Financial Update:
- SPLOST: The Finance Department has prepared a sales tax estimate of the total SPLOST revenue projected during the next collection period. This projection has been approved by Finance Committee and is pending board discussion.
Significant Projects:
- Irwin Mill Road: Gordon County has received the report regarding the section of Irwin Mill Road that was closed for safety reasons following the recent wildfires near Fairmount. The study was performed by the engineers at GeoHydro. The Public Works Department is currently reviewing the analysis and evaluating options for possible remediation. The staff will be meeting on Friday, January 27th at 9:30 a.m. in the upstairs conference room.
- Government Plaza: All of the windows have been replaced with insulated glass, and all HVAC controls have been installed. The punch list inspection was conducted on 23 January, and the contractors are correcting the remaining items identified by POH architects. The project remains under the allocated budget, and Momon Construction expects to receive a certificate of occupancy as early as Friday. County IT personnel are working to redirect the Georgia Registration and Title Information System terminal to the new building for processing vehicle tags. Once these remaining items are complete, a relocation date will be published and an opening ceremony date will be determined.
- Animal Shelter: As the county approaches the design phase of this SPLOST project, several best practices and efficiencies were noted during recent visits of other facilities; to include, customer friendly reception areas, incinerator operations, quarantine facilities, and waste management options. Facilities toured includes the Bartow County Animal Control Shelter, Catoosa County Animal Control Shelter, and Chattanooga McKamey Center.
- Courthouse Renovation: The county released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural firms with experience in government projects, complex renovations, and particularly, courthouses. The county staff will receive inquiries through February 15 and accept submittals until March 1 at 2:00 p.m. An evaluation team will be comprised of one or two County Commissioners, County Administrator, Purchasing Director, Building Inspector, and Buildings & Grounds Director
- Building Inspector/Planning & Zoning: The Gordon County Building Inspector has reported a recent surge of interest in building permitting and zoning related questions from the public. The software development is completed to automate the building inspections processes, licensing, planning & zoning, and reporting through the IWORQs program, and the IT department will begin assisting with the installation of mobile units and training.
- Health Department: The land acquisition remains in coordination. Pending DNR approval on Friday, January 27, the package will be considered by the State Legislature. Upon legislative approval, the State Properties Commission will seek the Governor’s approval to convey the property to Gordon County.
