Rockmart-based Johnny's Grading & Hauling Inc. already performed $8,125 of emergency work on the railroad ditch on Postell Street and Public Works Director Bobby Elliott requested the council allow the company to perform future work on railroad-leased properties.
"We discovered this contractor has done a lot of work for CSX in the past and it's very difficult to get them to allow us to get on their right-of-way and clean ditches and that makes it harder for our city," Elliott told the council. "I think they've thrown us off at least seven, eight, nine times in the last six years. They're very protective of their right-of-way."
Councilmen approved payment on the invoice for work already performed, and agreed to use Johnny's Grading & Hauling for additional work on railroad right-of-way, which Mayor Matt Santini said the state owns and leases to CSX.
"This contract is also for work on a collapsed 72-inch storm drain we discovered on West Main Street," Elliott said. "It's a very serious and dangerous situation to the public and I don't know what that's going to cost. We're still trying to get everything uncovered and figure out how we're going to get it back together."
City leaders directed Elliott to bid out work needed in areas not leased by CSX in an effort to employ local contractors. The total of railroad-related and other pipe and ditch work is not expected to exceed $50,000, Elliott said.
Funding for the expenses is a budgeted item, which means leaders will not have to cut funds from other parts of the budget to pay for the work.
Council moves on Douthit Ferry Road widening project
The council also took a step toward completing a project that had been sidelined as a result of the economic downturn, but staffers say the contract councilmen unanimously approved is needed to keep the widening of Douthit Ferry Road viable.
The council approved a $856,785 contract with Cartersville-based Southland Engineering, which for the first year of the contract will work toward securing Concept Report and Environmental Document approvals. Staffers say Southland has been instructed to proceed on Phases I and II of the project at an estimated cost of $300,000, and the city has an opportunity to opt out of the contract if additional dollars are not available or if federal and state funding continue to be delayed.
Assistant City Manager Dan Porta told councilmen the city would be required to buy right-of-way if funding becomes available and if not, the city could walk away from the project. Plans had called for 80 percent of the costs to come from the federal government, while the state would provide the additional 20 percent, but city leaders are unsure if the money will be there in light of a national recession and state budget crunch.
After the first year of the contract, city officials expect to determine the final cost of the Main Street Gateway, a separate project also being funded through the 2003 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
When tax revenues began to dip with the national recession, Cartersville officials put on the back burner the project to widen Douthit Ferry Road, and recently opted to move forward with the Main Street Gateway project, which will install medians, sidewalks and trees along Main Street from Interstate 75 leading into the city. The city would have risked losing about $1 million in state funding if they had not done so.
The widening of Douthit Ferry Road seems to depend not only on the availability of state and federal funding, but also on how much 2003 SPLOST funds are left after Main Street Gateway is completed.
The council also:
* Proclaimed Aug. 13 as SPLASH Bartow Day, recognizing volunteers' efforts to donate time and work on local homes and with local nonprofit agencies.
* Approved a contract with Georgia Department of Transportation, which will provide funding for thermoplastic striping and raised pavement markers on 16 city streets for $163,103.49.
* Approved a contract with Georgia Environmental Protection Division to perform drinking water testing for $8,300 per year for three years.
* Renewed a Support Agreement with USA Software for the Police Department in the amount of $27,337.
* Approved a contract with Electric Cities of Georgia to participate in the receipt of a $500,000 Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority energy efficiency grant for residential customers.
* Renewed a contract with Blackboard Connect, which provides telephone notification and survey services, for $14,486.
* Approved a $4,000 contract with Little Joe's Construction Company to replace a garage roof with termite damage.
* Approved the purchase of a replacement air conditioning system for the Water Department for $7,450 with Preferred Heating and AC.
* Dedicated a water line for Kroger's new fuel center.
* Approved a memoranda of understanding with Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the National Main Street Program.