine Mountain Regional Library Board;
• Re-appointed County Fire Chief Danny Stephens to the Region IV EMS Council;
• Re-appointed Carolyn McKinley to the West Central Georgia Broadband Joint Development Authority subject to her accepting the appointment;
• Received an update on the status of the Lone Oak Lease which had been presented March 3;
• Approved the purchase of iPads for the Commissioners at a cost of $1600 to $2000 after the cost of paper and printing agendas and agenda packets has risen;
• Approved the purchase of four BAM totes for road patching and material;
• Approved having staff draft a letter to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a limited sight distance sign to be placed near 1188 Old Durand Highway;
• Set a public hearing for May 5 at 6 p.m. for a request to close Cane Creek Road from Highway 85 to Cane Creek;
• Approved the 2025 contact form with the ACCG Interlocal Risk Management Agency property and liability program;
• Approved the purchase of a Stryker autoload system for the Emergency Medical Service from Custom Truck and Body Works for $63,317; and
• Approved sending out for bids on two 4,000 gallon tenders/tankers for the county Fire Department.
The next regular meeting of the Meriwether County Commission will be Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m.