CLEVELAND, Ga. – When four contractors submitted bids for rehabilitation projects on Town Creek Road and two bridges on New Bridge Road, that were nearly triple what they had anticipated based on engineering estimates, White County Commissioners expressed their anger and unanimously rejected all four Monday.

County Manager Michael Melton said the lowest bid came in at $1.8 million. He recommended commissioners reject the bids and give staff a chance to rebid the projects or scale them down.

Chairman Travis Turner said, “We were looking at between $600,000 and $700,000 to do all three projects and we received bids that came in at three times that amount. So, it doesn’t take long to figure out we can’t afford that.”

Turner said the county has not given up on the projects but will be looking for more reasonable estimates.

The Carolina Springs Road improvement project will move forward with the full approval of the Board. The low bidder on the project is a local company, Square Deal Construction with a bid of $478,891. A Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) will provide $358,000 for the project and a separate grant from Georgia Department of Transportation could provide up to $150,000.

Commissioners received an update during Monday’s meeting on the proposed Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail and a “thank you” plaque from the Chamber of Commerce for the support the county has provided for the organization.

City and county officials hope the $1.5 million Department of Natural Resources project will draw a large number of visitors and will be an important engine to drive economic development in the area.

Richard Riley told commissioners the 4,400-foot long concrete walkway that runs along the Chattahoochee River gives visitors a chance to breathe fresh, clean mountain air, hear the sounds of the rushing river and appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Signs along the trail paint a picture of the area’s history and no motorized vehicles are allowed that could disturb the tranquility.

The trail that will connect the City of Helen to the Hardman Farm Historic Site will be about 8 to 10-feet wide and feature an impressive natural stone entrance gate. Along the pathway, Riley said, are massive flat stone boulders that serve as benches for visitors to pause and enjoy nature.

The project is being designed by Marietta-based Freedman Engineering Group.  It is funded primarily by the state but Riley said he hope to convince local governments that it is a project worthy of their community’s investment.

Riley said the project could be completed as early as the end of this winter.

Commissioners approved several items under the Consent Agenda, including:

• The assignment of a services agreement with Sentinel Offender Services and CSRA Probation Services related to probation services in White County;
• Acceptance of a Jag Byrne Grant in the amount of $86,709 from Franklin County related to the absorption of the North Georgia Drug Task Force by the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office;
• Renewal of the memorandum with the Enotah Judicial District circuit counties to conduct activities for the Enotah Judicial District’s Juvenile Justice project coordinated through Family Connections.