Road paving near feed mill expected soon

The county industrial development authority (IDA) is overseeing the grant process for the paving project and has received a $300,000 matching grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The county must match the $300,000. And IDA executive director Marvin White said the county has done so through “in-kind” labor.

“The county has already spent that in grading and gravelling,” said White.

The IDA passed a resolution Dec. 19 to attest to the fact that the county met its 50-percent obligation.

The authority recently approved a $274,300 bid from Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction Company, Inc. to handle the project.
White didn’t have a timetable on when the project will proceed, but said it will likely depend on the weather.

In a separate matter Monday, the authority discussed efforts to secure funding from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to connect Madison County to Franklin County’s water system on Hwy. 29.

White said the package, if approved, will include a $450,000 grant and a $1,000,050 loan at three percent.

Also Dec. 19, the authority heard from utility director Steve Shaw, who said the county billed 752 customers in December for November water and sewer usage. A total of 3.76 million gallons of water were used and 105,800 gallons of sewage treated by the county during November. Water usage included 2.5 million by residential customers and 1.2 million by commercial customers. All sewage treatment was for commercial customers.