SCDA Approves FY 16 Budget

The Stephens County Development Authority approves its budget for Fiscal Year 2016.

Thursday, the Development Authority approved the budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 and runs through June 30, 2016.

Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin said this year’s budget is nearly identical to last year’s.

“Year to year, our budget changes very little,” said Martin.

The majority of the money for the Development Authority comes from contributions made yearly by the Stephens County and Toccoa City Commissions.

Martin said both of those boards actually put more money into their budgets for the Development Authority this year.

According to Martin, the county increased its contribution from $180,000 to $200,000 and the city increased its contribution from $40,000 to $46,205.

Martin said that the Development Authority appreciates that support.

“Without city and county leadership and support and involvement in all of our activities, we would not have an effort,” said Martin. “They are major players in our efforts.”

In other action from Thursday’s Stephens County Development Authority meeting, the Authority board approved a bid of $96,000 from Dodd Construction to install a lift pump for the waste water lift station at Hayestone-Brady Business Park.

Martin said work on installing that lift pump should begin in the next 30 days or so.

“Additional paperwork has to be signed and then Dodd Construction will have to mobilize and get out there to the site,” said Martin. “We do not need the pump for about another 12 months or so.”

The pump is on order and should be here in about three months, so Martin said there is plenty of time to get everything done.

Martin said everything should be done for the liftstation in about six months, which he says is in plenty of time for NIFCO KTW, the German company coming to Hayestone-Brady that will need to make use of that lift station.

The Development Authority also took other action related to the NIFCO KTW project.

First, the Authority approved a bond resolution for NIFCO KTW.

Martin said that just as with ASI and other projects, the Development Authority has no liability with the bond financially or otherwise and simply serves as a pass-through for the company, who is responsible for any bonds.

Also, the Development Authority and Airport Authority reached an intergovernmental agreement to allow NIFCO KTW to make use of office space at the airport terminal while construction on their building takes place.

Finally on Thursday, new Chamber of Commerce chair Clay Fisher served on his first Development Authority meeting and was elected to serve as the board’s Assistant Secretary.