Commissioners Discuss Bids, Recognize Fire Personnel

The Paulding Board of Commissioners discussed two bid awards during their morning work session Tuesday, with both advancing to today's 7 p.m. business session for final action.

One bid is for an emergency drainage project located at Old Mill Road.

"This pipe failure was discovered two weeks ago and we are now ready to award the bid," Director of Transportation Scott Greene said.

Greene recommended that the award go to Gordon Contractors Inc. with its low bid of $62,812.

Community Development Director Charles Rann recommended approval of a bid for construction of a Women's, Infants, and Children's (WIC) addition to the Paulding County Health Department building.

Rann said the county received five bids for the new addition and additional site improvements, with Raker Construction Company LLC submitting the low bid of $410,000.

According to Rann, the entire cost of the project will be funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

A consent agenda item to reappoint Commission Chairman David Austin to the Wellstar Paulding County Hospital Authority for a three-year term from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2014, will be up for final action in the evening session. 

Greene during the morning session provided commissioners with an update of activities in the four divisions of his department during the past fiscal year.

Traffic signs in the county are now being upgraded to comply with new standards. "We are already in better shape than many other locations," Greene said.

The county had a record year in capital expenditures, with over $10 million in road projects. Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funding has not decreased at the same level as property tax revenues and the county has been able to fund needed road projects.

Greene reported that work on the Bill Carruth Parkway project is now winding down and will be completed soon.

The county has also partnered with the state on three big road projects, with the largest being the East Hiram Parkway project. Funding for it is about $16 million for the 3-mile loop around Hiram.

Greene also said the Baker's Bridge Road at Sweetwater Creek project will be completed soon.

Another project at State Road 61 and Ridge Road/Mulberry Rock Road was completed earlier this year. Traffic signals and turning lanes were installed, replacing the old four way stop at the intersection. As a result of the improvements, traffic volume is now heavier on Highway 61 and fewer drivers are taking side routes to bypass the intersection. 

Greene also reported that more than 1,800 miles of grass was mowed by contractors or his staff last year.

The county is seeking to establish a Traffic Control Center in the future, using a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and from other funding that might be available.

"We would like to have a traffic control center using fiber-optic controls. Traffic signals could be adjusted from one location to improve traffic flow in morning and afternoon rush hours," Austin said. 

Under the current system, traffic signals have to be adjusted manually, even though some do have timers installed.

The morning meeting also saw eight members of the Paulding County Fire Department recognized by the commissioners with a Public Safety Appreciation Award.

Those recognized were Capt. Robin House, Lt. Kevin Hart, Sgt. Jason Woody and Firefighters Kyle Westhoven, Joshua Immel, Corey Jones, Jason Joiner and Michael Estes.

Fire Chief Michael Earwood and Deputy Chief Joey Pelfrey also presented unit citations to the group.