Slope stabilization project slated to begin in October

Stephens County has officially let the contract for the West Currahee Street, formerly Dicks Hill Parkway slope stabilization project.

The Board of Commissioners decided to close this portion of road back in December of 2017.

On Friday, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners met, in a special called meeting, to let the contract with Hayward Baker Incorporated to begin moving forward with the remediation of the unstable slope on West Currahee Street.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained to commissioners that the project will take approximately 180 days to complete.

According to Ayers the repairs will begin in October and is expected to be complete on March 11, 2019.

She continued to say that after the contract is let, the project enters into a document period resulting in construction being held-up until the middle of October.

One issue that has been a reoccurring concern throughout the project is funding; however, during the meeting, Ayers delivered a presentation on how the county would fund the remainder of the project.

According to Ayers the county would be responsible for an estimated $437,000 which could be paid from the General Fund, or borrowed from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VI (SPLOST) account and then paid back at the end of SPLOST VI. A third option, would be for the county to use funds from the Road Department Trust.

Vice Chair Dean Scarborough made a motion to let the contract to Hayward Baker Incorporated; Commissioner Dennis Bell seconded the motion.

The motion passed unanimously.